Summary
Yakuza(orLike a Dragon, as the series is known now) has slowly but surely gathered a massive fanbase that loves the game’s many oddities. The incredible main stories are compelling in every way, but what makes these games so special is the variety of side content players can get lost in.
This includes a ton of minigames that are pretty engaging in their own right and worth participating in for the prizes that players can enjoy. However, some of these side activities can be very challenging, pushing players to their limits as they attempt to come out victorious in these crushingly hard minigames.
8Pocket Circuit
Can Get Challenging Later On Without A Guide
From the moment fans see an overjoyed Kiryu raise his RC car in the air after coming out victorious in the Pocket Circuit, they will love buying parts and decking out their cars for the many challenges that come their way.
However, after a point,players will realize that this minigame isn’t as relaxingas they expected. Not being prudent about getting the latest upgrades can lead to players wasting their time struggling to win tougher races, to the point where most people resort to reading guides and figuring out the best way to boost and attain victory without veering off-track because of these high speeds.
7Batting Cages
Without Upgrades, Getting Home Runs Is Easier Said Than Done
Baseball is huge in Japan, and this is replicated in theYakuzagames too. Almost every title in the franchise boasts the famous Batting Cages that players can visit to see just how adept they are at striking a baseball with pinpoint precision.
Theold version of this minigamewas devilishly hard, with every single home run feeling like a massive achievement. The newer iteration of this side activity is more manageable, but players should try and seek out upgrades if they want to reliably hit home runs and meet the ridiculous pass requirements for the Batting Cages' hardest requirements.
6Drone Racing
The Tougher Championships Are A Pain To Get Through Even With Major Upgrades
Drone racing isan optional side activity players can engage with inJudgment, letting players customize drones and take part in scintillating races. While these races are fun to participate in early on, the challenge ramps up heavily later on as players must find better parts and navigate tighter courses at higher speeds.
The final set of races is ridiculously hard, and players must have the best upgrades to even stand a chance. Even then, a single mistake can lead to them losing positions and valuable championship points, which can lead to their time being wasted if they fail to win these championships after spending a ton of time in these races.
5Disco
A Rhythm Game That’s Harder Than It Has Any Right To Be
For a minigame that hasonly appeared inYakuza 0, it’s impressive to see just how much of an impact Disco had. However, players expecting a simple rhythm game will be surprised to find out that this minigame is anything but easy.
Not only must players match the rhythm of the beat, but they’re also encouraged to take as many steps as possible before the next note hits. This simple addition makes the gameplay more challenging than ever, especially at harder difficulties when players want to beat their opponent and gain a respectable score.
4Mahjong
A Complicated Game Involving Tiles
Yakuzadoes a great job of letting players peek into the window of Japanese culture. While this is great for players who are enamored by this nation, this also means that players will find several minigames that replicate classic Japanese games.
This includes Mahjong, a game that can still be understood as long as players put in the effort to read these rules. Even then, harder Mahjong games can be especially frustrating as players lose over and over again, preventing them from getting 100% completion.
3Shogi
A Japanese Version Of Chess That Players May Find Hard To Wrap Their Heads Around
Chess is a riveting game where players must apply their minds and employ the perfect strategies to emerge victorious against their opponent. This is why some fans will love Shogi, a Japanese variant of this sport.
However, there are some units like the Gold and Silver Generals that can be trickier to get used to. This, coupled with the tactical nature of each battle, makes it clear why Shogi can be a hard sell for players who don’t want to spend a ton of time on a single game only to lose in humiliating fashion.
2Oicho-kabu
A Card-Based Gambling Game That Can Be Annoying If Players Are On A Losing Streak
Some of the Japanese gambling games that players can check out are so complex that a simple written tutorial isn’t enough to make things clear for them. Such is the case with Oicho-kabu, where players must reach the closest total to 9, with double-digit totals only taking the second digit into account.
It seems simple at first glance, but the unfamiliarity of most Western players with this game makes things harder than it has any right to be. It’s easy to see why most people choose to ignore this game after a single look since these complexities are not worth dealing with for them in most instances.
1Koi-koi
A Complicated Game Where Players Must Form The Most Valuable Hand Possible
Arguablythe most complicated gambling game to feature in theYakuzaseries, Koi-koi can be a nightmare to understand for impatient players. The core seems simple enough as players must make the most valuable hand possible, but this is easier said than done.
Players must form the most valuable hand before locking it in for one final round of card swapping and claiming. It’s devilishly hard to understand and not something that most players bother with unless they’re seeking out 100% completion.
Yakuza
Sega’s Yakuza franchise is a series of action-adventure and role-playing games that revolve around characters who are a part of or associated with dangerous criminal organizations.The various games in the series tend to be led by gripping, emotional narratives but are supplemented by hilarious side stories and enjoyable mini-games that give players a welcome break from the drama.
