Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 79 | 131 |
| Creator reviews (2 tracked) | – | 88 | 3 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 95% | 90 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 86 | 121 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 96% | 91 | 54 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 154 reviews sampled · 89 total reviews in window · weighted 111.9 up / 4.5 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (141)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“A good, but not necessary Yakuza game, a short storyline and an almost complete lack of new ideas make Gaiden a release primarily aimed at diehard fans.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“The Dragon of Dojima is back in Like a Dragon Gaiden, a new entry in the saga that, far from being a spin-off, offers a lot of action and answers to numerous unknowns. An extremely fun installment, although this comes hand in hand with an inescapable nostalgia factor and knowing how to appreciate the references to characters or situations from previous games.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Still, at the center of it all remains Kazuma Kiryu, a genuinely good man caught in the throes of a vicious career. Even with the series ready to move on without him as protagonist, no disrespect to everybody’s new favorite himbo, Ichiban Kasuga, who’s positioned to be our hero going forward, Gaiden makes a stronger than expected case for why and how he’s endured so much, and deserves a better ending than the old life has been willing to give him.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is an excellent spin-off of the series that not only successfully bridges the story between the sixth and seventh installments but also introduces new and innovative elements. A great story, connections to the main series, and diverse combat styles make this game a treat for both Yakuza fans and newcomers. The side activities are fun and add a few hours of entertainment to the game. Despite minor flaws in the controls and the challenge of remembering new characters, this game is an enjoyable and engaging adventure for fans of the series.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Like a Dragon Gaiden successfully weaves a compelling narrative that serves as a satisfying conclusion to Kazuma Kiryu’s iconic journey.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The Man Who Erased His Name is a decent addition to the series, but it misses the mark in being a truly memorable experience.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Like A Dragon Gaiden then is both cursed and blessed by familiarity. It’s so much like the games before it that it’s predictably fun, boisterous, funny, well-acted and directed. It is also a bit tame, especially by the standards of the series, rarely pushing in terms of narrative and character in the bold ways Like A Dragon has become well-renowned for, making for a welcome-if-unnecessary side chapter in Kiryu’s story before what appears to be a conclusion for everyone’s favorite ex-yakuza. But even if it falls short in some unfortunate places, this “budget-sized” installment in the series is just as wonderful and bountiful a place to jump into and fall in love with its inane brand of magic.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Like a Dragon Gaiden is a fun but mostly inconsequential entry in the series. The shorter main campaign actually makes it more enjoyable as the expansive side content makes up for it. As a fan, I enjoyed the game but it's pretty clear that its main objective is just to keep us invested on the upcoming Infinite Wealth.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“With that main course being the old guard rubbing shoulders with the new, I’m looking forward to seeing these guys interact when Infinite Wealth eventually drops. The story isn’t perfect, but still spins a tale worthy of the Dragon of Dojima. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name may be a shorter game, but there’s a surprising amount of depth in that brevity. It’s been a good year for Like a Dragon, and a game that celebrates their leading man like this is worthy of your time and money. Go ahead and devour this, and get excited for Infinite Wealth.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is not meant for new players wanting to get into the Yakuza/Like A Dragon series, you can still enjoy it as a brawler while just ploughing through the story. However, you won't get the narrative satisfaction this side story has planned. That aspect will reward longtime players who started the series back in the aughts when Sega had a budget to hire Michael Madsen and Mark Hamill for the first English entry of the series in the PlayStation 2 era.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“I’m still not entirely convinced The Man Who Erased His Name needed to exist, but it's a fun & mostly enjoyable 10-15 hour intermission until Infinite Wealth drops in January.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“A short-but-sweet bridge between Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Like a Dragon Gaiden packs a lot of punch into a small package. Returning to the smash-mouth style fans love about the series, there's plenty of additional content to keep you occupied beyond the game's story. ”
read full review ↗
3DNews
La Orden del Pixel
Slant Magazine
Gaming Professors
eXputer
RPGamer
Paste Magazine
Fun Factor
Gamer Escape
Kakuchopurei
VGChartz
Gfinity…and 129 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- English Dub Patch Available NowDec 15, 2023
- Like a Dragon Gaiden 1.12 Patch UpdateNov 17, 2023