IGN's Tristan Ogilvie attended a BiliBili Game First Look preview event in Shanghai and got hands-on time with Stranger Than Heaven, the upcoming Yakuza / Like a Dragon prequel from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio.
The biggest takeaway is how different the combat feels from the mainline series. Rather than the over-the-top brawling of Yakuza, Stranger Than Heaven takes a more grounded approach. The standout mechanic is split-body control — the left and right sides of protagonist Makoto's body are controlled independently, allowing more complex movement and precise targeting of multiple enemies. Players can block an incoming strike with one hand while countering with the other, chain jabs into heavy attacks, knock enemies down, and follow up on the ground. The arsenal spans knives, hammers, and katanas collected across different eras.
Ogilvie flagged two issues in the current build: targeting occasionally drops off enemies, and heavy weapons lack satisfying impact feedback.
The game follows Makoto Daito — founder of the infamous Tojo Clan — across 50 years of his life, five different cities, involvement in Japan's criminal underworld, and a parallel career building a music business.
Stranger Than Heaven launches January 15, 2027 on PC (Steam, Microsoft Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series, including Game Pass.
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