Originally released as a PlayStation 2 game in 2005, Yakuza (Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) has evolved into a beloved series that chronicles the dramatic and often humorous conflicts within yakuza families in the fictional Kamurocho neighborhood of Tokyo. In 2022, the series was rebranded as Like a Dragon, reflecting its English translation of Ryu ga Gotoku.
The Yakuza games are renowned for their blend of intense action, melodramatic storytelling, cinematic flair, and a uniquely goofy charm. Skipping the side quests means missing out on a key element of the series' humor. It took years for the franchise to gain widespread recognition outside Japan, but its reputation has grown steadily, bolstered by a consistent stream of localized re-releases, spinoffs, and new titles. The latest addition to the series, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, features fan-favorite Goro Majima navigating adventures in Honolulu.
The Yakuza Games In (Chronological) Order
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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, two remakes – Yakuza Kiwami (2016) and Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017), with a third promised – and 11 spin-offs. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, these games have since been ported to Xbox and PC. Every new game starting from Yakuza: Like a Dragon has been released simultaneously across multiple platforms, except for the Nintendo Switch. However, Yakuza Kiwami became the first Like a Dragon game to receive a Switch port in October 2024, as announced in the August 2024 Nintendo Direct.
In addition to the mainline series, Like a Dragon boasts a variety of unique spinoffs. 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. Judgment (2018) and Lost Judgment (2021) feature lawyer-turned-detective Takayuki Yagami investigating murders in Kamurocho, with some crossover with the main series.The zombie-themed Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) brings the classic characters into a dystopian setting. Yakuza Online (2018) is a free-to-play trading card game that introduced Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (2018) applies the Yakuza gameplay style to the iconic Japanese series.
Two spinoffs set in historical Japan, Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008) and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014, re-released 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 post-Yakuza 6 journey. The most recent spinoff, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, features Goro Majima as an amnesiac protagonist in Honolulu, six months after the events of Infinite Wealth.
Which Yakuza Game Should You Play First?
For newcomers to the series, starting with Yakuza 0 or jumping directly to Yakuza: Like a Dragon offers a fresh entry point into the saga.
### Yakuza Kiwami
0Newcomers or fans who started with Yakuza 0 will find familiar controls, exceptional SEGA localization, and a solid entry point into the 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)
Despite being the sixth game released, Yakuza 0 is the first chronologically, set during Japan's economic boom in the late 1980s. Players follow 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 spares Makoto, and the Empty Lot is destroyed, paving the way for 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 serves a 10-year prison sentence for a murder he didn't commit, the killing of his boss Sohei Dojima by his best friend Akira Nishikiyama, who acted to protect Yumi Sawamura from Sohei's attempted rape. Upon his release, Kiryu is expelled from the Tojo Clan, faces a missing ¥10 billion, and searches for Yumi, meeting Haruka, whose pendant is linked to the lost money. Nishikiyama becomes an antagonist after shooting Kiryu's adoptive father. Kiryu eventually 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.
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 Terada prevent a war between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance. After Terada's apparent death, Kiryu seeks to appoint Daigo Dojima as the new chairman. He encounters Ryuji Goda, son of the Omi chairman, and detective Kaoru Sayama, who investigates 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 has left the yakuza life to run the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa with Haruka. However, he's 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: Kazuma Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima, and Masayoshi Tanimura. The game explores the complexities of family, betrayal, and crime, with each character facing their own challenges amidst the ongoing Tojo Clan and Ueno Seiwa Clan conflicts.
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 in different scenarios, making it one of the most ambitious entries. Kiryu, now in Fukuoka, learns of Daigo's disappearance and impending war. Saejima escapes prison again, Haruka pursues her dream of becoming a J-pop idol, Akiyama investigates the murder of her talent agency's president, and Tatsuo Shinada, a former baseball player, seeks the truth behind his ban.
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 journey, serving three years in prison for his past actions. Upon release, he learns Haruka is in a coma and has a child, Haruto. Kiryu investigates in Hiroshima, uncovering rival factions' moves in Kamurocho.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC | IGN’s Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Review
8. Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)
A pivotal game, Yakuza: Like a Dragon introduces a new turn-based combat system and protagonist Ichiban Kasuga. After serving 18 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Kasuga discovers the Tojo Clan's defeat by the Omi Alliance. Shot by his former patriarch Masumi Arakawa, Kasuga wakes up in Isezaki Ijincho, forming a new team to uncover the truth behind Arakawa's actions.
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 massive adventure spanning Japan and Hawaii. Set in 2024, the story follows Kasuga's quest to find his supposedly deceased mother, intersecting with Kiryu's mission and his battle with cancer. The game weaves a complex 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 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 story continues to evolve. Although Infinite Wealth concluded its own narrative arc, it left open possibilities for future installments. RGG Studio announced the revival of Virtua Fighter and a new open-world game, "Project Century," at the 2024 Game Awards and February 2025 State of Play, respectively. However, details about the next Like a Dragon mainline or spin-off game remain under wraps.For more on 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
