Stranger Than Heaven is a new action-adventure on the way that will take you through five different eras in time in five different cities.
Coming from Yakuza developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the new game was initially revealed as Project Century. While there had been hints as to why that name was chosen initially, the March Xbox Preview confirmed that sections of the story will set across different time periods, with a new trailer dropping to showcase the era's we'll be venturing through.
You can expect the same kind of action the studio has past with its Yakuza and Like A Dragon entries - check out our Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Tides review for some insight into that - but the eras and varying settings give it a stylish, fresh edge, and with the promise of an in-depth look this May, we won't have to wait long to see more. For a full recap of what we know about Stranger Than Heaven so far, read on below.
Is there a Stranger Than Heaven release date?
There is no Stranger Than Heaven release date or window yet.
According to SEGA's 2025 financial report, the game won't be released until the end of their next financial year, so after March 2027. We also got a glimpse at the behind-the-scenes of making the game during the 2025 Tokyo Game Show, where progress was said to be going well.
Fast forward to 2026, and the Xbox Partner Preview March event confirmed we can expect to see another in-depth broadcast about Stranger Than Heaven on May 6 at 4pm PDT / 7pm EDT / May 7, 12am BST, during which we can expect to learn more. Here's hoping that includes a release date or launch window.
Have the Stranger Than Heaven platforms been confirmed?
SEGA and RGG have not confirmed which platforms this noir-soaked game will be available on.
If the Yakuza games are any indication of the plans for this new action-adventure, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC are expected. There are no expectations for a Nintendo Switch 2 release at this point, especially given the graphical heft seen in the teaser trailer. We'll keep you posted as more details head our way!
What do the Stranger Than Heaven trailers show us?
The first look at Project Century, as it was dubbed at the time, was part of The Game Awards 2024 and was comprised of pre-alpha footage; meaning the game was in very early stages of development.
Nonetheless, the rain-soaked visage of 1915 Japan in the premiere trailer had a great hook. And with this being the only trailer that takes place in the 1910s, it's fair to say 'Project Century' was a nod at the amount of time the game will cover.
The Summer Games Fest 2025 trailer was much more in-depth, though still holding cards to its chest. This title announcement footage showed more melee combat on bustling streets, a different decade for the setting, and hinted at the game's protagonist. The PEGI-18 warning at the beginning also lets us know that the graphic combat and grit of Yakuza are not missing from Stranger Than Heaven.
What is the Stranger Than Heaven story and setting?
Stranger Than Heaven will be set across five different eras and cities in Japan.
During the Xbox Partner Preview March 2026 stream, a Five Eras reveal trailer (which you can watch above) officially confirmed we'll be stepping into different time periods throughout the story. An Xbox Wire post, which featured an interview with RGG studio representative and executive producer Masayoshi Yokoyama, then explained that sections of the game will take place across these eras, with the years being 1915, 1929, 1943, 1951, and 1965.
"As you can imagine, 5 cities and 5 eras is a massive undertaking," Yokoyama-san tells Xbox Wire. "We're putting a tremendous amount of care into bringing to life these times and places we feel are rarely explored in games. It's truly a unique experience you can't get anywhere else."
We've yet to get confirmation on which cities will be among the five, but we do see glimpses of different streets through the time periods during the eras trailer. The first initial trailer also featured a detective wandering around a glib city, and the later footage has drawn comparisons to L.A. Noire — for good reason.
Story details are still under wraps, but the Summer Games Fest trailer introduced us (well, sort of) to Mako Daito, a moody detective solving a mystery. Meanwhile, the neon city's inhabitants' hedonism and rowdiness create hurdles. The Yakuza-style drama is ever present, with Mako meeting up with a mysterious American.
During the rendezvous, Mako speaks Japanese. This prompts his cohort to ask him, "What are you, then?" Mako responds, "I've been asking myself the same thing." This leads us to believe that this will be an introspective adventure from a character perspective, perhaps with the player figuring out and impacting what kind of man Mako is. While there are loads of questions still to be answered, it at least seems Mako is the protagonist.
In the Eras trailer, we see Mako across the different time periods, interacting with various characters and what seemingly appears to be gangs in the cities. Curiously, there's also a character who's played by Snoop Dogg, as well as woman who appears to be quite close to Mako. Consider our curiosity piqued.
What do we know about Stranger Than Heaven's gameplay?
Stranger Than Heaven is a third-person action game where the player explores sketchy allies and crowded city streets, running into fists around every corner. The gameplay seen in the title reveal footage showed weighty, grounded combat with interactive environments.
It's not just fist fighting, either. Molotov cocktails, guns, and in-world advantages are all at the characters' disposal. Want to throw a guy off a ledge? You're in luck! There's a real emphasis on good old boxing here, so if you enjoy minimal weapons in combat, this will be a lot of fun.
Additionally, at the 1:21 timestamp in the announcement trailer, there's a moment where the player-character holds a threatening fist in the air as he stands above a masked opponent. Two options appear on the screen in this brief reprieve: "Show him mercy," or "Show him no mercy." Now, that's something Yakuza games never had. So, it looks like some morality-testing choices will be sprinkled in with the heavy volume of fighting.
There are also some survival game and simulation elements, such as hunger and thirst meters. The Five Eras trailer also showed off some activities like arm wrestling, and not unlike Yakuza games past, it looks like Mako can enjoy a nice meal in the city which will likely tie into the aforementioned hunger meter.
Can I pre-order Stranger Than Heaven?
You can't pre-order Stranger Than Heaven. Given that the game is still in development and no platforms have been announced, there are no pre-order options available, and there likely won't be until more publishing details have been shared with the public.
On the upside, that means there is plenty of time to catch up on your backlog. Why not check out the best open-world games or the best Yakuza games to fill the time? Otherwise, patience is key while we wait to find out exactly what mystery we're going to be chasing in Stranger Than Heaven.
For more exciting releases, be sure to check in with our pages on all the upcoming PS5 games and upcoming Switch 2 games still on the way.
