Yakuza Series: A Guide to Playing in Chronological Order

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

The Yakuza games are a unique blend of action, melodrama, cinematic storytelling, and humor. They are renowned for their engaging side quests, which add a significant layer of entertainment and showcase the series' quirky charm. It took years for the franchise to gain international acclaim, but its reputation has soared thanks to a consistent stream of localized re-releases, spin-offs, and new titles. The latest addition is the Majima-led spin-off, 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 on the horizon, and 11 spin-offs since the series began in 2005. 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 all platforms, except for Nintendo Switch. However, Yakuza Kiwami was the first Like a Dragon title to be ported to the Switch, scheduled for October 2024.

In addition to the mainline games, Like a Dragon boasts a variety of 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 feature Tatsuya Ukyo, a new protagonist. Judgment (2018) and Lost Judgment (2021) introduce lawyer-turned-detective Takayuki Yagami, who investigates murders in Kamurocho and has connections with the Tojo Clan.

Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) is a zombie-themed spin-off featuring the classic characters in a dystopian setting. Yakuza Online (2018) is a free-to-play trading card game available on mobile and PC, which 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), sharing gameplay elements with Kiryu's adventures.

Two spin-off games set in historical Japan feature real-life figures as protagonists: Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008) and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014), the latter 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 details Kiryu's story after Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. The newest spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, follows Goro Majima, who suffers from amnesia and navigates life in Honolulu.

Which Yakuza Game Should You Play First?

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

Yakuza Kiwami

Newcomers or those who started with Yakuza 0 will find familiar controls, top-notch localization by SEGA, and a solid entry point into the Yakuza 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)

The sixth game in the series but the first chronologically, Yakuza 0 is set during Japan's economic boom in the late 1980s. Players control two protagonists: Kazuma Kiryu, a young member of the Dojima family framed for murder at the Empty Lot, and Goro Majima, a former Shimano family member working in a cabaret as punishment for a past assassination attempt. Majima is tasked with killing Makoto, the rightful owner of the Empty Lot. By the end, Kiryu returns to the Dojima family, Majima spares Makoto, and the Empty Lot is destroyed, making way for the Millennium Tower.

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

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

The original Yakuza game follows Kazuma Kiryu after he serves a 10-year prison sentence for a murder he didn't commit. The victim was his boss, Sohei Dojima, killed by Kiryu's best friend, Akira Nishikiyama, after an attempted rape. Upon release, Kiryu is expelled from the Tojo Clan, and ¥10 billion is missing from the clan's accounts. He meets Haruka, whose pendant is key to the missing money. Nishikiyama becomes an antagonist after shooting Kiryu's adoptive father. Kiryu finds Yumi and the lost 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 Yukio Terada, the Fifth Chairman, seeking Kiryu's help to prevent a war with the Omi Alliance. After Terada's apparent death, Kiryu appoints Daigo Dojima as the new chairman. He encounters Ryuji Goda, the Omi chairman's son, who opposes a truce. Kiryu also meets detective Kaoru Sayama, who seeks her missing parents' whereabouts.

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

4. Yakuza 3 (2009)

The first game on the PlayStation 3, Yakuza 3, finds Kiryu running the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa. Peace is short-lived as he faces new yakuza families, assassinations, betrayals, arms smuggling, 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: Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, a loan shark; Taiga Saejima, Majima's blood brother; and detective Masayoshi Tanimura. The story involves conflicts between the Tojo Clan and the Ueno Seiwa Clan, as well as personal vendettas and investigations.

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. Kiryu leaves Kamurocho for Fukuoka, while Saejima is back in prison. Haruka pursues a career as a J-pop idol, and Akiyama helps her uncover the truth behind her agency president's death. Tatsuo Shinada, a former baseball player, seeks to clear his name.

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 marks Kiryu's final chapter. After three years in prison, he returns to find Haruka in a coma and learns of her son, Haruto. Kiryu investigates in Onomichi, Hiroshima, while facing rival groups and protecting his family.

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

8. Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)

A pivotal game, Yakuza: Like a Dragon introduces a turn-based combat system and new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga. After serving 18 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Kasuga returns to find the Tojo Clan defeated by the Omi Alliance. He confronts his former patriarch, Masumi Arakawa, and teams up with new allies to uncover the truth behind the 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)

The largest game in the series, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, unites Kiryu and Kasuga in a dual-protagonist adventure spanning Japan and Hawaii. Kasuga seeks his thought-to-be-dead mother, while Kiryu, battling cancer, assists on behalf of the Daidoji faction. The story involves 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 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 story continues to evolve. Despite Infinite Wealth's conclusive narrative, it left room for future installments. RGG Studio has announced the revival of Virtua Fighter and a new open-world game, "Project Century," but details on the next Like a Dragon game remain undisclosed.