If Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the soft reboot of the series, then Gaiden is the epilogue for everything before it.

I think a lot about RGG is reflected back here, with its most thoughtful and personal journey of Kiryu and a study of not only the character, but the franchise. It's kinda crazy how once was a series that started out as open-brawler influenced by the likes of River City and Shemue has turned into a giant that is now basically juggling multiple genres, storylines, and side-content that might as well be games in themselves. I think Gaiden really does continues to embody Yakuza and its becomes self-aware in a way, while still finding ways to refine itself and improve on what was built before. It's a beautiful thing in a way, not often do you see franchises keep finding ways to keep topping itself without becoming unrecognizable from its origins. I really hope we get more side-games like this one and maybe some deeper character studies on others in the franchise.

(and oh yeah the game itself is great of course)