Originally released as a PlayStation 2 game in 2005, Yakuza (known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) has grown into a beloved and extensive video game series. Set in the fictional neighborhood of Kamurocho, Tokyo, the series delves into the intricate conflicts and schemes of yakuza families. In 2022, the series was rebranded as Like a Dragon, reflecting its original Japanese title.
The Yakuza games are renowned for their unique blend of action-packed sequences, melodramatic storytelling, cinematic flair, and a touch of humor. A significant part of the series' charm lies in its side quests, which are essential for experiencing the full spectrum of the game's humor and depth. Initially slow to gain international recognition, the franchise has since expanded its reach through consistent releases, remakes, and spin-offs. One of the latest additions to the series is the Majima-led spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.
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 in 2016 and Yakuza Kiwami 2 in 2017), with a third on the horizon, and 11 spin-offs. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, the series has since expanded to Xbox and PC platforms. Every game since Yakuza: Like a Dragon has been released simultaneously across multiple platforms, with the exception of the Nintendo Switch, which saw its first Like a Dragon title, Yakuza Kiwami, in October 2024.
In addition to the mainline titles, the Like a Dragon series boasts a variety of spin-offs. Notable among these are Kurohyō: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho (2010) and its sequel Kurohyō 2: Ryu ga Gotoku Ashura Hen (2012), both exclusive to the PlayStation Portable and featuring the new character Tatsuya Ukyo. Judgment (2018) and Lost Judgment (2021) introduce Takayuki Yagami, a lawyer-turned-detective, whose adventures intersect with the yakuza world.
Other spin-offs include the zombie-themed Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011), the mobile and PC free-to-play TCG Yakuza Online (2018), which introduced protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, and Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (2018), which adapts the popular Japanese series into the Yakuza gameplay style.
Historically set games 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, exploring Kiryu's story post-Yakuza 6. The most recent spin-off, 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 to the series, starting with Yakuza 0 provides a chronological entry point, while Yakuza: Like a Dragon offers a fresh start with a new protagonist and a revamped combat system.
Yakuza Kiwami
0Newcomers or those familiar with Yakuza 0 will find the controls, localization, and overall experience a solid entry into the franchise. See it at Amazon.
Mainline 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)
The sixth game released in the series is actually the first in chronological order. Yakuza 0 introduces two protagonists during Japan's economic boom of the late 1980s: Kazuma Kiryu, a young member of the Dojima family, and Goro Majima, a former Shimano family member working in a cabaret. Both are drawn into a struggle over the Empty Lot, a key piece of land in the series' narrative.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC | IGN’s Yakuza 0 Review
2. Yakuza (2005) / Yakuza Kiwami (2016)
The original Yakuza game follows Kazuma Kiryu after he serves a 10-year prison sentence for a crime he didn't commit. Upon his release, he discovers the Tojo Clan in disarray and embarks on a quest to find missing money and protect Haruka, the daughter of a friend.
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 assisting Terada, the Fifth Chairman of the Tojo Clan, to prevent a war with the Omi Alliance. Amidst this, Kiryu encounters Ryuji Goda and detective Kaoru Sayama, whose personal quests intertwine with the clan's struggles.
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 retired to run the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa. However, he is soon drawn back into the yakuza world amidst new threats and betrayals.
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, including loan shark Shun Akiyama, escaped convict Taiga Saejima, and detective Masayoshi Tanimura, alongside Kiryu, as they navigate a complex web of crime and betrayal.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN’s Yakuza 4 Review
6. Yakuza 5 (2012)
Yakuza 5 introduces five protagonists across different settings, including Kiryu in Fukuoka, Saejima in prison, Haruka pursuing her dream as a J-pop idol, Akiyama investigating a murder, and new character Tatsuo Shinada, a former baseball player.
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 main storyline. After three years in prison, Kiryu returns to find Haruka in a coma and begins investigating her life in Onomichi, Hiroshima.
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 a new protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga, and a turn-based combat system. Kasuga, after serving 18 years in prison, returns to a changed yakuza landscape and uncovers a conspiracy involving his former patriarch.
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 dual-protagonist adventure spanning Japan and Hawaii. The story explores Kasuga's search for his mother and Kiryu's battle with cancer, set against a backdrop of international crime and intrigue.
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, PC | IGN's Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review
All of 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)*
- Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008)
4. Yakuza 3 (2009)*
5. Yakuza 4 (2010)*
Kurohyō: Ryū ga Gotoku Shinshō (2010)
Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011)
Kurohyō 2: Ryū ga Gotoku Ashura Hen (2012)
9. Yakuza 5 (2012)*
- Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014) / Like a Dragon: Ishin! (2023)
11. Yakuza 0 (2015)*
12. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016)*
Yakuza Online (2018)
Judgment (2018)
15. Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)*
Lost Judgment (2021)
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023)
19. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024)*
- Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (2025)
What’s Next for Yakuza/Like a Dragon?
The Like a Dragon story continues to evolve. While Infinite Wealth concluded its narrative arc, it left open possibilities for future installments. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has announced new projects like the revival of Virtua Fighter and the open-world game "Project Century," but details on the next Like a Dragon game remain under wraps.
