Yakuza Series: A Chronological Play Guide

Originally launched as a PlayStation 2 title in 2005, Yakuza (known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) has evolved into a cherished and expansive video game series. Set in the fictional Kamurocho district of Tokyo, the series delves into the intricate conflicts and schemes of yakuza families. 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, particularly evident in the side quests that add a unique layer of entertainment. While it took time for the franchise to gain international acclaim, its consistent release of localized re-releases, spin-offs, and new titles has bolstered its reputation. The latest addition, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, features the fan-favorite character Goro Majima in a new setting.

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 in the future – and 11 spin-offs since the series debuted in 2005. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, the games have since been ported to Xbox and PC, with every new title since Yakuza: Like a Dragon being released simultaneously across multiple platforms, except for the Nintendo Switch. However, Yakuza Kiwami was announced for a Switch port in October 2024 during the Nintendo Direct in August 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 introduce Tatsuya Ukyo, a new protagonist. **Judgment** (2018) and **Lost Judgment** (2021) feature lawyer-turned-detective Takayuki Yagami, who investigates mysterious murders in Kamurocho and has a tangential connection to the main series through the Tojo Clan.

The zombie-themed Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) brings back the classic characters 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 with gameplay elements similar to Kiryu's adventures.

Two spin-offs, Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008) and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014), are set in historical Japan and feature real historical figures. The latter 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 fate post-Yakuza 6. The most recent spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, stars Goro Majima as an amnesiac protagonist in Honolulu, set six months after the events of 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 protagonist and gameplay style.

### Yakuza Kiwami

0Newcomers or those who began with Yakuza 0 will appreciate the familiar controls, excellent SEGA localization, and a solid entry point into the Yakuza franchise. See it at AmazonMainline 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, it follows two protagonists: Kazuma Kiryu, a young member of the Dojima family framed for a murder at the Empty Lot, and Goro Majima, a former Shimano family member working in a cabaret as punishment. Majima is tasked with killing a blind woman, Makoto, who turns out to be the legitimate owner of the Empty Lot. By the game's end, Kiryu returns to the Dojima family, Majima allows Makoto to live, 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)

Yakuza 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 of Yumi Sawamura. Upon release, Kiryu is expelled from the Tojo Clan, and ¥10 billion is missing from the clan's account. He meets Haruka, whose pendant is key to the lost money, and faces Nishikiyama, who has become an antagonist. Kiryu finds Yumi and the money, defeats Nishikiyama, and is offered the position of Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan, which he declines in favor of Yukio Terada, choosing instead 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 begins with Terada, now the Fifth Chairman, asking Kiryu to prevent a war with 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 helps Kiryu while 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)

Yakuza 3 sees Kiryu running the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa, far from the yakuza life. However, he is soon drawn back into conflict involving new yakuza families, 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)

Yakuza 4 introduces four protagonists, including Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, a loan shark; Taiga Saejima, Majima's blood brother; and detective Masayoshi Tanimura. The story weaves through their perspectives, involving conflicts between the Tojo Clan and the Ueno Seiwa Clan, and uncovering past hits and betrayals.

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 across different scenarios. Kiryu moves to Fukuoka, Saejima escapes prison, Haruka pursues a career as a J-pop idol, Akiyama helps her investigate a murder, and Tatsuo Shinada, a former baseball player, seeks the truth behind 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 marks the end of Kiryu's main storyline. After three years in prison, he returns to find Haruka in a coma and learns about her child, Haruto. Kiryu investigates in Onomichi, 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)

Yakuza: Like a Dragon introduces a new protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga, and a turn-based combat system. 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. Shot by his former patriarch, Masumi Arakawa, Kasuga wakes up in Yokohama and forms a new party 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 brings together Kiryu and Kasuga in a dual-protagonist story set in 2024. Kasuga learns his mother is alive and travels to Honolulu, where he reunites with Kiryu, who is also searching for her. The game explores Kiryu's battle with cancer and a sprawling narrative involving 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)

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 continues to evolve. While **Infinite Wealth** concluded its own narrative, it left room for future developments. The franchise's success, highlighted by Infinite Wealth's record-breaking sales, suggests more mainline and spin-off titles are on the horizon. At the 2024 Game Awards, RGG announced the revival of Virtua Fighter and a new open-world game, "Project Century," at the February 2025 State of Play, but details on the next Like a Dragon installment 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