Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Two Like a Dragon games on one list requires a justification, and here it is: Ichiban Kasuga's origin story in this game hits differently if you play it before Infinite Wealth rather than skipping straight to the sequel. The job system is somewhat simpler, the budget is visibly lower, and Yokohama is less expansive than Hawaii. But the character writing in the early acts is some of the best in the series, and watching a game reinvent a long-running franchise in real time is its own kind of entertainment. If you played Infinite Wealth first and loved it, come back here for the backstory. If you have not touched either game, I would start with Infinite Wealth and work backwards if you get hooked.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon pulled me in directions I did not expect. I went in knowing the series had a reputation for tonal whiplash, serious crime drama interrupted by a minigame about racing toy cars, but Like a Dragon commits to its JRPG pivot with such warmth that it works. Ichiban Kasuga is one of the genre's best protagonists in years. The job system gives you something to tinker with between story beats, and story beats come often enough to keep shorter sessions feeling satisfying. Controls are confident on the Deck, and nothing here will leave you squinting at menu text from two feet away.