How to Play the Yakuza Games in Chronological Order

The Yakuza series, known as Like a Dragon in its English localization since 2022, is a sprawling saga of yakuza family conflicts set in Kamurocho, a fictionalized Tokyo neighborhood. The games are known for their blend of action, melodrama, cinematic presentation, and quirky humor, particularly evident in the side quests. Initially a PlayStation exclusive, the series has expanded to Xbox and PC, with recent titles releasing on multiple platforms simultaneously, excluding Nintendo Switch until the October 2024 release of Yakuza Kiwami.

Yakuza Games in Chronological Order (Mainline Titles)

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The series comprises nine mainline entries, two remakes (Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2), and numerous spin-offs. Newcomers are advised to start with Yakuza 0 or Yakuza: Like a Dragon for a fresh entry point.

Mainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon Games: A Chronological Overview

• Yakuza 0 (2014): Introduces Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima in 1980s Kamurocho, embroiled in a land dispute and assassination plot.

• Yakuza (2005) / Yakuza Kiwami (2016): Kiryu is released from prison, entangled in a ¥10 billion theft and the disappearance of Yumi Sawamura.

• Yakuza 2 (2006) / Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017): Kiryu prevents a war between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance, encountering Ryuji Goda and Detective Kaoru Sayama.

• Yakuza 3 (2009): Kiryu runs an orphanage in Okinawa, confronting new yakuza families and international conspiracies.

• Yakuza 4 (2010): Features four protagonists navigating intertwined conflicts within the Tojo Clan and rival organizations.

• Yakuza 5 (2012): Five protagonists are involved in separate storylines converging on a threat to the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance.

• Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016): Kiryu's final chapter, investigating Haruka's accident and confronting rival mafia groups.

• Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020): Introduces Ichiban Kasuga, a new protagonist navigating the aftermath of the Tojo Clan's downfall in Yokohama.

• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024): Kiryu and Kasuga team up in a story spanning Japan and Hawaii, involving international crime syndicates and a personal crisis for Kiryu.

(Note: This overview omits spin-offs and provides a concise summary. Details may be simplified for brevity.)

Yakuza Games and Spin-offs in Release Order:

**(Mainline games marked with *)

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)

The Future of Like a Dragon

While Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth concluded its own arc, the ending suggests further installments are likely. The success of the game and the upcoming Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii points to a continued expansion of the franchise.