It’s easy to think that because the setting in Like A Dragon: Ishin is set in a technologically transitioning period, entertaining yourself won’t be like other Yakuza titles (players of the original PS3 version notwithstanding), and in a way, you are right. The game as a whole feels similar but holds its own identity throughout. The minigames are no exception.
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There’s a lot to do around the city of Kyo to entertain yourself. As long as you are willing to pay the price, be it your coin or your life if you are unlucky enough. Sure you don’t have RC racing or arcades, but who needs all of that when you have cannons and chickens?
11 Serving Udon
There’s nothing like the stress of prepping fast food to settle the nerves, right? At least with this udon shop, you won’t have to worry about unsalted, cold fries or a bad experience. Even if Ryoma gets your toppings wrong, the old udon noodle master assures you it’s going to be a good bowl of noodles either way.
So, there’s no need to worry about angry customers who throw food back onto you and curse your name. Though it’s hard to master, the game is quite forgiving and will pay you no matter how badly you’ve done. The only downside is you can’t take a bowl or two to go with you.
10 Cee-Lo
The game Cee-lo has a reputation of being deceptively easy but with no way to cheese it in your favor, so it’s all about your luck against the AI. There’s nothing like the tension of four men looking into a metal bowl to find out if they win or lose by the number of dots on the dice. The difference between an adult and a child is how you handle the pressure.
Admittedly, the only thing that would make this game better is the ability to fight afterward after catching someone cheating, or them accusing you of the same thing. Just a whole brawl after losing a high-stakes bet would make it top-tier fun.
9 Koi Koi
You don’t have to know how to play Koi-Koi to have a good time. The game feels pretty intuitive since you’re matching cards together to make seasons (sets). Of course, if you want to get more advanced in the pairs you’re making, you’ll have to get a better understanding of the rules as well as the common terms of the card game.
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First, you’re wondering which card goes to what, and the next thing you know, you’re swapping and making pairs at the speed of a professional while laughing at your opponent struggling to make pairs instead of junk. Matches can become a lesson in mastery as you hurry to try to take a card you want before your opponent has a chance to snatch it up.
8 Chicken Racing
Sadly, there isn’t an equivalent for racing games found in other Yakuza games. RC racing, go-kart racing, or even horse racing, could not have worked in the setting you’re currently in. Yet, not all hope is lost if you are looking to scratch that racing itch. Albeit, indirectly.
Enter the chicken racing track. Weirdly enough, the look of the differently colored chickens reminds you of another racing minigame where you pit other chicken-like racers against each other. While it’s not as exciting as Chocobo racing, the money you’ll make from it (if you win) will more than make up for the lack of racing.
7 Chopping Wood
It’s not the most fun game, but it serves a pretty important role in making a steady amount of ryo and mon, which is harder to come by in the game than you would think outside of farming and selling goods. Combine that with the prices the blacksmith is charging to create items, then you’ll quickly understand why this game is one of the best.
Besides, why not help an old man with an aging back out by keeping the entire village warm with his wood? No matter how you look at it, chopping wood is essential to staying warm and cooking.
6 Cannon Coaching
Having fun in the game, but missing the batting cages? Well, you don’t have to worry about that anymore! As long as you aren’t worried about giant, metal death orbs flying at your head. The creator, professor Shinbei, is something of a mad scientist when it comes to creating the perfect weapon for practice. This new cannon isn't for battle. It's for fun.
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Thing is, you are the first person who completes his trials. The others tried, but they uh…didn’t make the cut. After a while, people simply stopped volunteering for the experiment. Only Ryoma has the bravery to endure the dangerous game.
5 Poker
Having minigames without having poker available just seems like a waste. Poker is a fairly universal game where everyone plays with their own sets of rules. Poker in Like A Dragon: Ishin is no different. You have a choice between five different versions of poker, each with its own rules to play.
The game has just been imported to Japan and doesn’t have the renown that the other games native to the island, but the locals seem to be liking it enough to keep the game up and running inside of the gambling hall, unknowingly creating history for the game in modern-day Japan.
4 Scarecrow Chateau
If rhythm games and gambling aren't your cup of tea, then maybe you’ll enjoy a game that is more physically demanding and requires all of your combat skills. One part combat test, one part haunted mannequin house of horror, the Scarecrow Chateau will push challenge you to be adept at each of your four fighting styles.
The challenges start fairly easily but gain difficulty with every level you pass, and the dummies will gain plenty of defense and HP to stop your progress. Nothing your blade and guns can’t handle. Just be careful — the Mysterious Professor says people have lost their minds trying to get out.
3 Arena
The Scarecrow Chateau is nice, but what if you are looking for something, or someone, that will fight back? Hitting wood gets boring after a while, so instead you can get out your frustrations against something, or someone, that will fight you back tooth and bone inside the arena. Nothing gets the blood pumping more than steel against steel.
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Be warned though, these enemies will not pull any punches with you, and will end your life if given the chance. They are warriors in a frustrating age of change and will do anything to alleviate the pent-up stress inside them.
2 Karaoke
This version of the series' staple minigame brings something special to the series. Sure, you’re singing in front of an audience and essentially making a music video in the modern versions, but watching Ryoma go at it live on stage with a studio audience and backup singers is a special sight to witness. Not to mention how cool he looks when breaking out his bamboo flute for a solo.
You have all the classic songs too, with the star being Baka Mitai. You can be sure that it was the first song played when players found the karaoke house in Fushimi. Nothing like watching the crowd cheer you on as they fall for your smooth vocals and skills.
