RGG Studio has lifted the lid on its next big game, Stranger Than Heaven. Announced back at The Game Awards in 2024 with the codename Project Century, Stranger Than Heaven was re-revealed last summer with its final name. In partnership with Xbox, the Yakuza developer released a 30-minute presentation where it dove deep into everythign you’d want to know about Stranger Than Heaven with heaps of new gameplay footage. It’s immediately clear that this is quite different from the Yakuza games, as it will take place over the course of half a century.
The story begins in 1915 with protagonist Makoto Daito sneaking onto a ship to escape from his life in San Francisco after the passing of his parents. He heads for Japan, but aboard the ship he meets a cutthroat smuggler known as Orpheus, played by Snoop Dogg.
As you might imagine, Makoto gets wrapped up in a life of crime after Orpheus takes advantage of Makoto’s ability to speak Japanese and fit in with the culture. Makoto grows ambitious and seeks power in Japan, eventually entering the world of show business while still leveraging the skills and authority he gained from his criminal background.
Over the course of the game, the world will evolve as time passes. Makoto will travel to various cities depending on where he is in his life and what his goals are. This prevents the world from becoming static, as things are constantly shifting as you progress. New mini-games will open up based on what era and city you’re in. The world itself is also extremely layered. Of course, there are businesses you can enter and find activities in, but there is also a dangerous criminal underworld to explore.
