Stranger Than Heaven will include optional in-game “cheats” to ease combat
GG Brief Editorial Desk · AI-assisted, source attributed
RGG Studio told IGN at Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show 2026 that its upcoming street-brawler Stranger Than Heaven will offer optional in-game assists described as “cheats” to make combat easier. IGN's hands-on reported the game uses a parry-based combat system described as demanding and requiring attention to attack animations and directions. IGN wrote that the optional assists are intended to let the game be “only as difficult as players want it to be.” IGN also contrasted Stranger Than Heaven’s combat with the comparatively carefree button-mashing combo systems in the studio’s previous titles such as Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and Lost Judgment.
- What happened: RGG Studio confirmed to IGN at Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show 2026 that Stranger Than Heaven will feature optional in-game assists, described in coverage as “cheats,” to make its combat easier.
- Why it matters: IGN’s hands-on reported the game’s combat is a parry-based system that it described as demanding and requiring close attention to attack animations and directions, so the assists affect how approachable that combat can be.
- Context: IGN contrasted Stranger Than Heaven’s parry-focused system with the studio’s earlier, more carefree button-mashing combo systems in titles like Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and Lost Judgment.
- What next: IGN’s report does not confirm release date, platforms, the exact nature or options of the assists, or other implementation details; those specifics were not provided in the cited coverage.
What changed
RGG Studio told IGN at Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show 2026 that its upcoming street-brawler Stranger Than Heaven will include optional in-game assists referred to in coverage as “cheats” to make combat easier.
Before and after
- Before: IGN described the studio’s previous titles (cited examples include Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and Lost Judgment) as featuring comparatively carefree button-mashing combo systems.
- After: IGN’s hands-on by Michael Higham reported Stranger Than Heaven uses a parry-based combat system that the writer called demanding and said requires attention to attack animations and attack direction; the confirmed optional assists are intended to change how challenging that system feels to players.
Limits
- The IGN report does not include a release date, platform availability, full details of the assist options, or how those assists interact with other game systems; those items remain unconfirmed in the cited coverage.