The Like a Dragon (or as it was formerly known, Yakuza) series is roughly two decades old, spanning a total of nine mainline entries and several spin-offs. As the series has gained popularity internationally, players worldwide have had a chance to experience some of the most interesting characters the games have to offer. Below, we’ve provided a list of who we feel is the best character in the Like a Dragon (Yakuza) series!
Oh, it absolutely has to be Goro Majima. He’s just such a hilarious figure, and it’s amazing the range he has. The Mad Dog can be incredibly serious at times, but then we also have him popping out of garbage cans to ambush Kiryu-chan. I also will never forget his Yakuza: Dead Souls “Get to the Top” performance. — Jenni
The most obvious choice here is Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. After all, there wouldn’t be a Yakuza series without these two. However, despite playing the Yakuza franchise for over a decade now, I am going to pick Ichiban Kasuga from Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Infinite Wealth. When Like a Dragon was first announced, I was extremely skeptical about the series taking on a new protagonist. Plus Ichiban just looked goofy in that run-down suit that looked like it had been a holdover from the 80s.
What I didn’t expect from Yakuza: Like a Dragon was to cry. But when I reached the final moments of that game, I bawled my eyes out. Not only was it one of the most emotional stories I’ve ever experienced in gaming, but the developers made me truly care about Ichiban. What can I say, as a protagonist he’s just so damn likable. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and he has this aura that makes everyone want to be better – including those playing the game. And in a world that has become cruel and cynical, I find Ichiban Kasuga to be a shining light in the darkness. Okay, that might be a bit dramatic, but I genuinely think he’s not only one of the best characters in Yakuza but possibly one of the best gaming characters to be created in the last twenty years. — Brent
There are so many amazing characters in the Yakuza and Like a Dragon games that it’s really hard to choose the best! So I’m going to be a bit controversial here and pick a personal favorite: Tanimura. Now, I mean specifically the original version of Tanimura because I got into the series through his actor, Hiroki Narimiya. As a character, too, I thought his arc in Yakuza 4 was the best, even if it may feel closer to something from Judgment than Yakuza.
His battle style was so fun once you unlocked more Heat Actions, too! It’s a shame that Tanimura will probably never return to the series, even with a new face and voice actor, because they wrapped up his whole deal so neatly in his game. On the flip side, though, he can’t overstay his welcome or be shoved into another installment. — Stephanie
Despite my plethora of Yakuza merchandise featuring series protagonist Kiryu, exclusives from the SEGA Store in Japan included, my favorite character in the series is Yoshitaka Mine. Perhaps one of the most devoted and loyal characters in the franchise, he is honestly one of the best foils and mirrors of Kiryu, which makes him one of the best antagonists of the series.
Yeah, Majima is great, and Ryuji Goda from Yakuza 2 is immediately memorable due to his imposing figure and absolutely stellar design. But Mine was striking in everything he did, taking everything to an extreme that often crossed the line in a way that was truly shocking for the series at the time. (Also, you gotta love a man who loves another man so intensely that he’d do anything to keep him safe.) — Kazuma
Goro Majima used to be my favorite from Yakuza 0 through 3 (and he’s still incredible), but I’ve recently come to love two other characters a bit more: Shun Akiyama and Kasuga Ichiban. Akiyama is such a likable guy, and I adored his character arc and weird romance in Yakuza 4 and 5. And then there’s Ichiban. This guy turned me into a passionate fan of the series Yakuza: Like a Dragon with his lovable and charming personality and goofy moments. I haven’t seen a video game protagonist carry their entire story better than him. — Cody
