How to Play the Yakuza Games in Chronological Order

Launched in 2005 for the PlayStation 2, the *Yakuza* series (rebranded as *Like a Dragon* in 2022) has captivated players with its thrilling yakuza tales set in the fictional Kamurocho, Tokyo. Known for its blend of action, melodrama, cinematic flair, and surprising humor (don't skip the side quests!), the series has steadily gained global recognition, fueled by consistent releases of localized remakes, spin-offs, and new entries—the latest being the Majima-led *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*.

The franchise's rise to international fame has been a journey, but its consistent output of localized re-releases, spin-offs, and new games has cemented its place in gaming history. This includes the recent release of *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, a Majima-led spin-off.

The Yakuza Games in Chronological Order

How Many Yakuza/Like a Dragon Games Are There?

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sega have released nine mainline Yakuza/ Like a Dragon games, two remakes (Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2, with a third planned), and eleven spin-offs since 2005. Initially PlayStation exclusives, they've expanded to Xbox and PC, with all games since Yakuza: Like a Dragon launching simultaneously across platforms (excluding Nintendo Switch until Yakuza Kiwami's October 2024 release, as announced at the August 2024 Nintendo Direct).

Beyond the main series, *Like a Dragon* 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 Tatsuya Ukyo. *Judgment* (2018) and *Lost Judgment* (2021) introduce Takayuki Yagami, a lawyer-turned-detective investigating Kamurocho's underbelly, with tangential connections to Kiryu and the Tojo Clan. *Yakuza: Dead Souls* (2011) offers a zombie-infested twist, while *Yakuza Online* (2018) is a free-to-play mobile and PC TCG that soft-launched Ichiban Kasuga. *Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise* (2018) adapts the popular manga with *Yakuza*'s gameplay. *Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan!* (2008) and *Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin!* (2014, released in the West as *Like a Dragon: Ishin!* in 2023) explore historical Japanese settings. *Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name* (2023) runs concurrently with *Yakuza: Like a Dragon*, detailing Kiryu's post-*Yakuza 6* story. The most recent addition is *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, starring Goro Majima.

Which Yakuza Game Should You Play First?

Newcomers should start with Yakuza 0 for a chronological beginning or jump into Yakuza: Like a Dragon for a fresh start with a new protagonist.

Yakuza Kiwami

Players familiar with Yakuza 0 will find the refined controls and excellent localization of Yakuza Kiwami a solid entry point.

Mainline 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 Wealth

(Mild spoilers for plot, characters, and major events follow.)

1. Yakuza 0 (2014)

Chronologically first, Yakuza 0 follows Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima in the late 1980s. Kiryu is framed for murder, while Majima, working in a cabaret, is tasked with killing a woman. The Empty Lot, a key piece of land, is central to the conflict. The game concludes with Kiryu's return to the Dojima family, Majima leaving the woman unharmed, and the Empty Lot's destruction to make way for the Millennium Tower.

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

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

Yakuza follows Kiryu's release from prison after taking the blame for a murder. He confronts the theft of ¥10 billion and the disappearance of Yumi Sawamura. He ultimately finds Yumi and the money, battles Nishikiyama, and becomes the Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan, only to step down and 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 preventing a war between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance. He works with Daigo Dojima and confronts Ryuji Goda, while detective Kaoru Sayama assists him.

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 runs the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa, facing threats from various yakuza families, the CIA, and arms smugglers.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN's Yakuza 3 Review

5. Yakuza 4 (2010)

Yakuza 4 features four protagonists: Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima, and Masayoshi Tanimura, each entangled in conflicts involving the Tojo Clan and other groups.

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

6. Yakuza 5 (2012)

Yakuza 5 follows five protagonists in different locations, dealing with Daigo's disappearance, Haruka's career, and other conflicts.

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 is Kiryu's final story, focusing on Haruka's accident and the search for her child's father, alongside threats from rival gangs.

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 Ichiban Kasuga, a new protagonist, and a turn-based combat system. He investigates the betrayal of his former boss and uncovers a larger conspiracy in Yokohama.

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 reunites Kiryu and Kasuga in a story spanning Japan and Hawaii, involving international crime syndicates and a surprising revelation about Kiryu's health.

Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, PC | IGN's Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review

All Yakuza/Like a Dragon Games and Spin-offs in Release Order:

(Mainline Yakuza 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. Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (2018)
16. Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)*
17. 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?

While *Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth* concluded its own arc, its ending hints at future installments. The success of *Infinite Wealth* and the release of *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii* strongly suggest more mainline and spin-off games are on the horizon. While RGG has announced other projects (*Virtua Fighter* revival and "Project Century"), details on the next *Like a Dragon* entry remain undisclosed.

Looking for more video game timelines? Check out these guides:

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