Originally released as a PlayStation 2 game in 2005, Yakuza (Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) has evolved into a cherished and expansive video game series. Set in the fictional Kamurocho neighborhood of Tokyo, the series delves 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 renowned for their blend of action, melodrama, cinematic storytelling, and humor. A hallmark of the series is its engaging side quests, which significantly enhance the games' comedic elements. While it took time for the franchise to gain recognition outside Japan, its reputation has been bolstered by a steady stream of localized re-releases, spinoffs, and new titles, including the latest addition, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, which follows the adventures of Goro Majima.
The Yakuza Games In (Chronological) Order
10 Images
How Many Yakuza/Like a Dragon Games Are There?
Since its debut in 2005, Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have released nine mainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon games, along with two remakes – Yakuza Kiwami (2016) and Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017) – and 11 spin-offs. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, the series has since expanded to Xbox and PC platforms. Every new game since Yakuza: Like a Dragon has been released simultaneously across multiple systems, excluding the Nintendo Switch until Yakuza Kiwami was ported to the platform in October 2024, as announced in the August 2024 Nintendo Direct.
In addition to the mainline games, the series boasts diverse spinoffs such as Kurohyō: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho (2010) and its sequel Kurohyō 2: Ryu ga Gotoku Ashura Hen (2012), which are exclusive to the PlayStation Portable and feature a new character, Tatsuya Ukyo. Judgment (2018) and Lost Judgment (2021) introduce lawyer-turned-detective Takayuki Yagami, whose investigations intersect with the Tojo Clan. Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) offers a dystopian zombie setting, while Yakuza Online (2018) is a free-to-play TCG that introduced Ichiban Kasuga. Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (2018) adapts the popular Japanese series into the Yakuza format. Historical spinoffs include 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, Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name was released, providing insight into Kiryu's life post-Yakuza 6. The most recent spinoff, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, follows Goro Majima as an amnesiac protagonist in Honolulu.
Which Yakuza Game Should You Play First?
For newcomers, starting with Yakuza 0 offers a chronological and comprehensive introduction to the series. Alternatively, jumping into 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 localization, and robust entry point into the Yakuza franchise. 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)
Set during Japan's economic boom in the late 1980s, Yakuza 0 serves as a prequel, introducing two protagonists: Kazuma Kiryu, a young member of the Dojima family framed for murder, and Goro Majima, a former Shimano family member tasked with an assassination. Their stories revolve around the coveted Empty Lot, which ultimately leads to the construction of the Millennium Tower.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC | IGN’s Yakuza 0 Review
2. Yakuza (2005) / Yakuza Kiwami (2016)
In the original Yakuza, Kazuma Kiryu takes the fall for a murder he didn't commit, spending a decade in prison. Upon release, he discovers a missing ¥10 billion from the Tojo Clan, the disappearance of his friend Yumi, and meets Haruka, whose pendant holds clues to the lost funds. Kiryu confronts his best friend and betrayer, Akira Nishikiyama, and eventually leaves the yakuza 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 sees Kiryu helping the Tojo Clan navigate a potential war with the Omi Alliance. After surviving an ambush, Kiryu searches for Daigo Dojima to lead the clan, while facing off against Ryuji Goda and assisting detective Kaoru Sayama in uncovering her past.
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 tries to live a peaceful life running the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa. However, he's drawn back into the yakuza world, facing new families, assassinations, and international intrigue.
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: Kazuma Kiryu, loan shark Shun Akiyama, escaped convict Taiga Saejima, and detective Masayoshi Tanimura. Their stories intertwine as they navigate conflicts between the Tojo Clan and the Ueno Seiwa Clan.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN’s Yakuza 4 Review
6. Yakuza 5 (2012)
Yakuza 5 is an ambitious entry with five protagonists, including Kiryu, Saejima, Haruka pursuing her dream as a J-pop idol, Akiyama, and new character Tatsuo Shinada, a disgraced baseball player. Their stories converge amidst escalating tensions between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance.
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 saga. After serving time for his crimes, Kiryu returns to find Haruka in a coma and learns of her child, Haruto. As he investigates in Onomichi, rival groups vie for power in Kamurocho.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC | IGN’s Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Review
8. Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)
Marking a significant shift, Yakuza: Like a Dragon introduces 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. His journey takes him from Yokohama to Osaka and back to Kamurocho as he uncovers the truth behind his former patriarch's 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)
In Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Kiryu and Kasuga team up for an epic adventure spanning Japan and Hawaii. Kasuga searches for his mother, while Kiryu, battling cancer, confronts his past. Their journey 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 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. Despite the conclusion of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's storyline, the game's cliffhanger ending suggests more adventures to come. While RGG Studio has announced other projects, such as reviving Virtua Fighter and the new open-world game "Project Century," details on the next Like a Dragon mainline or spin-off remain eagerly anticipated.
For fans of video game timelines, explore these guides:
Grand Theft Auto Games in OrderGod of War Games in OrderAssassin's Creed Games in OrderResident Evil Games in Order
