Goro Majima washes ashore on "Rich Island" with no memory of his past and no possessions except a long dagger and a pair of pants. When he is found by Noah Rich and a tiger cub (also named Goro), Majima decides to stay on the island and help rebuild it, hoping he will eventually remember his real past.
Goro will be able to explore Honolulu and Nele Island from the last main Like A Dragon title.
Unlike the mainline Like A Dragon set in Hawaii, this game will feature more traditional action combat. Goro will get to use one of two styles:
- Mad Dog: Inspired by his classic moves as the Mad Dog of Shimano, Goro makes use of brutal strikes and a very long knife to take down his enemies. He can also max out his Madness meter to summon shadow clones and attack multiple enemies at once.
- Sea Dog: Making use of his time on the high seas, this pirate uses twin cutlasses, a chain-hook, and a flintlock pistol to combo single enemies in the air or whittle down waves of foes at once. When his meter is full, he can use "Dark Instruments" to summon legendary beasts to turn the tide of battle.
Further continuing the pirate theme, Goro can equip a ring on each of his fingers to enhance his own stats and abilities. Goro can also customize his two different outfits: a more traditional set from when he arrives on Honolulu (or fights in Mad Dog mode), and another when he takes on his pirate persona (or fights in Sea Dog mode).
Goro will eventually take control of his own pirate ship, the Goromaru. The ship can be customized with a wide variety of unlockable skins and a crew of both old and new faces from the series. In addition, players will be able to engage in ship-to-ship combat, outfitting their ships with cannons they can upgrade and then fire at enemies. Goro can also be controlled on his own, and fire a cannon or rocket launcher separate from those on the ship.
"Madlantis," hidden in a large cave borne from a ship graveyard, is an offshore pleasure district ruled by a ruthless pirate queen. Several minigames from the series can be played here, like poker, blackjack, and the home run derby, in addition to a Pirate Colosseum where challenging sea battles can be had for great rewards.
A demo of the game was released on February 14, 2025, showing off a small slice of the game from after Goro gets control of the Goromaru and sets sail for Honolulu, and his initial arrival at Madlantis.