The Yakuza series always makes its way onto my top 10 list every year for being not just one of my favourite series, but it always maintains a certain level of quality and Yakuza: Like a Dragon is no exception. However, what sends LAD to the top of my list this year is its ability to maintain that level of quality, detail, and direction while completely changing its genre. It’s traded the beat ’em up genre that the series has maintained for 15 years for a full on turn-based JRPG complete with equipment and job switching, and I don’t think I want it to go back. Each party member has such a fun move set and job choices, there are countless special attacks and summons, and the enemy variety is beyond anything Yakuza has ever come close to in the past. From a narrative standpoint, the new main character Ichiban Kasuga had big shoes to fill to replace the series mainstay Kazuma Kiryu. Not only does Ichiban match Kiryu in being a likeable and fun character, I would go as far to say Ichiban surpassed him in the first few hours, and by the end of the game I already considered him to be one of my favourites of all time. I can’t stress enough how much I can’t wait to see more of Ichiban and his friends in future Yakuza games, and my excitement for the series feels like it’s been completely renewed. I still hope we get to see a new Judgement game here and there, but turn-based Yakuza games starring the middle-aged Ichinjo crew are hopefully here to stay.