Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Image of man with Oni wearing Oni mask in Like a Dragon Gaiden.

How Long to Beat Like a Dragon Gaiden?

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name follows the beloved Kiryu after the events of Yakuza 6 and is a spin-off that doesnā€™t take too long to beat. Hereā€™s a rough estimation of how long it takes to beat Like a Dragon Gaiden and a breakdown of its gameplay and story.

Recommended Videos

Like a Dragon Gaiden Length Explained

According to Like a Dragon Gaiden game director Masayoshi Yokoyama of RGG Studio in a Famitsu interview, the spin-off should take 10 to 20 hours to beat in your first playthrough. Compared to the last installment, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, itā€™s a much shorter game focused entirely on Kiryu.

ā€œItā€™s not a huge scale gameā€¦you can think of it as about half of a pure numbered title,ā€ Yokoyama explained in the interview before the spin-off was released. ā€œI think the playtime will be around 10 to 20 hoursā€¦the city [in the game] is fully featured, and we are trying to provide new sub-stories and mini-games.ā€

Yokoyama also mentioned Like a Dragon Gaiden is more fleshed out than the Kaito Files DLC for Lost Judgement, which rounded out to a nearly 7-hour experience. For the most part, donā€™t expect a full-on Yakuza mainline title in terms of length, but there are plenty of side quests and other activities you can get into before you beat Like a Dragon Gaiden.

Related: Like a Dragon Gaiden Wonā€™t Have an English Dub at Launch

What Is Like a Dragon Gaiden About?

If you recently joined the Like a Dragon Gaiden bandwagon in the West, this spin-off might pique your interest. Youā€™ll play Kiryu, one of the franchiseā€™s protagonists, after faking his death and abandoning his name for the sake of protecting his family. The once-legendary yakuza will find himself thrust out into the open by a mysterious figure, embarking on yet another gripping action-adventure narrative, yet under the codename of ā€œJoryu.ā€

Unlike Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the combat in Like a Dragon Gaiden brings back the franchiseā€™s roots. As Kiryu, youā€™ll pull off aggressive moves to smash enemies into walls and utilize wild gadgets to unleash crazy attacks. And when not brawling in the streets, you can sing Karaoke songs, participate in a secret battle arena, and complete a boatload of side activities.

If youā€™re hooked into the Yakuza storyline and want to be ready when Like a Dragon 8 drops, Like a Dragon Gaiden is worth playing to see what Kiryuā€™s been up to ahead of the next mainline title.

If you’d like to read more, check out how long it took to make Like a Dragon Gaiden


The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission.Ā Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Anthony Jones
Anthony Jones
Anthony is a Strategic Content Writer for the The Escapist and an RPG nerd in love with retro games and the evolution of modern gaming. He has over two years experience as a games reporter with words at IGN, Game Informer, Distractify, Twinfinite, MMOBomb, and elsewhere. More than anything, Anthony loves to talk your ear off about JRPGs that changed his childhood (which deserve remakes) and analyzing the design behind beloved titles.