Yakuza: Like a Dragon Has the Biggest Map
Without a doubt, Yakuza: Like a Dragon features the largest open world map ever seen in the mainline Yakuza series. The brand new setting of Yokohama stretches approximately 4 times wider than Kamurocho, the intricately detailed Tokyo red light district that has anchored most Yakuza titles.
For devoted fans eager to explore more of this vivid criminal underground, Like a Dragon is a dramatic leap forward in scope and scale.
Yokohama: A Significant Size Upgrade
According to official developer estimates, Yokohama clocks in at roughly 4 times the explorable area compared to Kamurocho. Based on player analysis and tests, Yokohama takes between 15-20 minutes to jog across from edge to edge. Kamurocho by comparison would traverse in around 5 minutes at most.
While absolute dimensions are hard to confirm, the size difference is monumental regardless. After spending countless hours crisscrossing Kamurocho‘s neon-bathed streets, Yokohama feels like a whole new frontier.
Map Size Comparison Table
| Game | Map | Estimated Size |
|---|---|---|
| Yakuza: Like a Dragon | Yokohama | 4X larger than Kamurocho |
| Yakuza 0 – Yakuza 6 | Kamurocho | Base reference size |
Density Over Scale in Past Yakuza Maps
Kamurocho‘s compact footprint is both a limitation and strength for the gameplay and storytelling. Areas like the Champion District become intimately familiar neighborhood hubs after just an hour or two of questing. The city streets feel vibrantly alive and lived-in as recurring NPCs have purpose and realistic routines.
By keeping the map tight and focused, RGG Studio has filled previous entries with secrets and activities. According to many fans, no open world matches Yakuza‘s density per square meter. There is always something unexpected around the next corner in Kamurocho to pull players into flanking alleys.
Why Yokohama Marks a Major Shift
After 8 mainline titles rooted in Tokyo, the series opted for a change in scenery along with its first ever RPG-style combat system. Expanding beyond Kamurocho was a risky move, but overwhelmingly well received by fans and critics.
Yokohama manages to retain the charm and personality that makes Yakuza world design so special. Neighborhoods have their own distinct flavors such as Koreatown and Chinatown, anchored by real global landmarks like the famed Peking Duck House Chinese restaurant. Seamless transitions between areas keeps the action flowing through this sprawling urban playground.
Side activities also received upgrades fitting of the increased real estate. Go-kart racing, drone racing, golfing and more feel grander and feature custom tracks that stretch across city blocks. Underground dungeon crawls are more mazelike and intricate. Stadium-sized battles truly sell the scale when robots transform mid-fight.
After 7 main games confined to intimate grids, Yakuza‘s first true open world evolution was universally praised. It remains quintessentially Yakuza while peeling back the borders that Kazuma Kiryu and crew have long since outgrown.
