Abraham_1 wrote: Shenmue and Yakuza being completely different games is made all the more apparent when you try recommending similar games.
Also look at Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley. Yes these are different games, but the way the world and NPCs are presented is similar. Same could be said about Persona, albeit loosely.
Ha! I was just going to suggest Animal Crossings too.
No fighting of course and when looking at it at face value, you probably would have no idea why it would even be suggested, yet it can be thought of as Shenmuesq... I even believe you get to get your own Nintendo system to play old Nintendo games on it inside the game world. Just do yourself a favor and do not skip or forget a day of playing... you wont like it back upon your return.
The cool thing about AC though is that the time of day in game corresponds with YOUR time of day. So if you play it at noon time it is noon there. 11pm your time and it is night time there. Of course you can off set your clock if you always only get to play at night due to school or work, and then play at your night but there day.
I would also suggest Morrowind and or Gothic. The way the NPCs treat you, weather effects, times of day, etc. could be construed as Shenmueish... Mount & Blade is also pretty good in terms of the larger details, like massive armies and castles. But the finer points like townsfolk and simple villages are kind of lost in translation... However there is one mod called Evlat that is about a single father and his two adult children as the roam the country side. It is more "home grown" than the usual storm all kingdoms with massive armies to win and it is modded in such a way to feel more close knit, Shenmue fans may enjoy it.