Following its reveal at The Game Awards 2024 under the codename Project Century, SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s upcoming action brawler has made a splash at Summer Game Fest 2025, showcasing more of its brutal hand-to-hand combat, Judgment-esque detective systems, and most importantly, its new name, Stranger Than Heaven.
The game’s latest trailer, set in 1943 Japan’s neon-lit city streets, marks a more than three-century time jump from its initial reveal, alluding to the fact that, like its previous Project Century namesake, the game would unfold across various time periods and possibly feature multiple protagonists like 2015’s Yakuza 0.
Centred around its protagonist Mako Daito (at least, in 1943), Stranger Than Heaven looks to feature the same brutal street brawling RGG Studio is well-known for, this time with a few interesting ideas to shake up the formula.
In a move seemingly inspired by Rockstar Games’ L.A. Noire and its very own detective spin-off, Judgment, the game will feature various sleuthing mechanics, with a scene in the trailer showcasing Daito taking down notes as he seemingly eavesdrops on a conversation behind closed doors.
More interestingly, however, is the apparent inclusion of various survival RPG elements, with Daito having hunger and thirst meters, marking the first time the studio has dabbled with the concept. Items in the game can also feature various effects, such as cigarettes, which “draws immense hostility when smoking”. Decision-making will also play a key role, as a scene showcases the player choosing between killing or sparing a foe, which could potentially signal either branching story paths or multiple endings.
With RGG Studio’s chops in the action brawling genre, now mixing visceral combat with detective elements and more in-depth RPG mechanics, Stranger Than Heaven is shaping up to be another tightly crafted action extravaganza from the renowned studio, and fans will surely wait with bated breathe as more information comes ahead of the game’s launch.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
Yong Le
Si Jia
