The Yakuza Series Will Remain a Turn-Based RPG Series Going Forward

Ryu ga Gotoku Studios has officially announced Lost Judgment today, a sequel to its action-mystery 2018 title. For fans who miss Ryu ga Gotoku’s action-style, Judgment will be the franchise that carries that torch as Yakuza transitions into a turn-based RPG. In an interview with IGN ahead of today’s reveal Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi and producer Kazuki Hosokawa confirmed that Judgment will be Ryu ga Gotoku’s action series pillar, while Yakuza evolves into a turn-based RPG after the success of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. “That’s right,” the two producers confirmed when asked if Judgment represents a continuation of the classic Yakuza style of gameplay while Yakuza transitions into a turn-based RPG. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/05/07/lost-judgment-release-date-trailer"] “The Yakuza series has been transformed into a turn-based RPG. On the other hand, over the years, Ryu ga Gotoku Studio has accumulated resources and know-how of making flashy and exhilarating action games that are effortless to enjoy. We decided that we should let our signature action gameplay live on through Lost Judgment.” The Yakuza series for most of its mainline incarnations is a 3D action brawler starring Kazuma Kiryu. When Kiryu’s story ended in Yakuza 6, a new protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga, stepped up and led the franchise in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Unlike Yakuzas 0 through 6, Like a Dragon was a turn-based RPG that still kept the over-the-top style of Yakuza. This winning combination earned Yakuza: Like a Dragon a nomination in IGN’s 2020 Best RPG category. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=lost-judgment-screenshots&captions=true"] But for fans who still enjoy Ryu ga Gotoku’s action-style, 2019’s Judgment and the upcoming sequel will scratch that itch. Like the older Yakuza games, Judgment features 3D action combat where protagonist Yagami can switch between various martial arts styles to deliver a hefty beatdown. We’ll have more from Nagoshi and Hosokawa later today when a full interview goes up, but check out the details for Lost Judgment which will be released worldwide on September 24,2021. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor.