Why Does No One Talk About the Yakuza Games' Mastery of Side Quests?

[San Goku]

The Yakuza series has always been celebrated for its engaging main storyline, but I feel like people completely overlook how incredible the side quests are. Each one feels like a mini-arc that gets into the lives of quirky characters, and the writing is both hilarious and deeply human. I recently played Yakuza: Like a Dragon again, and the side quests like "The Great Detective" and the various friendship events had me genuinely invested in these characters' stories. From the absurd to the heartfelt, the way these quests enrich the game world is just brilliant and shows how much thought went into the game's design. Am I the only one who wishes more RPGs would take a page from Yakuza's book when it comes to side quests?

 

[DarkProject]

While I agree that the side quests in Yakuza: Like a Dragon are rich and entertaining, I'd argue that they aren't always as seamlessly integrated into the broader narrative as they could be. For example, the "Great Detective" quest felt a bit disconnected from the main storyline, almost like a standalone episode that could exist independently. While some side quests hit that sweet spot of being both funny and emotional, others seem to lean heavily on absurdity without much payoff in character development or world-building. It's commendable that the series attempts such a wide range of tones and styles, but not all side quests manage to leave the same lasting impression.