Yakuza Series: Chronological Play Guide

Originally launched as a PlayStation 2 game in 2005, Yakuza, known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan, has evolved into a cherished video game series. The saga unfolds in the fictional Tokyo neighborhood of Kamurocho, delving into the intricate conflicts and schemes of yakuza families. In 2022, the series was rebranded to Like a Dragon, reflecting its original Japanese title.

The Yakuza games are renowned for their action-packed gameplay, melodramatic storytelling, cinematic flair, and humorous undertones. Engaging in side quests is essential to experiencing the full charm and wit of the series. Initially slow to gain international acclaim, the franchise has now achieved widespread recognition, bolstered by a steady stream of localized re-releases, spin-offs, and new entries, including the latest Majima-led spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

The Yakuza Games In (Chronological) Order

10 ImagesHow Many Yakuza/Like a Dragon Games Are There?

Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have released an impressive lineup since the series debuted in 2005, including nine mainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon games, two remakes - Yakuza Kiwami (2016) and Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017) - with a third promised, and 11 spin-offs. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, the series has expanded to Xbox and PC platforms. Every game since Yakuza: Like a Dragon has been released simultaneously across multiple platforms, except for the Nintendo Switch. However, Yakuza Kiwami was announced for a Switch port in October 2024, following the Nintendo Direct in August 2024.

In addition to the mainline games, Like a Dragon boasts a variety of diverse spin-offs. Kurohyō: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho (2010) and its sequel Kurohyō 2: Ryu ga Gotoku Ashura Hen (2012) are PlayStation Portable exclusives featuring Tatsuya Ukyo. Judgment (2018) and Lost Judgment (2021) introduce Takayuki Yagami, a lawyer-turned-detective, whose adventures intersect with the Yakuza universe.

The zombie-themed Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) places familiar characters in a dystopian setting. 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 into the Yakuza gameplay style.

Historical spin-offs include Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008) and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014), the latter released in the West as Like a Dragon: Ishin! in 2023. Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023) bridges the gap between Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Yakuza 6, while the newest addition, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, follows Goro Majima in Honolulu.

Which Yakuza Game Should You Play First?

For those new to the series, 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 who began their journey with Yakuza 0 will appreciate the familiar controls, top-notch SEGA localization, and a solid entry point into the franchise. See it at AmazonMainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon Games in Chronological Order:

Yakuza 0Yakuza / Yakuza KiwamiYakuza 2 / Yakuza Kiwami 2Yakuza 3Yakuza 4Yakuza 5Yakuza 6: The Song of LifeYakuza: Like a DragonLike a Dragon: Infinite WealthBeware: 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 first in the series chronologically. Set during Japan's economic boom in the late 1980s, it follows two protagonists: Kazuma Kiryu, a young member of the Dojima family framed for murder over the Empty Lot, and Goro Majima, a former Shimano family member tasked with assassinating Makoto, the true owner of the Lot. By the game's end, Kiryu returns to the Dojima family, Majima spares Makoto, and the Empty Lot is replaced by the iconic Millennium Tower.

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

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

Yakuza begins with Kazuma Kiryu serving a 10-year prison sentence for a murder he didn’t commit. Upon his release, he discovers that ¥10 billion has been stolen from the Tojo Clan, and his friend Yumi is missing. Kiryu's journey leads him to meet Haruka, whose pendant holds a key to the missing funds. The climax sees Kiryu confront his friend Nishikiyama, accept and then relinquish the role of Fourth Chairman to Yukio Terada, and adopt 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 sees Kiryu helping Yukio Terada prevent a war with the Omi Alliance. After Terada's apparent death, Kiryu supports Daigo Dojima as the new chairman. He encounters Ryuji Goda, his adversary from the Omi Alliance, and works alongside detective Kaoru Sayama, uncovering her family's past.

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 shifts to Kiryu running the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa, only to be drawn back into the yakuza world due to new threats involving arms smuggling and the CIA.

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

5. Yakuza 4 (2010)

Yakuza 4 introduces four protagonists, including Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima, and Masayoshi Tanimura, each entangled in the conflicts between the Tojo Clan and Ueno Seiwa Clan. Their stories intertwine as they navigate betrayals and crime.

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

6. Yakuza 5 (2012)

Yakuza 5 expands the narrative with five protagonists, including Kiryu, Saejima, Haruka, Akiyama, and Tatsuo Shinada. Their stories range from Kiryu's struggle with the Omi Alliance to Haruka's pursuit of a J-pop career and Shinada's quest to clear his name in the world of baseball.

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: The Song of Life marks Kiryu's final chapter, as he returns to Kamurocho after three years in prison. He learns of Haruka's coma and her son Haruto, leading him to investigate in Hiroshima. The game involves rival groups like the Saio Triad and Jingweon Mafia.

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 for a crime he didn't commit, 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 betrayal.

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 unites Kiryu and Kasuga in a dual-protagonist narrative that spans Japan and Hawaii. Kasuga seeks his mother, while Kiryu, battling cancer, assists the Daidoji faction. Their adventures involve international mob groups, a religious cult, and more.

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

All of the 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)

18. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023)

19. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024)*

20. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (2025)

What’s Next for Yakuza/Like a Dragon?

The Like a Dragon saga continues to captivate fans, with Infinite Wealth setting new sales records and ending on a cliffhanger that promises more to come. While RGG Studio has announced other projects like the revival of Virtua Fighter and the open-world "Project Century," details on the next Like a Dragon mainline or spin-off remain eagerly anticipated.

Looking for more video game timelines? Check out these guides:

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