As someone who poured roughly two hundred hours intoLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, it was myGame of the Year contender,and even after playing other juggernaut titles this year, it maintains the same level of adoration, and it’s not the first timeRGG Studios' titleshave left me feeling this way.
Like me, if you loved everything about this game, from the addictive real-time turn-based combat, itsfantastic open-world of Hawaiito its superb cast of characters, then I’m sure you’ll need something to fill the void that Ichiban Kasuga and Kiryu Kazuma left us in with that ending.
DualShockers Definitives: Best JRPGs of 2024
2024 was a stellar year for JRPG fans, and the DS staff gathered to decide which title reigned supreme among all the impeccable releases.
Hence, I’ve prepared a list of games, and although they may not fully embrace every charming factor of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, they have some similar elements in them in one way or another. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them if given the chance and attention.
10Way Of The Samurai 4
Crazy Noisy Samurai Guy
Way of the Samurai 4
If this is your first time hearing about this game, I envy you. Way of the Samurai 4 has several elements that incorporate a comical sense of humor, as seen in Ichiban’s Like a Dragon titles.
Despite the mildly aged graphics andjanky gameplay, the writing and comedy elements are over-the-top enough that you’ll be thrown in a loop if this whole thing’s just a gag skit set in the Feudal Japan era.
From starting up your own makeshift Dojo to hilariously beating people up with your fists as a vagabond or slicing them up with your honed sword skills, the hilarious antics to do are seemingly endless.
I strongly advise giving it a chance due to its dirt-cheap price tag on sale. The replay value you get is also surprisingly good, given the absurd gameplay elements present here.
9Sea of Stars
Chrono Trigger 2.0
Sea of Stars
Sea of Starsis a turn-based RPG inspired by the many classics from back in the day. It features a rich narrative with a balanced pacing between the encounters and side content for an accessible experience.
However, the aspect that sets Infinite Wealth apart fromother turn-based RPGsfor me is the interactive combat.
And Sea of Stars provides a similar level of real-time interaction during combat to keep you engaged throughout the playthrough.
This similarity stretches further with details like increasing the action damage with timed inputs and launching multi-character combo attacks.
You can even use a Perfect Guard of sorts to reduce incoming damage, as in LAD Infinite Wealth. It’s rare to see a game blend turn-based and real-time interactive mechanics seamlessly, but Sea of Stars manages this with aplomb.
8Tales Of Arise
Dahna’s Finest Group Of Misfits
Tales of Arise
It’s not as big asFinal Fantasy, butTales of Arisehasgarnered mass appeal, more than its predecessor titles.
The action combat is a major highlight, with each party member having unique movesets to master with personalized Artes and drawbacks.
It’s a steep learning curve for sure, but mastering Arise’s combat is immensely rewarding, especially when you lock it in against the endgame battles for that sweet Platinum Trophy.
A guilty pleasure thing I love in JRPGs and Like a Dragon is specifically party banter. Both Tales of Arise and its predecessor entries achieve that to a full extent as you explore the world, getting prompts for random comic strip-esque interactions between characters.
And if you stick with Arise despite the pacing issues and early-game difficulty spike, the slow-burn romance between Alphen and Shionne alone makes the overall experience worthwhile.
7Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 Remix
May Your Heart Be Your Guiding Key
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX
Despite the convoluted narrative, the entireKingdom Hearts seriesis special to many, including me, who absolutely adores almost every single instalment.
However, since I couldn’t choose a specific entry from the series, I strongly recommend the1.5+2.5 Remix titleif you’re unsure about picking the entire series up via the All-In-One bundle.
10 Games To Play If You Love Kingdom Hearts
If you love Kingdom Hearts, you should check these games out!
This includes two mainline games, a card-based game, the Birth By Sleep prequel title, and a couple of spin-off movies—It sounds like a lot, but trust me when I say they add value to the converging storytelling elements, if you’re into them.
If you loved the somewhat whimsical moments in LAD Infinite Wealth, then I’m sure Kingdom Hearts won’t disappoint here. On the plus side, you’ll also experience one of the greatest PS2 games of all time and my personal favorite in the series,Kingdom Hearts 2.
6Octopath Traveler 2
A Journey With Ever-Lasting Memories
Octopath Traveler 2
There are a few reasons whyOctopath Traveler 2is treasured by many, whether it’s thesoft pixel art styleor the wonderful array of playable characters.
Eight travelers, each individually unique, with some seeking revenge or others to find meaning or truth out in the world. And each one is incredibly well-balanced with a few exceptions.
That’s the main reason why I’ve put this game here—the eccentric adult characters of Like a Dragon and the travelers from OT2 are almost synonymous: well-written and with distinctive personalities to bring intrigue to the story.
And while they’re not anything extraordinary likeMetaphor’s Archetypes, the eight classes for each traveler are fun with the versatility they bring to the table each time you use a new character in your playthrough.
5Sleeping Dogs
I Fought The Law, And The Law Won
Sleeping Dogs
Before you make any assumptions,Sleeping Dogsisn’t on here because it’s a GTA clone set in China or anything. It’s the ideal game to play (if you haven’t already) after experiencing the open-world content in LAD Infinite Wealth.
Suppose you like the Yakuza series' brilliant balance of serious crime thriller with comedy as an undertone.
In that case, Sleeping Dogs hits a lot of the same notes via Wei Shen’s double-role story as an undercover cop and gang member within Hong Kong’s criminal underbelly.
It’s not a JRPG by any means, but trust me when I say the pacing between everything is well-managed. The side content, from partaking in races to busting gang meetings as an officer, never gets repetitive.
That’s partly the reason why I’ve been able to replay this game almost three times ever since my first introduction to it on the Xbox 360.
It’s a no-brainer to give thisunderrated open-world gema shot if you still haven’t because of its cult following and sequel potential, the latter that unfortunately got shafted.
4Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Never Gonna Give You Up
Guardians of the Galaxy
FromEidos-Montréal, the same developers that brought us the belovedDeus-Ex games, theirMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxyis one of my top recommendations to anyone who enjoyed Infinite Wealth.
The whole game is fairly linear, with segmented encounters and boss fights. The banter between the Guardians is a genuine showcase of camaraderie that’s wonderfully contrasted by the crude yet sarcastic remarks with one another.
It’s an honest shame this game didn’t receive as much recognition as it needed to, making it rightfully deserve the top rankings on this list.
If you can manage the serviceable action combat, the overall writing is extremely entertaining, one that you wouldn’t even expect from this kind of game in the first place.
10 Amazing Games That Sold Terribly
Ever see an amazing game that just didn’t get the recognition it deserved?
3Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
A Modern Classic For Fans & Newcomers
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
With the various references and inspirations for Ichiban’s Like A Dragon games, it’s only right that you give theDragon Quest seriesa shot with the latest HD-2D remake of the third game.
Much like Final Fantasy, the DQ entries are not interconnected, allowing you to pick up any game you wish to play, even the more modernDragon Quest 11 S.
Still, this latest remake is made for long-time fans and possibly newcomers if you look past the shortcomings, as said inour review of the game.
While thevocation system is fantastic, the storytelling catches the short end of the stick, given its early formulaic design. It’s not a character-driven narrative, nor does it give you any emotional sentiment whatsoever.
Most of the heavy lifting is from the pre-established lore and world-building in your journey. It isn’t a deal-breaker or anything. In fact, it makes you appreciate this game for laying the seeds for a brighter future in the JRPG genre.
2Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Defying An Unknown Fate
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
In the JRPG-packed year of 2024, I played bothFF7 Rebirthand Infinite Wealth one after the other, a hideously tiring yet equally unforgettable experience.
Rebirth dials up the bonding moments to the maximum, fromparty membersjoining Cloud on side quests to sharing wholesome events with them on theGold Saucer.
No one is ever left without a spotlight—well, except for Vincent. But I’m sure we’ll see him fully open up in the third and last game of the trilogy.
The three-dimensional chemistry between these characters almost surpasses the original, where the bonding moments are almost non-existent outside the main story.
And when you’ve got performances like Jon Eric Bentley’sBarret Wallacein that one specific story arc, the emotional connection here vividly reminded me of my attachment to Ichiban Kasuga’s entire character from Like a Dragon.
1Persona 5 Royal
Throw Away Your Mask
Persona 5 Royal
The original Persona 5 truly captured my heart (pun intended) during my adolescent years in 2017. So, of course,Persona 5 Royalimmediately piqued my interest as it was marketed as a brand-new definitive edition.
From fully revamping the interior layouts of Palaces to introducing new locations for your hangouts, my minimal expectations were blown out of proportion here.
Most importantly, the brand-new Royal semester arc had one of my favorite video game villains of all time, who is arguably a testament to Atlus’s awe-inspiring character writing.
Even after all those years, Royal is on an equal pedestal for me with Ichiban’s first adventure in Like a Dragon, both games that helped me get through a rough time in my life.
And if you’re able to look past its mildly sluggish mid-game pacing, the whole final act of Royal leaves an everlasting emotional scar.
The cherry on top of everything isShoji Meguro’smasterful music composition as you roll credits on the true ending and bid farewell to Joker and the Phantom Thieves.
10 Best Games Like Astro Bot
Games like Crash Bandicoot 4 and New Super Lucky’s Tale will fill the Astro Bot-shaped hole in your heart.
