Originally released as a PlayStation 2 game in 2005, Yakuza (known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) has evolved into a beloved and extensive video game series. Set in the fictional neighborhood of Kamurocho, Tokyo, the games delve into the intricate conflicts and schemes of yakuza families. In 2022, the series was renamed to Like a Dragon, reflecting its original Japanese title.
The Yakuza games are a unique blend of action, melodrama, cinematic storytelling, and humor. The side quests are an essential part of the experience, offering a glimpse into the series' quirky sense of humor. While it took years for the franchise to gain international acclaim, its consistent output of localized re-releases, spinoffs, and new games has solidified its reputation. The latest addition to the series, the Majima-led spin-off Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, further expands the saga into new territories.
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 crafted a rich series, releasing 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' inception in 2005. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, the franchise has expanded to Xbox and PC platforms, with all new releases since Yakuza: Like a Dragon available across multiple systems, excluding the Nintendo Switch until Yakuza Kiwami's port in October 2024.
In addition to the mainline games, Like a Dragon boasts a variety of spinoffs. 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, who investigates murders in Kamurocho, intersecting with the Tojo Clan's world.
Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) places the classic characters in a dystopian, zombie-infested 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 spinoffs set in historical 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 as protagonists. In 2023, Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name explored Kiryu's story post-Yakuza 6, and the latest spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, follows Goro Majima in Honolulu.
Which Yakuza Game Should You Play First?
For those new to the series, starting with Yakuza 0 offers a chronological entry point, or you can leap into a fresh start with Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
### Yakuza Kiwami
0Newcomers or those familiar with Yakuza 0 will appreciate the refined controls, excellent localization, and strong narrative foundation that Yakuza Kiwami provides as an entry into the franchise.
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 is the first in the chronological timeline, set during Japan's economic boom in the late 1980s. Players follow two protagonists: Kazuma Kiryu, framed for a murder at the Empty Lot, and Goro Majima, tasked with a mysterious assassination. The game concludes with Kiryu returning to the Dojima family, Majima sparing Makoto's life, and the construction of the Millennium Tower on the Empty Lot's ruins.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC | IGN’s Yakuza 0 Review
2. Yakuza (2005) / Yakuza Kiwami (2016)
Yakuza follows Kazuma Kiryu after his release from a 10-year prison sentence for a murder he didn't commit. Upon his return, he faces expulsion from the Tojo Clan, a missing friend, and a stolen fortune. Kiryu's journey involves Haruka, a young girl connected to the missing money, and culminates in him stepping down as the Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan to raise Haruka as his 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 aiding the Tojo Clan's new chairman, Yukio Terada, to prevent a war with the Omi Alliance. After Terada's supposed death, Kiryu helps appoint Daigo Dojima as the new chairman and faces off against Ryuji Goda, the Omi Alliance's heir. The narrative also explores detective Kaoru Sayama's search 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)
Yakuza 3 shifts Kiryu's life to the serene setting of the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa. However, his peaceful existence is disrupted by new yakuza conflicts, assassinations, and international intrigue involving the CIA.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN’s Yakuza 3 Review
5. Yakuza 4 (2010)
Yakuza 4 expands the narrative with four protagonists, including Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima, and Masayoshi Tanimura. Their intertwined stories explore conflicts between the Tojo Clan and the Ueno Seiwa Clan, with themes of betrayal and redemption.
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 cities, weaving a complex narrative involving Kiryu, Saejima, Haruka, Akiyama, and new character Tatsuo Shinada. The story delves into the Tojo Clan's struggles and the Omi Alliance's threats.
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 Kiryu's main storyline. After serving time for past crimes, Kiryu learns of Haruka's coma and her son, Haruto. His journey takes him to Onomichi, Hiroshima, to uncover the truth behind Haruka's accident and Haruto's father.
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 new turn-based combat system. After serving 18 years for a crime he didn't commit, Kasuga returns to find the Tojo Clan defeated. His journey in Yokohama involves uncovering the truth behind his former patriarch's betrayal and forming a new party of allies.
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 story spanning Japan and Hawaii. Kasuga's quest to find his mother intertwines with Kiryu's battle against cancer and their shared mission to navigate the complexities of international crime and personal redemption.
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)*
- Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008)
- 4. Yakuza 3 (2009)*
- 5. Yakuza 4 (2010)*
- Kurohyō: Ryū ga Gotoku Shinshō (2010)
- Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011)
- Kurohyō 2: Ryū ga Gotoku Ashura Hen (2012)
- 9. Yakuza 5 (2012)*
- Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014) / Like a Dragon: Ishin! (2023)
- 11. Yakuza 0 (2015)*
- 12. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016)*
- Yakuza Online (2018)
- Judgment (2018)
- 15. Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)*
- Lost Judgment (2021)
- Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023)
- 19. 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 continues to evolve, with Infinite Wealth marking a significant milestone as the fastest-selling game in the franchise. Its cliffhanger ending sets the stage for future installments. While Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has announced projects like the revival of Virtua Fighter and "Project Century," details on the next Like a Dragon mainline or spin-off remain eagerly anticipated.
