How to Play the Yakuza Games in Chronological Order

Originally launched on the PlayStation 2 in 2005, the Yakuza series, known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan, has evolved into a cherished franchise that delves into the intricate world of yakuza families within the fictional Tokyo district of Kamurocho. The series rebranded to Like a Dragon in 2022, reflecting its original Japanese title.

These games are renowned for their blend of action, melodrama, cinematic flair, and humor. The side quests are a crucial element, adding depth and a unique comedic touch to the gameplay. It took years for the series to gain international acclaim, but it has now achieved widespread recognition, thanks to a steady stream of localized re-releases, spinoffs, and new entries. The latest addition is the Majima-centric spinoff, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

The Yakuza Games in Chronological Order

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How Many Yakuza/Like a Dragon Games Are There?

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 pipeline, and 11 spin-offs since the series began in 2005. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, the games have since been ported to Xbox and PC, with all new releases since Yakuza: Like a Dragon available on multiple platforms simultaneously, except for the Nintendo Switch. However, Yakuza Kiwami was ported to the Switch in October 2024, as announced during the August 2024 Nintendo Direct.

In addition to the mainline series, Like a Dragon boasts a variety of diverse spinoffs. Kurohyō: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho (2010) and its sequel Kurohyō 2: Ryu ga Gotoku Ashura Hen (2012) are PlayStation Portable exclusives featuring a new character, Tatsuya Ukyo. Judgment (2018) and Lost Judgment (2021) introduce Takayuki Yagami, a lawyer-turned-detective who navigates the murky waters of Kamurocho, intersecting with the Tojo Clan.

The zombie-themed Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) brings the classic characters into a dystopian world. Yakuza Online (2018) is a free-to-play trading card game on mobile and PC, introducing Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (2018) adapts the popular manga into the Yakuza gameplay style.

Two historical spinoffs set in older Japan, Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008) and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014), the latter released in the West as Like a Dragon: Ishin! in 2023, feature historic figures as protagonists.

In 2023, Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name was released, detailing Kiryu's story post-Yakuza 6. The latest spinoff, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, follows Goro Majima in Honolulu six months after the events of Infinite Wealth.

Which Yakuza Game Should You Play First?

For newcomers, starting with Yakuza 0 offers a chronological introduction, while Yakuza: Like a Dragon provides a fresh start with a new protagonist and gameplay style.

Yakuza Kiwami

0Newcomers or those whose Yakuza experience started with Yakuza 0 will appreciate the familiar controls, top-notch SEGA localization, and a solid entry point into the Yakuza universe. See it at Amazon

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)

The sixth game released, Yakuza 0 is the chronological first. Set during the late 1980s economic boom, it follows two protagonists: Kazuma Kiryu, a young member of the Dojima family framed for a murder at the Empty Lot, and Goro Majima, a former Shimano family member working in a cabaret as punishment. Majima is tasked with killing a blind woman, Makoto, who turns out to be the rightful owner of the Empty Lot. By the game's end, Kiryu returns to the Dojima family, Majima allows Makoto to live, and the Empty Lot is destroyed, replaced by the Millennium Tower.

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

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

The first game, Yakuza, follows Kazuma Kiryu after he serves a 10-year prison sentence for a murder he didn't commit. Upon release, he's expelled from the Tojo Clan, with ¥10 billion stolen from the clan and his friend Yumi missing. Kiryu meets Haruka, whose pendant is key to the lost money, and confronts his best friend, Akira Nishikiyama, who has turned against him. Kiryu finds Yumi and the money, fights Nishikiyama, and briefly becomes 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 begins with Kiryu helping Yukio Terada prevent war between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance. After Terada's apparent death, Kiryu seeks to appoint Daigo Dojima as the new chairman. Kiryu clashes with Ryuji Goda, son of the Omi chairman, and works with detective Kaoru Sayama to uncover the truth 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)

In Yakuza 3, Kiryu is far from the yakuza world, running the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa with Haruka. His peace is disrupted by new yakuza conflicts, 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)

Set one year after Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4 introduces four protagonists: Kazuma Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima, and Masayoshi Tanimura. The story weaves their narratives through the Tojo Clan's conflicts and betrayals.

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

6. Yakuza 5 (2012)

Yakuza 5 expands with five protagonists across different settings. Kiryu, now in Fukuoka, learns of Daigo's disappearance. Saejima, back in prison, plans an escape. Haruka pursues her J-pop idol dream, while Akiyama helps her uncover the truth behind a murder. Tatsuo Shinada, a former baseball player, is drawn into the mystery.

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

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

In Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, Kiryu serves three years in prison for his past crimes. Upon release, he learns Haruka is in a coma and has a child, Haruto. Kiryu investigates in Onomichi, Hiroshima, while rival groups vie for power in Kamurocho.

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, a new protagonist who takes the fall for his yakuza family and spends 18 years in prison. Upon release, he discovers the Tojo Clan's downfall and is shot by his former patriarch, Masumi Arakawa. Kasuga, now in Yokohama, assembles a new team to uncover the truth.

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 dual-protagonist story set in 2024. Kasuga searches for his mother in Hawaii, where he reunites with Kiryu, who is battling cancer. Their adventure spans international crime syndicates and a complex narrative involving various factions.

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 continues to expand. While Infinite Wealth concluded its narrative arc, it left room for future stories. RGG Studio has announced projects like the revival of Virtua Fighter and a new open-world game, "Project Century," but details on the next Like a Dragon game remain under wraps.