Yakuza Games: A Guide to Playing in Chronological Order

Originally released as a PlayStation 2 game in 2005, Yakuza (Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) has evolved into a beloved video game series, captivating fans with its engaging narratives centered around yakuza families in the fictional Kamurocho neighborhood of Tokyo. Renamed to Like a Dragon in 2022, the series has maintained its unique blend of action, melodrama, cinematic flair, and humor, becoming increasingly popular globally. The franchise's charm is not just in its main storylines but also in its side quests, which add a layer of quirky humor that's essential to the full Yakuza experience. Thanks to consistent re-releases, spin-offs, and new entries, the series continues to expand, with the latest addition being Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, featuring Goro Majima in a thrilling Hawaiian adventure.

The Yakuza Games In (Chronological) Order

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

Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have released nine mainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon games, along with two remakes – Yakuza Kiwami (2016) and Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017), with another promised for the future – and 11 spin-offs since the series debuted in 2005. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, the games have since been ported to Xbox and PC, and newer titles since Yakuza: Like a Dragon have been released across all platforms except the Nintendo Switch. However, Yakuza Kiwami is set to be the first Like a Dragon game to receive a Switch port in October 2024, as announced in the August 2024 Nintendo Direct.

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 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 mysterious murders in Kamurocho, with some crossover involving the Tojo Clan.

The zombie-themed Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) brings back the classic characters in a dystopian setting, while Yakuza Online (2018) is a free-to-play TCG on mobile and PC that introduced Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The popular Japanese series Fist of the North Star was given the Yakuza treatment with Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (2018), adopting the structure and gameplay of Kiryu's adventures.

Two spin-off games set in historical Japan, Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008) and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014), later released as Like a Dragon: Ishin! in the West in 2023, feature historical figures as protagonists.

In 2023, RGG released Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name, which runs parallel to Yakuza: Like a Dragon and details Kiryu's fate post-Yakuza 6. The most recent spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, stars Goro Majima as an amnesiac navigating Honolulu six months after the events of Infinite Wealth.

Which Yakuza Game Should You Play First?

For newcomers to the series, starting with Yakuza 0 offers a chronological entry point that sets the stage for the entire saga. Alternatively, jumping into Yakuza: Like a Dragon provides a fresh start with a new protagonist and a revamped gameplay system.

### Yakuza Kiwami

0Newcomers or fans who began with Yakuza 0 will appreciate the familiar controls, top-notch localization, and the solid starting point that Yakuza Kiwami offers for diving 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)

Yakuza 0, despite being the sixth game released, serves as the chronological beginning of the series. Set in the late 1980s during Japan's economic boom, it follows two protagonists: a young Kazuma Kiryu, framed for a murder at the Empty Lot, and Goro Majima, working in a cabaret club after being punished for his past actions. By the game's end, Kiryu clears his name, Majima helps Makoto escape, 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)

In the original Yakuza, Kazuma Kiryu is released from a 10-year prison stint after taking the fall for his friend Akira Nishikiyama, who killed their boss Sohei Dojima. Returning to a changed Kamurocho, Kiryu uncovers a missing ¥10 billion, searches for his friend Yumi Sawamura, and meets Haruka, whose pendant is key to the mystery. The climax sees Kiryu battling Nishikiyama and briefly becoming the Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan before stepping down 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 sees Kiryu helping the Tojo Clan avoid war with the Omi Alliance. After surviving an ambush that seemingly kills the Fifth Chairman Yukio Terada, Kiryu searches for Daigo Dojima to lead the clan. His journey intertwines with Ryuji Goda and detective Kaoru Sayama, whose personal quest for her missing parents adds depth to the narrative.

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 runs the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa, seeking peace. However, his tranquil life is disrupted by yakuza conflicts, assassinations, and international intrigue, drawing him back into the fray.

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

5. Yakuza 4 (2010)

Yakuza 4 escalates the saga with four protagonists. Alongside Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima, and Masayoshi Tanimura navigate the complex web of yakuza politics, betrayals, and crime in Kamurocho. Their stories converge to reveal the truth behind the conflicts.

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, each with unique stories across different Japanese locales. Kiryu, now in Fukuoka, searches for Daigo Dojima, while Saejima escapes prison, Haruka pursues her idol career, Akiyama helps uncover a murder, and Tatsuo Shinada seeks redemption from his baseball scandal.

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

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

Marking the end of Kiryu's main storyline, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life sees him released from prison after three years. He learns Haruka is in a coma and has a child, leading him to investigate in Hiroshima. The game ties up loose ends with familiar faces and new threats.

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 turn-based combat system. After serving 18 years for a crime he didn't commit, Kasuga discovers the Tojo Clan's downfall and sets out to uncover the truth behind his former patriarch Masumi Arakawa's betrayal, assembling a diverse party to aid his quest.

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)

In Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Kiryu and Kasuga team up in a dual-protagonist adventure that spans Japan and Hawaii. Kasuga's search for his supposedly deceased mother intertwines with Kiryu's battle against cancer and their joint efforts to thwart international criminal plots.

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)

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 story continues to evolve. Despite the closure of Infinite Wealth's narrative, the game ended on a cliffhanger, hinting at more to come. While RGG Studio has announced projects like the revival of Virtua Fighter and "Project Century," fans eagerly await news on the next Like a Dragon mainline or spin-off game.

For more video game timelines, explore these guides:

Grand Theft Auto Games in OrderGod of War Games in OrderAssassin's Creed Games in OrderResident Evil Games in Order