Originally launched on the PlayStation 2 in 2005, the Yakuza series, known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan, has evolved into a long-lasting and cherished franchise. Set in the fictional Tokyo district of Kamurocho, the games delve into the intricate conflicts and machinations of yakuza families. In 2022, the series rebranded to Like a Dragon, reflecting its original Japanese title.
These games are a unique blend of action, melodrama, cinematic storytelling, and humor. The side quests, often overlooked, are essential for experiencing the series' full charm and comedic flair. Initially slow to gain international acclaim, the franchise's reputation has grown significantly due to consistent releases of localized versions, remakes, and new titles. The latest addition to the series, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, stars the fan-favorite Goro Majima and is set in Honolulu.
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 way, and 11 spin-offs since the series' inception in 2005. Originally exclusive to PlayStation, these games have been ported to Xbox and PC, with newer releases like Yakuza: Like a Dragon available simultaneously across multiple platforms, except for the Nintendo Switch until Yakuza Kiwami's Switch port in October 2024.
In addition to the main series, Like a Dragon boasts a variety of unique spin-offs. Kurohyō: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho (2010) and its sequel Kurohyō 2: Ryu ga Gotoku Ashura Hen (2012) are PlayStation Portable exclusives featuring a new protagonist, Tatsuya Ukyo. Judgment (2018) and Lost Judgment (2021) introduce lawyer-turned-detective Takayuki Yagami, whose investigations intersect with the yakuza world.
The zombie-themed Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) brings back familiar faces in a dystopian setting. Yakuza Online (2018) is a free-to-play trading card game available on mobile and PC, introducing 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.
Two historical spin-offs set in feudal Japan, Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008) and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014), the latter released in the West as Like a Dragon: Ishin! in 2023, feature historical figures.
Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023) fills in the gaps following the events of Yakuza 6, while the newest spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, follows Majima's adventures in Honolulu post-Infinite Wealth.
Which Yakuza Game Should You Play First?
New players might start with the chronologically first game, Yakuza 0, or jump into the new generation with Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
Yakuza Kiwami
0Newcomers or those who started with Yakuza 0 will find familiar controls, excellent localization by SEGA, and a solid entry point into the Yakuza universe. 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 released is actually the first in chronological order. Yakuza 0 follows two protagonists during Japan's economic boom in the late 1980s. Kazuma Kiryu, a young member of the Dojima family, is framed for a murder related to the valuable Empty Lot. Goro Majima, a former Shimano family member, is tasked with killing a blind woman, Makoto, who turns out to be the rightful owner of the Empty Lot. By the game's end, Kiryu returns to the Dojima family after defeating their lieutenants, Majima allows Makoto to live her life, 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)
The first Yakuza game follows Kazuma Kiryu post-release from a 10-year prison sentence for a murder he did not commit. He's expelled from the Tojo Clan, and Yumi Sawamura, his friend, is missing. Amidst this, Kiryu meets Haruka, whose pendant is key to a missing ¥10 billion. His former friend, Akira Nishikiyama, now an antagonist, shot their former captain. Kiryu finds Yumi and the money, fights Nishikiyama, and is asked to be the Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan. He appoints Yukio Terada instead and quits 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 Terada, the Fifth Chairman, asking Kiryu to prevent a war with the Omi Alliance. After Terada's apparent death, Kiryu appoints Daigo Dojima as chairman. Kiryu clashes with Ryuji Goda, son of the Omi chairman, and detective Kaoru Sayama helps uncover 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)
In Yakuza 3, Kiryu is running the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa in 2007. His peaceful life is disrupted by yakuza conflicts, assassinations, and an arms smuggling ring, even involving the CIA.
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 features four protagonists. Shun Akiyama, a loan shark, is caught in a conflict between the Tojo Clan and the Ueno Seiwa Clan. Taiga Saejima, Majima's blood brother, escapes prison to find Majima. Detective Masayoshi Tanimura investigates a Tojo Clan murder and meets Saejima's sister, Lily. Kiryu ties these narratives together.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN’s Yakuza 4 Review
6. Yakuza 5 (2012)
Yakuza 5 introduces five protagonists in 2012. Kiryu, now in Fukuoka, learns of Daigo's disappearance. Saejima, back in prison, plans an escape. Haruka pursues her dream of becoming a J-pop idol. Shun Akiyama helps her investigate a suspicious death. Tatsuo Shinada, a former baseball player, is tasked by Daigo to uncover a match-fixing 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)
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life concludes Kiryu's main storyline. After three years in prison for his past crimes, Kiryu learns Haruka is in a coma and has a child, Haruto. Investigating in Onomichi, Hiroshima, Kiryu uncovers rival factions' plans while key allies are imprisoned.
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 turn-based combat system and protagonist Ichiban Kasuga. After serving 18 years for a crime he did not commit, Kasuga learns of the Tojo Clan's defeat by the Omi Alliance. Shot by his former patriarch Masumi Arakawa, Kasuga is saved by Yu Nanba and forms 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)
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the largest game in the series, featuring both Kiryu and Kasuga. Set in 2024, the story spans Japan and Hawaii. Kasuga searches for his supposedly deceased mother, while Kiryu, battling cancer, assists in the search. The narrative involves international crime syndicates, 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.
- Yakuza (2005) / Yakuza Kiwami (2016)*
- Yakuza 2 (2006) / Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017)*
- Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008)
- Yakuza 3 (2009)*
- Yakuza 4 (2010)*
- Kurohyō: Ryū ga Gotoku Shinshō (2010)
- Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011)
- Kurohyō 2: Ryū ga Gotoku Ashura Hen (2012)
- Yakuza 5 (2012)*
- Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014) / Like a Dragon: Ishin! (2023)
- Yakuza 0 (2015)*
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016)*
- Yakuza Online (2018)
- Judgment (2018)
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)*
- Lost Judgment (2021)
- Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023)
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024)*
- 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. Despite Infinite Wealth concluding its own narrative, it left room for future stories. Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio continue to innovate, with announcements like the revival of Virtua Fighter and the upcoming open-world game "Project Century." However, details about the next Like a Dragon mainline or spin-off remain under wraps.
For fans eager to dive into other video game timelines, explore guides on:
- Grand Theft Auto Games in Order
- God of War Games in Order
- Assassin's Creed Games in Order
- Resident Evil Games in Order
