Yakuza Games: Chronological Play Guide

Originally launched on the PlayStation 2 in 2005, Yakuza, known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan, has grown into a celebrated series that chronicles the intricate conflicts and schemes within yakuza families in the fictional Tokyo district of Kamurocho. In 2022, the series rebranded to Like a Dragon, reflecting its original Japanese title.

The Yakuza games are a unique blend of action, melodrama, cinematic storytelling, and humor, with side quests that are essential for experiencing the full charm and wit of the series. It took years for the franchise to gain international acclaim, but its popularity has surged with a consistent stream of localized re-releases, spinoffs, and new titles, including the latest, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, featuring fan-favorite Goro Majima.

The Yakuza Games In (Chronological) Order

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How Many Yakuza/Like a Dragon Games Are There?

Since its debut in 2005, Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have released nine mainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon games, two remakes – Yakuza Kiwami (2016) and Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017), with a third in the works, and 11 spin-offs. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, the series has expanded to Xbox and PC platforms. Every new game since Yakuza: Like a Dragon has been released simultaneously across multiple platforms, excluding Nintendo Switch until the announcement in the August 2024 Nintendo Direct that Yakuza Kiwami would be ported to the Switch in October 2024.

In addition to the mainline games, Like a Dragon boasts a diverse array of spinoffs. Kurohyō: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho (2010) and its sequel Kurohyō 2: Ryu ga Gotoku Ashura Hen (2012) are exclusive to the PlayStation Portable and introduce Tatsuya Ukyo, a new protagonist. Judgment (2018) and Lost Judgment (2021) follow lawyer-turned-detective Takayuki Yagami as he investigates murders in Kamurocho, intersecting with the Tojo Clan.

Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) features the classic characters in a zombie apocalypse setting, while Yakuza Online (2018) is a free-to-play trading card game that introduced Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (2018) adapts the popular Japanese series with gameplay elements similar to Kiryu's adventures.

Two spinoffs are set in historical Japan: Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008) and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014), the latter of which was released in the West as Like a Dragon: Ishin! in 2023. Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023) delves into Kiryu's life post-Yakuza 6, and the most recent spinoff, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, follows Goro Majima in Honolulu.

Which Yakuza Game Should You Play First?

For newcomers, starting with Yakuza 0, the chronological beginning, or jumping into Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which offers a fresh start with a new protagonist and gameplay style, are both great options.

Yakuza Kiwami

Yakuza Kiwami offers familiar controls for those who started with Yakuza 0, with top-notch localization by SEGA, making it an excellent entry point for new players.

Mainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon Games in Chronological Order:

• Yakuza 0
• Yakuza / Yakuza Kiwami
• Yakuza 2 / Yakuza Kiwami 2
• Yakuza 3
• Yakuza 4
• Yakuza 5
• Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
• Yakuza: Like a Dragon
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Beware: Mild spoilers for the plots, characters, and some major events of each game follow.

1. Yakuza 0 (2014)

Despite being the sixth game released, Yakuza 0 is the chronological start of the series, set during the economic boom of the late 1980s. Players follow the intertwined stories of Kazuma Kiryu, a young member of the Dojima family framed for murder, and Goro Majima, a former Shimano family member tasked with a mysterious assassination. The game culminates with the destruction of the Empty Lot, paving the way for the Millennium Tower, a key location in the series.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC | IGN’s Yakuza 0 Review

2. Yakuza (2005) / Yakuza Kiwami (2016)

In the first Yakuza game, Kazuma Kiryu is released from prison after taking the fall for a murder he didn't commit. He returns to a world where he's expelled from the Tojo Clan, and ¥10 billion has been stolen. As he searches for answers and his friend Yumi, Kiryu encounters Haruka and the mystery surrounding her pendant. The game ends with Kiryu briefly becoming the Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan before resigning to raise Haruka.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (Yakuza Kiwami), PS2 | IGN’s Yakuza Review | Yakuza Kiwami Review

3. Yakuza 2 (2006) / Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017)

Yakuza 2 follows Kiryu as he helps prevent a war between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance. After an ambush, Kiryu appoints Daigo Dojima as the new chairman and faces off against Ryuji Goda. Detective Kaoru Sayama also joins the story, seeking answers about her missing parents.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (Yakuza Kiwami 2), PS3 | IGN’s Yakuza 2 Review | Yakuza Kiwami 2 Review

4. Yakuza 3 (2009)

Yakuza 3 finds Kiryu running the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa, far from the yakuza world. However, he's soon drawn back into conflict involving new yakuza families, assassinations, and even the CIA.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN’s Yakuza 3 Review

5. Yakuza 4 (2010)

Yakuza 4 expands the narrative with four protagonists, including Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima, and Masayoshi Tanimura. Their stories intertwine as they navigate conflicts between the Tojo Clan and the Ueno Seiwa Clan, uncovering deep-seated betrayals and mysteries.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN’s Yakuza 4 Review

6. Yakuza 5 (2012)

Yakuza 5 features five protagonists across different settings, including Kiryu, Saejima, Haruka, Akiyama, and new character Tatsuo Shinada. The game delves into their personal struggles and the looming threat of war between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN’s Yakuza 5 Review

7. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016)

Yakuza 6 serves as Kiryu's final chapter, where he returns to Kamurocho after serving time in prison. He discovers Haruka in a coma and embarks on a journey to uncover the truth behind her accident and the identity of her child's father.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC | IGN’s Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Review

8. Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)

Yakuza: Like a Dragon introduces Ichiban Kasuga and a new turn-based combat system. After serving 18 years in prison, Kasuga returns to a changed world where the Omi Alliance has defeated the Tojo Clan. His journey leads him to uncover the truth behind his former patriarch's actions and build a new team to fight against corruption.

Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series S|X, Xbox One, PC | IGN’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon Review

9. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024)

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth brings together Kiryu and Kasuga in a narrative that spans Japan and Hawaii. Kasuga's search for his mother intertwines with Kiryu's battle against cancer and a complex web of international mob groups, cults, and corporate intrigue.

Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, PC | IGN's Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review

All of the Yakuza/Like a Dragon Games and Spin-Offs in Release Order

Mainline Yakuza games are marked in bold with an asterisk.

1. Yakuza (2005) / Yakuza Kiwami (2016)*
2. Yakuza 2 (2006) / Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017)*
3. Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008)
4. Yakuza 3 (2009)*
5. Yakuza 4 (2010)*
6. Kurohyō: Ryū ga Gotoku Shinshō (2010)
7. Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011)
8. Kurohyō 2: Ryū ga Gotoku Ashura Hen (2012)
9. Yakuza 5 (2012)*
10. Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014) / Like a Dragon: Ishin! (2023)
11. Yakuza 0 (2015)*
12. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016)*
13. Yakuza Online (2018)
14. Judgment (2018)
15. Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)*
16. Lost Judgment (2021)
17. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023)
18. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024)*
19. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (2025)

What’s Next for Yakuza/Like a Dragon?

The Like a Dragon saga is far from over. While Infinite Wealth concluded its story, it left open possibilities for future installments. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has announced new projects, including the revival of Virtua Fighter and a new open-world game titled "Project Century," but details on the next Like a Dragon game remain under wraps.

For those interested in other video game series, explore these timelines:

• Grand Theft Auto Games in Order
• God of War Games in Order
• Assassin's Creed Games in Order
• Resident Evil Games in Order