Yakuza Series: Chronological Play Guide

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 tumultuous world of yakuza families in the fictional Tokyo district of Kamurocho. In 2022, the series was rebranded to Like a Dragon, reflecting its original Japanese title.

The Yakuza games are renowned for their blend of action, melodrama, cinematic storytelling, and humor. Skipping the side quests would mean missing out on a significant part of the series' charm. Although it took time for the series to gain international acclaim, its consistent release of localized versions, remakes, and new entries has solidified its reputation. The latest addition to the series, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, features fan-favorite Goro Majima in a new setting.

The Yakuza Games In (Chronological) Order

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

Since its inception in 2005, 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, and 11 spin-offs. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, the series has since expanded to Xbox and PC, with recent titles launching across multiple platforms except for the Nintendo Switch until Yakuza Kiwami's Switch port in October 2024.

The zombie-themed Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) brings back the classic characters in a dystopian setting. Yakuza Online (2018) is a free-to-play TCG on mobile and PC, introducing protagonist Ichiban Kasuga before his starring role in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (2018) adapts the popular manga into the Yakuza gameplay style.

Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008) and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014), the latter released as Like a Dragon: Ishin! in the West in 2023, are set in historical Japan with famous figures as protagonists.

In 2023, Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name was released, filling in the gaps of Kiryu's story post-Yakuza 6. The latest spin-off, 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 or jumping to Yakuza: Like a Dragon offers a fresh entry point into the series.

### Yakuza Kiwami

0For those new to the series or those who started with Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami provides familiar controls, excellent SEGA localization, and a solid entry into the Yakuza world. 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, the sixth game released but the first in chronological order, takes place during Japan's economic boom of the late 1980s. Players control two protagonists: Kazuma Kiryu, a young member of the Dojima family framed for a murder related to the Empty Lot, and Goro Majima, a former Shimano family member working in a cabaret club as punishment. Majima is tasked with killing a blind woman, Makoto, who is later revealed as the rightful owner of the Empty Lot. By the game's end, Kiryu reconciles with the Dojima family, Majima spares Makoto, and the Empty Lot is destroyed, leading to the construction of the Millennium Tower.

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

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

Yakuza, the series' debut, follows Kazuma Kiryu after he takes the fall for a murder he didn't commit, serving a decade in prison. Upon release, he finds himself expelled from the Tojo Clan, with ¥10 billion missing and his friend Yumi Sawamura missing. He meets Haruka, whose pendant is tied to the lost money. Kiryu's best friend, Akira Nishikiyama, who committed the actual murder, becomes an antagonist. In the climax, Kiryu finds Yumi and the money, battles Nishikiyama, and is offered the role of Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan, which he briefly accepts 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 opens with the Fifth Chairman, Yukio Terada, seeking Kiryu's help to prevent a war with the Omi Alliance. After Terada's apparent death, Kiryu supports Daigo Dojima as the new chairman. He faces Ryuji Goda, the son of the Omi chairman, and meets detective Kaoru Sayama, who aids Kiryu while uncovering her parents' disappearance.

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 introduces Kiryu managing the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa. Peace is short-lived as he faces new threats from yakuza families, assassins, and even the CIA, involving arms smuggling and multiple betrayals.

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 expands the narrative with four protagonists. Alongside Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, a loan shark, finds himself entangled in clan conflicts. Taiga Saejima, after escaping prison, seeks his blood brother Majima. Detective Masayoshi Tanimura investigates a Tojo Clan murder, uncovering connections to Saejima's past.

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

6. Yakuza 5 (2012)

Yakuza 5 features five protagonists across different locations. Kiryu, now in Fukuoka, learns of Daigo's disappearance. Saejima, back in prison, plans an escape, believing Majima is dead. Haruka pursues her dream of becoming a J-pop idol amidst agency troubles. Shun Akiyama aids Haruka, while Tatsuo Shinada, a former baseball player, seeks to clear his name after being framed.

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 concludes Kiryu's storyline. After serving time for past crimes, he learns Haruka is in a coma and has a child, Haruto. Kiryu investigates in Hiroshima, while allies like Daigo, Saejima, and Majima face imprisonment, and 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)

Yakuza: Like a Dragon marks a significant shift with a new protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga, and a turn-based combat system. Released from prison after 18 years, Kasuga finds the Omi Alliance has overtaken the Tojo Clan. Betrayed by his former patriarch, Masumi Arakawa, he forms a new party in Yokohama 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)

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth unites Kiryu and Kasuga in a dual-protagonist narrative spanning Japan and Hawaii. Following a viral video, Kasuga learns his mother is alive and heads to Honolulu, where he reunites with Kiryu. The game delves into Kiryu's health struggles and a sprawling plot involving international crime syndicates, cults, and global intrigue.

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?