The Like a Dragon series has seen growing success, with an expanding fan base that includes younger and female players. However, despite this widening appeal, the developers have clarified that the series will continue to center around its core theme: stories of “middle-aged guys doing middle-aged guy things.”
In an interview with Automaton, Ryosuke Horii, the series director, explained that one of the central elements of Like a Dragon is its focus on the relatable experiences of middle-aged men. He pointed to Yakuza: Like a Dragon, where the story starts with three unemployed, middle-aged men deciding to visit Hello Work (a Japanese employment agency). Unlike younger heroes, these characters grapple with back pain and other physical complaints, adding authenticity and originality to the game. “This ‘humanity’ you feel from their age,” Horii noted, “gives the game its uniqueness.”
The lead planner, Hirotaka Chiba, emphasized this approach, highlighting how even the most casual in-game conversations reflect the characters’ age and life experiences. He cited an example where one of the characters, Adachi, debates whether to drink a beer because he’s concerned about his uric acid levels. Chiba explained that the development team intentionally focuses on middle-aged men’s hearty, everyday conversations, making it a defining characteristic of the series rather than adopting a more youthful tone.
Despite the influx of new fans, especially younger players and women, the developers have yet to make plans to alter this formula. Horii expressed his gratitude for the series’ expanding audience but maintained that they would keep the characters’ conversations the same to appeal to these newer fans. Doing so, he joked, would mean abandoning topics like uric acid levels, which would undermine the game’s core identity.
Ultimately, the team behind Like a Dragon remains committed to its theme of “middle-aged guys doing middle-aged guy things,” believing it is a fundamental part of what sets the series apart and gives it its distinctive charm.