"Chronological Guide to Playing Yakuza Games"

Originally released as a PlayStation 2 game in 2005, Yakuza (known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) kicked off a sprawling and beloved video game series. Set in the fictional Tokyo neighborhood of Kamurocho, the series delves into the intricate conflicts and schemes of yakuza families. In a significant branding shift, the series was renamed to Like a Dragon, the English translation of Ryu ga Gotoku, in 2022.

The Yakuza games are renowned for their unique blend of action-packed sequences, melodramatic storytelling, cinematic flair, and a touch of humor that's especially evident in the side quests, which are a key part of the experience. Initially, the franchise struggled to gain widespread recognition outside of Japan, but it has since seen a surge in popularity thanks to consistent releases, including localized versions, remakes, and spin-offs. The latest addition to the series is the 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 nine mainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon games, two remakes – Yakuza Kiwami (2016) and Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017), with a third promised for the future – and 11 spin-offs since the series began in 2005. Originally exclusive to PlayStation, the games have since been ported to Xbox and PC, with every new release since Yakuza: Like a Dragon launching simultaneously across multiple platforms, except for the Nintendo Switch. However, Yakuza Kiwami was announced to be the first Like a Dragon game ported to the Switch in October 2024, as revealed in the Nintendo Direct from August 2024.

In addition to the mainline entries, 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, who investigates strange murders in Kamurocho, with a slight crossover into the main series through interactions with Tojo Clan families.

The zombie-themed spin-off Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) features the series' classic characters in a dystopian setting. Yakuza Online (2018) is a free-to-play TCG available on mobile and PC, introducing Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The Japanese series Fist of the North Star got a Yakuza-style treatment with Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (2018), which mirrors the structure and gameplay of Kiryu's adventures.

Two spin-offs set in historical Japanese eras feature iconic figures as protagonists: 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.

In 2023, RGG released Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name, which runs parallel to Yakuza: Like a Dragon and explores Kiryu's life after the events of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. The most recent spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, features fan-favorite Goro Majima as an amnesiac protagonist in and around Honolulu, six months after Infinite Wealth.

Which Yakuza Game Should You Play First?

For newcomers, starting with Yakuza 0 offers a chronological entry point, while Yakuza: Like a Dragon provides a fresh start with a new generation of characters.

### Yakuza Kiwami

Newcomers or those who began their journey with Yakuza 0 will find familiar controls, excellent SEGA localization, and a solid entry point into the franchise. 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)

Despite being the sixth game released, Yakuza 0 serves as the chronological start of the series. Set during Japan's economic boom in the late 1980s, it features two protagonists: a young Kazuma Kiryu, framed for a murder at the Empty Lot, and Goro Majima, tasked with assassinating a blind woman named Makoto. By the game's end, Kiryu returns to the Dojima family, Majima spares Makoto, and the Empty Lot is destroyed to make way for the Millennium Tower.

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

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

In the first Yakuza game, Kazuma Kiryu emerges from prison after taking the fall for his boss Sohei Dojima's murder, committed by his friend Akira Nishikiyama. Released after a decade, Kiryu is expelled from the Tojo Clan, with ¥10 billion stolen and Yumi Sawamura missing. He encounters Haruka and her pendant, which becomes central to the mystery. The game concludes with Kiryu fighting Nishikiyama, accepting the role of Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan, and then stepping down to raise Haruka as his adopted daughter.

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 Terada prevent a war between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance. After Terada's apparent death, Kiryu seeks to appoint Daigo Dojima as the new chairman. He encounters Ryuji Goda, the Omi chairman's son, and detective Kaoru Sayama, who is searching for 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)

Set in 2007, Yakuza 3 finds Kiryu running the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa. His peaceful life 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 a year after Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4 introduces four protagonists. Besides Kiryu, we follow loan shark Shun Akiyama, escaped convict Taiga Saejima, and detective Masayoshi Tanimura as they navigate the complex web of yakuza conflicts in Kamurocho.

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

6. Yakuza 5 (2012)

Yakuza 5 ups the ante with five protagonists. Kiryu moves to Fukuoka and learns of Daigo's disappearance, Saejima escapes prison, Haruka pursues her dream of becoming a J-pop idol, and new character Tatsuo Shinada investigates his baseball career's downfall.

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 the end of Kazuma Kiryu's saga. After three years in prison, he learns Haruka is in a coma and has a child named Haruto. Kiryu investigates in Hiroshima while rival groups vie for control in Kamurocho.

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

8. Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)

A pivotal shift, Yakuza: Like a Dragon introduces Ichiban Kasuga and a new turn-based combat system. After serving 18 years for a crime he didn't commit, Kasuga learns of the Omi Alliance's victory over the Tojo Clan. Shot and left for dead, he wakes up in Yokohama's Isezaki Ijincho, forming a new party 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)

In Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Kiryu and Kasuga join forces in a dual-protagonist narrative spanning Japan and Hawaii. Set in 2024, Kasuga's quest to find his supposedly deceased mother intertwines with Kiryu's battle against cancer and a massive conspiracy involving international mob groups and a religious cult.

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 saga is far from over. While Infinite Wealth provided closure to its narrative, it ended on a cliffhanger that teases future developments. We can anticipate another mainline Yakuza game, especially following the recent release of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

At the 2024 Game Awards, RGG announced the revival of Virtua Fighter and unveiled "Project Century," a new open-world game at the February 2025 State of Play. However, details about the next Like a Dragon game remain under wraps.

For more video game timelines, explore these guides:

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