"Yakuza Games: Chronological Play Order Guide"

Originally released as a PlayStation 2 game in 2005, Yakuza (Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) has blossomed into a cherished and expansive video game series. It delves into the intricate conflicts and schemes of yakuza families within the fictional Tokyo neighborhood of Kamurocho. 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 flair, and humor. The side quests, in particular, add a layer of light-heartedness and are essential to experiencing the full charm of the series. Although it took years for the franchise to gain widespread acclaim outside Japan, its reputation continues to grow, fueled by a steady stream of localized re-releases, spin-offs, and new titles. The latest addition to the series is the Majima-led spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

The Yakuza Games In (Chronological) Order

10 ImagesHow Many Yakuza/Like a Dragon Games Are There?

Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have released a total of nine mainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon games, along with two remakes—Yakuza Kiwami (2016) and Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017), and a third in development—and 11 spin-offs since the series began in 2005. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, these games have since been ported to Xbox and PC. Starting with Yakuza: Like a Dragon, each new title has been released simultaneously across multiple platforms, except for the Nintendo Switch. However, Yakuza Kiwami became the first Like a Dragon game to be ported to the Switch, with a release scheduled for October 2024, as announced in the August 2024 Nintendo Direct.

In addition to the mainline games, the Like a Dragon series boasts a diverse range of 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 Tojo Clan.

Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) presents a zombie-infested dystopian setting with the classic cast, while Yakuza Online (2018) is a free-to-play TCG available on mobile and PC, featuring 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 spin-offs, Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008) and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014), are set in historical Japan and feature historic figures as protagonists. The latter was released in the West as Like a Dragon: Ishin! in 2023.

In 2023, Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name filled in the gaps between Yakuza 6 and Yakuza: Like a Dragon, focusing on Kiryu's journey. The most recent spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, features 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, we recommend starting with Yakuza 0 to experience the series chronologically, or diving into the fresh narrative of Yakuza: Like a Dragon for a new beginning.

### Yakuza Kiwami

0Newcomers or those who began their journey with Yakuza 0 will find familiar controls, top-notch 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 series' chronology. Set during Japan's economic boom of the late 1980s, it features two protagonists: a young Kazuma Kiryu, a member of the Dojima family framed for a murder at the Empty Lot, and Goro Majima, a former Shimano family member tasked with killing a blind woman, Makoto, who turns out to be the legitimate owner of the Empty Lot. By the end, Kiryu reclaims his standing within the Dojima family, Majima lets Makoto live, and the Empty Lot is destroyed, leading to the construction of the Millennium Tower.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC | IGN’s Yakuza 0 Review

2. Yakuza (2005) / Yakuza Kiwami (2016)

Yakuza follows Kazuma Kiryu post-prison, having served a 10-year sentence for a murder he didn't commit. The murder victim was his boss, Sohei Dojima, killed by his best friend, Akira Nishikiyama. Upon release, Kiryu is expelled from the Tojo Clan, and a massive sum of money goes missing. His search leads him to Haruka, a young girl with a pendant connected to the missing funds. As tensions escalate, Kiryu confronts Nishikiyama and eventually steps down as the Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan 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 Kiryu assisting the new Tojo Clan Chairman, Yukio Terada, in preventing a war with the Omi Alliance. After Terada's apparent death, Kiryu supports Daigo Dojima as the new chairman and confronts Ryuji Goda, son of the Omi chairman, who opposes peace. Alongside, detective Kaoru Sayama helps Kiryu 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)

Yakuza 3 sees Kiryu running the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa, trying to leave the yakuza life behind. However, he's soon drawn back into the underworld, facing 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)

Set a year after Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4 introduces four protagonists: Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, a loan shark; Taiga Saejima, Majima's blood brother; and detective Masayoshi Tanimura. Their stories intertwine as they navigate betrayals and conflicts within the yakuza world.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN’s Yakuza 4 Review

6. Yakuza 5 (2012)

Yakuza 5 ups the ante with five protagonists across different settings in 2012. Kiryu relocates to Fukuoka, while Saejima escapes prison, Haruka pursues her dream of becoming a J-pop idol, Akiyama helps uncover the truth behind a murder, and new character Tatsuo Shinada seeks to clear his name after being banned from baseball.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN’s Yakuza 5 Review

7. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016)

Marked as Kiryu's final chapter, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life follows his release from a three-year prison sentence. Kiryu learns that Haruka is in a coma and has a child, Haruto. His investigation leads him to Onomichi, Hiroshima, where he uncovers the truth about Haruto's father amid rising tensions with rival groups.

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 pivotal shift in the series, introducing a turn-based combat system and a new protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga. After serving 18 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Kasuga discovers the Tojo Clan's downfall and seeks answers from his former patriarch, Masumi Arakawa. His journey takes him through Yokohama, Osaka, and Kamurocho, where he assembles a diverse team to unravel 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 brings together Kiryu and Kasuga in a sprawling adventure that spans Japan and Hawaii. Set in 2024, Kasuga's life is disrupted by a viral video, leading him to discover his mother is alive in Honolulu. Kiryu, also in Hawaii, reveals his battle with cancer. The story weaves through various international mob groups, a religious cult, live streamers, 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)
17. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023)
18. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024)*
19. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (2025)

What’s Next for Yakuza/Like a Dragon?

The Like a Dragon story is far from concluded. Despite Infinite Wealth closing its narrative, the ending hints at future developments. Fans can anticipate the next mainline Yakuza game, especially following the release of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

At the 2024 Game Awards, RGG Studio announced the revival of Virtua Fighter and a new open-world game, "Project Century," at the February 2025 State of Play. While details about the next Like a Dragon installment remain under wraps, the series' future looks bright.

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