Nintendo has always been keen on pushing their own IPs rather than relying on third-party titles. Although this strategy has provided Nintendo gamers with some of the industry's best-ever franchises like Mario and The Legend of Zelda, it also means that they've had to miss out on a significant amount of critically acclaimed series. One such series is Sega's Yakuza, a franchise that takes serious, emotionally charged narratives about the life of a Yakuza and throws in some of the most enjoyable and nonsensical mini-games and substories to ensure the game doesn't take itself too seriously.
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To put it bluntly, there aren't many games like the Yakuza series, so players shouldn't go into the ten games on this list expecting to find an almost identical experience to the franchise. Instead, the ten games on this list have been selected as they all excel in one or more of the genres that the Yakuza series has implemented over the years: RPG, beat 'em up, hack and slash, or action-adventure.
10 Streets of Rage 4
Streets of Rage 4 is a great choice for anyone who wants a combat experience like the one offered in the Yakuza series prior to the latest game, Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The game offers classic beat 'em-up gameplay that will remind players of the arcade era's golden age.
Dotemu's Streets of Rage 4 is the first entry into the series since Streets of Rage 3 hit stores all the way back in 1994 on the Sega Genesis. Coincidentally, the first three games were made by Yakuza's publisher, Sega.
9 Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition
Contrastingly to Streets of Rage 4, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is recommended for those who want an experience similar to the latest Yakuza game, Like a Dragon. 2020's Like a Dragon certainly doesn't hide its Dragon Quest influences, as there are numerous references to the franchise throughout the adventure.
In fact, Like a Dragon goes as far as to outright tell the player that many of the new gameplay mechanics are like those in Dragon Quest, as the protagonist Ichiban frequently mentions the games.
8 Bayonetta 2
For many years, the God of War and Devil May Cry franchises have been the hack and slash genre's flagship titles. However, a new challenger to the throne made themselves known in 2009 when the first Bayonetta game was released. The game's sequel hit stores just under five years after the original and became one of the most critically acclaimed hacks and slash releases of all time, exemplified by its excellent Metascore of 92 on Nintendo Switch.
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The third game is expected to release at some point this year, and if it continues the series' high quality, it would make the Bayonetta franchise a contender for best hack and slash IP.
7 Astral Chain
Astral Chain is another game developed by PlatinumGames that drew praise from fans and critics alike for having well-crafted and enjoyable hack and slash gameplay. PlatinumGames' consistency in the genre is clearly being recognized by mainstream audiences, as Astral Chain impressively reached over 1 million sales just a few months after the game was released in 2019.
Astral Chain takes players to a dystopian future and puts them in the shoes of a special police force tasked with defending humanity against an invasion.
6 Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
Every main series Yakuza game has been unapologetic in its emphasis on providing a long, in-depth, and emotionally charged narrative - something that fans of the Final Fantasy franchise have been familiar with for decades. However, the release of Yakuza: Like a Dragon has bought the Japanese series' even closer together. Although Dragon Quest is the game mentioned throughout Like a Dragon, it's clear that the game's turn-based combat and story centered around friendship took a few pages out of Final Fantasy's book.
5 Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
Xenoblade Chronicles was originally released on the Nintendo Wii in 2010. The game was a huge hit with critics, exemplified by its 92 score on Metacritic, which was enough to make it the Wii's joint seventh-highest title on the site.
The Nintendo Switch has been no stranger to receiving re-releases and remasters of old games, though most of them have come from the underwhelming Wii U rather than the smash-hit Nintendo Wii. Unlike some of the Switch's re-releases, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition implements numerous changes such as improved visuals and a remastered soundtrack.
4 Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is another game on this list that seems to have inspired the latest Yakuza game. Similar to Like a Dragon, Fire Emblem: Three Houses has a turn-based combat system where players can fight in groups, which helps to solidify the bond between the playable character and their allies. However, Fire Emblem: Three Houses differentiates itself from the other entries on this list with its tactical approach to combat, which requires players to use more strategic thought than in Like a Dragon.
3 Monster Hunter Rise
Monster Hunter Rise is the most recent entry into the iconic Monster Hunter franchise. The game continued the series' impressive consistency and received an 88 score from Metacritic, which was helped by a 4.5 out of 5 review from Game Rant's Greysun Morales.
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Capcom didn't try to reinvent the wheel with Monster Hunter Rise and kept many of its core features similar to its predecessor Monster Hunter World, a move that makes perfect sense when taking the game's huge sales figures into account.
2 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the Nintendo Switch's largest third-party titles, along with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy.
The Witcher 3 blasted both the Witcher franchise and CD Projekt into the forefront of the gaming industry's attention by providing one of the best role-playing experiences in recent memory. Along with the beautiful visuals and layered gameplay mechanics, the game received praise for its well-written and wonderfully voice-acted storylines, which players could significantly impact via their choices.
1 Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & The Secret Hideout
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout was released by Koei Tecmo in 2019 on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC. The Japanese role-playing game stands out from the crowded genre by focusing on one common element of the RPG genre in particular: alchemy.
Following a positive reception both critically and commercially, the game received a sequel in 2021 (worldwide release) titled Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy. The game received similarly high praise and is also worth checking out for fans of Yakuza: Like a Dragon's JRPG elements.