Yakuza: Like a Dragon allows players to recruit party members throughout the game for the first time in the series. There is a maximum of four that can be in the active party at all times, but users can tag characters inactive members in at any time. Given how useful this feature can be, players are likely wondering how many party members players can recruit in Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
The majority of the characters that join the player’s party during the course of Yakuza: Like a Dragon do so as part of the story. However, there is an optional party member that is missable. We’ll cover each party member and when they join the party below.
Warning: Major spoilers below.
How many party members are there in Yakuza: Like a Dragon?
Players can recruit seven party members over the course of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Six of these characters join as part of the main story, and one is optional. These characters are Ichiban Kasuga, Yu Nanba, Koichi Adachi, Saeko Mukuoda, Joon-gi Han, Tianyou Zhao, and Eri Kamataki.
Here’s when these characters will join Ichiban’s party:
- Ichiban Kasuga
- Joins: Starting character.
- Yu Nanba
- Joins: Chapter 3
- Koichi Adachi
- Joins: Chapter 4
- Saeko Mukuoda
- Joins: Chapter 5
- Joon-gi Han
- Joins: Chapter 10
- Tianyou Zaho
- Joins: Chapter 11
- Eri Kamataki
- Joins: Complete substory #15 and raise Ichiban Confection’s ranking to #100.
Eri Kamataki is the only optional character in the game, but she’s quite useful. Nanba leaves the party for several chapters. Having Eri on the team allows players to keep the maximum of four party members in combat. If she isn’t recruited, players will find this section of the game harder since only Ichiban, Adachi, and Saeko will be available to fight.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match when composing the party. There’s no way to miss dialog if someone isn’t in the active party. Characters not currently in the active party also continue to gain experience, so there’s no worry of anyone becoming underleveled either. Make sure to switch between classes as well, as some character’s default stats make them better at a job than others.
