Sega’s 84-Hour Open-World Masterpiece Has Aged Like Fine Wine

2024 was a stellar year for fans of role-playing games, with the launch of Metaphor: ReFantazio, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Persona 3 Reload, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. So it’s understandable that you might not have had the time for Sega’s 80-hour romp through Honolulu, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. The ninth mainline installment of the Yakuza / Like a Dragon series has a sprawling ensemble cast that pulls from numerous installments of the series, but don’t let that intimidate you.

While Infinite Wealth might seem like a daunting prospect for a newcomer, it’s a perfect distillation of the blend of action and humor that’s elevated the series from a cult-hit niche offering into a blockbuster in its own right. And now that it’s been out for a while, it’s often on sale on Steam. (It’s currently marked down 75%, to $17.49, through Aug. 27.) Better still, it’s included in Xbox Game Pass if you’re a Premium or Ultimate tier subscriber. It’s also included in the PlayStation Plus library for Extra and Premium subscribers.

Infinite Wealth unites longstanding series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu with newbie hero Ichiban Kasuga, as they seek to locate Ichiban’s long-lost mother. As they seek out this mysterious woman, Kiryu and Kasuga stumble upon — what else? — an international conspiracy that touches the seediest depths of the organized crime world and the highest echelons of government. None of the stories in the Yakuza series make a lot of sense, though, so just strap yourself in and hold on for the ride.

Where Infinite Wealth truly excels is as a vacation simulator. Granted, most of our vacations probably don’t involve beating up hordes of goons in broad daylight, but bear with me here. Whether you’re sauntering down Waikiki Beach and checking out the clientele of the various resorts, browsing for a new pair of sandals at the luxe mall, or zipping around via Segway in some of Honolulu’s sketchier backstreets, this game’s rendition of Hawaii is second to none. Like any Yakuza game, Infinite Wealth also boasts a staggering number of unique minigames, many of which take advantage of the game’s tropical setting.

• Crazy Delivery, a riff on Sega’s soon-to-be-revived Crazy Taxi series, sees you delivering burgers and pizzas all over Honolulu for tips. Expect plenty of close calls and sick stunts as you make your way to your customers.
• Dondoko Island is Yakuza’s answer to Animal Crossing, and you’ll need to transform a private island from a garbage dump full of seedy criminals into a five-star resort. With plenty of furniture to craft and stores to build, you could easily spend dozens of hours in this mode alone.
• Sicko Snap is a bit like Pokémon Snap, though instead of charming fantastical creatures, you’re getting photos of gyrating perverts in speedos while riding a tourist trolley. In the early hours of the game, it’s a wonderful way to get to know the layout of the city — and catching these guys jiggling their bits next to a dumpster or behind a food truck manages to be funny every single time.

The game’s turn-based combat also makes the most of the location. Thanks to its riff on the typical RPG class system, your party members can choose from more than two dozen jobs, including Polynesian fire dancers and surfboard-wielding aquanauts. During your island getaway, you’ll square off against litigious tourists, musclehead assholes, a great white shark, and even a view-obstructing construction crane. If you didn’t get to take a real vacation this summer, Infinite Wealth just might be the next best thing.