Stranger Than Heaven builds its identity as Like A Dragon's more relentless spin-off

We played several hours of Sega's next big crime-thriller, and so far the Like a Dragon series is getting its most bold entry to date.

By Alessandro Fillari Oct. 21, 2026 10:00 am EST RGG Studio / Sega Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

Stranger Than Heaven is the next game in Sega's sprawling crime-epic series Like A Dragon (formerly known as Yakuza in the US). On the surface, it looks like a grittier, more brutal take on the traditional Like a Dragon brawler action, but after extended hands-on time, I found myself thinking that Stranger Than Heaven's style feels much more grounded, and personal.