Like A Dragon: Ishin is a remake of the historical Yakuza spin-off. This game doesn't directly feature Kiryu and company, instead having those characters and actors playing roles in a historical epic about the changing political landscape in Japan during the 1860s. While the cast and setting might not be familiar to fans of the series, the selection of minigames will make them feel right at home. Since this is a remake of an older game, it doesn't have quite the variety or quantity that some of the more modern entries do, but there are a few unique ones.

Classics like karaoke and dancing make their return in Like A Dragon: Ishin, both of which have been tweaked to better fit the historical setting. Fishing also appears, although this version is a bit more simplistic than it has been in other entries. Some of the unique activities include fighting scarecrows and chicken racing. While some of these games are less interactive and more focused on gambling, things like chicken racing are involved enough to hold your attention.

A few other minigames include the classic fighting arena, where you can test your might and skills in combat against multiple opponents. There is also another fighting-focused activity, which is the battle trooper raids you can go one with your trooper squad. These are short dungeons that have you utilize your troopers and their skills. Here are 10 fun minigames you can play in Like A Dragon: Ishin.

The Arena

The Fighting Arena is a staple of the Yakuza franchise, and it makes an appearance in Like A Dragon: Ishin as well. At the Arena, located in Mukurogai, you can either fight five enemies in a row, with each set of enemies tougher than the last, or a 100-person gauntlet. Completing fights earns you materials and Arena points, which can be used to purchase a variety of items, like materials for crafting or plates which can be sold for money.

Wood Chopping

Located in the southeastern part of Fushimi, you can find an old man struggling to chop enough wood for him and his family. You can do it for him and earn some money in the process, but the fun part is chopping the wood itself. Chopping functions like a rhythm game, as you need to chop at the exact moment the axe lights up blue, with Sakamoto's speed increasing with every successful chop.

Cooking

At your homestead, you can grow vegetables in your garden. These vegetables can be used to cook meals, along with some fish you can catch. The meals themselves can either be sold or eaten for health, but before you can enjoy some home cooking, you need to cook. This requires you to chop vegetables, pour seasoning, keep the flame hot, and even grill fish. The more complicated the dish, the more difficult it is to cook.

Buyo Dancing

Buyo Dancing is a traditional type of Japanese dance, typically done with a hand fan. You can practice your dance moves at Nichibuza in Rakunai. Dancing is similar to the karaoke minigame, where you must press the correct buttons in the style of a rhythm game, with the challenge increasing as you reach the more complicated dances. While similar to karaoke, the way the buttons are presented and the way you time pressing them is quite different.

Gambling Galore

At the Gambling Den in Rakugai, you can find a wide variety of different card games to play. There are plenty of Japanese gambling games like Koi-Koi, Oicho-Kabu, Cee-Lo, and more. There are also familiar favorites like Poker, which comes in three different varieties. If you are looking to make a quick buck or just want to relax with some video game gambling, there are plenty of options at the Gambling Den.

Scarecrow Chateau

Similar to the Arena, the Scarecrow Chateau is a test of your fighting skills, but while the Arena tests strength and endurance, the chateau tests speed. The Scarecrow Chateau features a series of mini challenges, where you must defeat a bunch of scarecrows in a room under a strict time limit. Some of the challenges even limit which fighting style you can use, forcing you to get comfortable with all of the fighting styles. The Scarecrow Chateau also rewards materials and other rare items for successfully completing the trails.

Chicken Racing

Like A Dragon: Ishin features a gambling-focused event starring chickens. Chicken Racing takes place in Rakuhai, where you can bet money on chickens as they run around a track. Each race has a different distance and set of chickens, making it a difficult minigame to master. But there are a variety of things to bet on and the payout can be anywhere from double to 20 times your initial bet, making it a lucrative way to earn money.

Fishing

There are a variety of places to fish in Kyo, with river fishing available in the southernmost part of the map. In the same location, you can find a boat to take you to different ocean fishing locations. Fishing is necessary for cooking, and the fish can be sold as part of your home business. The game itself is quite simple, with you casting your rod near fish, waiting for them to bite, and catching them at the perfect moment. You don't need to reel the fish, making it simpler than some other video game versions of fishing.

Karaoke

A Yakuza staple, Karaoke makes its return at the Utamaruya singing bar in Fushimi. While the technology hasn't been invented yet at this point in history, that doesn't stop you from belting out a wide variety of Japanese songs at the bar. This version of Karaoke feels similar to how it works in the other games in the series, where you must press the buttons shown on screen in-sync with the song in order to achieve the highest possible score.

Battle Trooper Raids

Once you join the Shinsengumi and become captain of the third division, you get access to special raids. During these raids you must utilize your troopers and their special abilities to go through a short dungeon filled with enemies. These dungeons typically conclude with a mini boss fight and reward a hefty amount of materials upon completion. These dungeons can be pretty challenging, so it's a great way to test out your combat abilities.