With Yakuza 8 using the Infinite Wealth title, some players may be confused about whether it’s a sequel to the Like a Dragon story that came before it. Here is everything you need to know about Ichiban’s latest adventure, including the answer to whether Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a sequel or not.
Is Infinite Wealth a sequel to Yakuza: Like a Dragon?
If you are confused about where Infinite Wealth falls in the Yakuza timeline, you are not alone! After all, the series title format has faced some pretty radical changes since the end of Kazuma Kiryu’s run as the main protagonist. After the release of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life in 2016, the franchise also shifted away from using the “Yakuza” branding and has instead adopted Like a Dragon.
To answer the question, yes, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a direct sequel to 2020’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The plot takes place roughly four years after the previous game’s events and again follows Ichiban Kasuga as the main protagonist. Although the 2024 title features a new group of supporting characters, most of the game’s main cast consists of the beloved protagonists from the Yokohama arc.
Below is the lore timeline for the Yakuza: Like a Dragon series:
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life – 2016
- Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name* – 2023
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon – 2020
- Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name – 2023
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth – 2024
After reading this list, you may wonder why Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is listed twice. It’s not an accident, I promise! You see, the game actually takes place before, during, and after 2020’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The game jumps around in time and shows what Kazuma Kiryu has been up to during the story of Ichiban.
Although Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name has portions of its story that take place before Ichiban’s Yokohama arc, it’s still recommended that you play it after Yakuza: Like a Dragon. And, of course, you should play Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth after Yakuza: Like a Dragon, as it’s a direct sequel.
It may be a bit confusing at first since Infinite Wealth drops the “Yakuza” in its title. The release of the prequel The Man Who Erased His Name also made the timeline a bit more complex. But players can jump into Ichiban’s latest adventure and understand the plot as its story picks up immediately after the events of the 2020 RPG.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is now available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Published: Jan 27, 2024 03:15 pm