The Hardest Minigames In The Like A Dragon Series

Summary

• Yakuza games have captivating main stories but shine with challenging and engaging side activities like Pocket Circuit and Batting Cages.
• Players can face frustration with complex minigames like Drone Racing and Shogi, which require upgrading and strategizing to succeed.
• Games like Oicho-kabu and Koi-koi offer complex gambling experiences that may deter Western players seeking simplicity in gameplay.

Yakuza (or Like 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 try to come out victorious in these crushingly hard minigames.

8

Pocket Circuit

Can Get Challenging Later On Without A Guide

• Appears In: Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

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 relaxing as 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.

7

Batting Cages

Without Upgrades, Getting Home Runs Is Easier Said Than Done

• Appears In: Almost every Yakuza game

Baseball is huge in Japan, and this is replicated in the Yakuza games 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.

The old version of this minigame was 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.

6

Drone Racing

The Tougher Championships Are A Pain To Get Through Even With Major Upgrades

• Appears In: Judgment, Lost Judgment

Drone racing is an optional side activity players can engage with in Judgment, 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.

5

Disco

A Rhythm Game That’s Harder Than It Has Any Right To Be

For a minigame that has only appeared in Yakuza 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.

4

Mahjong

A Complicated Game Involving Tiles

• Appears In: 16 Yakuza games

Yakuza does 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.

3

Shogi

A Japanese Version Of Chess That Players May Find Hard To Wrap Their Heads Around

• Appears In: 13 Yakuza games

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.

2

Oicho-kabu

A Card-Based Gambling Game That Can Be Annoying If Players Are On A Losing Streak

• Appears In: 13 Yakuza games

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.

1

Koi-koi

A Complicated Game Where Players Must Form The Most Valuable Hand Possible

• Appears In: 14 Yakuza games

Arguably the most complicated gambling game to feature in the Yakuza series, 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.