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I get it: Sonic the Hedgehog is and always will be the face of Sega. The Blue Blur holds an undisputed place in gaming history as the mascot that, for a while, nearly matched Nintendo’s Mario as the biggest name in gaming. But that doesn’t mean that Sonic games are the best thing Sega has done. No, the best thing Sega has ever done, and I say this without hesitation, is the Yakuza series, and I’m here to start the campaign to make Ichigo the face of Sega going forward.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way; even the most ardent Sonic fan will admit that the franchise has had its share of highs and lows. Often more lows than highs, if we’re being honest. Sure, his movies have been well-received and probably paved the way for The Super Mario Bros. Movie to make bank at the box office, but for every Sonic Mania, there is a Sonic and the Secret Rings to balance it out. It is a series that is uneven at best.

That isn’t something that you can say about the Yakuza series. (By the way, I’m calling it Yakuza because it is the name of the series in the West. I know it is called Like a Dragon in Japan. You know it is called Like a Dragon in Japan. This is all just for the sake of clarity.) While you could argue that some of the early games are dated in their controls and graphics, they are never really bad. The series gets off to a solid start with Yakuza and just gets better from there. While some of the spin-off games are forgettable, they are all at least fun to play.

For those who aren’t familiar with the Yakuza series, it is a sprawling series that includes nine mainline titles and 12 spin-offs, each one following the seedy, dark world of Japanese organized crime. There is drama, betrayal, love, and action mixed throughout each game.

Oh, did I say they were dark and seedy? I meant they are goofy as heck. Each game is packed full of side quests that range from helping an adult baby find someone to change their diaper to turning a rice cracker shop into a massive corporate empire. One mission will have you trying to figure out the perfect angle to photograph food for a menu, while another sees you pairing a man who can feel no pain up with the most ruthless dominatrix in the city, much to their shared delight.

It is the tonal whiplash you get from the Yakuza series that makes it so special and so memorable. These stories are all presented as deadly serious. They are about people whose entire lives have been dedicated to their clan, who see betrayal as the ultimate sin, and who would give their lives for each other. They will then spend six hours at the karaoke bar to max out their friendship with their friends or running around collecting cans to sell for spare change.

And the incredible thing? Most of these mini-games are great. Well designed and well thought out. They are so fun, I didn’t mind spending hours of my life on them. I learned how to play Mahjong because of the Yakuza series. And not that basic Mahjong matching game you play on your computer when you are bored with Solitaire. I learned the real game so I could get a trophy in Yakuza 6, which was a terrible use of my time, but I don’t regret it. That trophy is mine forever.

Despite being obstinately about manly men doing crime for a living, the two protagonists are never afraid to show their emotions. These are men who feel, deeply and powerfully, without shame or remorse. They love intensely and protect those they love with the same intensity. It would have been easy to make the Yakuza series into an almost parody of The Godfather or Goodfellas, but no. There is joy and sorrow in these games that will hit home for you.

The real magic of the Yakuza series, though, is its ability to change and adapt over time. It shifts genres, going from an action brawler to turn-based combat between entries. It changes time periods, occasionally delving into prequels and even complete revisions of actual historical events, without ever seeming out of place. Even the protagonist has shifted from Kazuma Kiryu to Ichiban Kasuga, proving that the only thing that needs to stay consistent in the series is the willingness to have fun.

I think that is why Yakuza should be the face that Sega presents to the world. While Sonic is stuck in the past (if he isn’t running sideways on the screen, I’m honestly not interested), this is a series that can be whatever modern gaming needs it to be. I’m not saying that Sega should give up on Sonic the Hedgehog completely; he is iconic and deserves praise for what he has done. However, I’m much more excited for what happens next in Yakuza than anything Sega could tell me about Sonic.

The gaming industry has come a long way since Pong blew all our minds in the 70s. We've got everything you need to know about the next big thing in games. Of course, Grand Theft Auto VI is going to be the big game of 2026, but there are plenty of other games coming out between now and then. Here is our starter guide for every gamer:

• All upcoming games in 2025 and beyond
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