Originally launched on the PlayStation 2 in 2005, the Yakuza series, known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan, has evolved into a cherished franchise that chronicles the intricate conflicts and schemes of yakuza families set in the fictional Kamurocho neighborhood of Tokyo. In 2022, the series was rebranded to "Like a Dragon," reflecting its original Japanese title.
These games are renowned for their blend of action, melodrama, cinematic storytelling, and humor, especially through their engaging side quests. While it took time for the series to gain international acclaim, its reputation has been bolstered by consistent releases, including remakes, spin-offs, and new titles. The latest addition to the series is the Majima-focused 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 (2016) and Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017), with a third on the horizon – and 11 spin-offs. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, these games have since been ported to Xbox and PC, with every title since Yakuza: Like a Dragon launching 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, following an announcement at the Nintendo Direct in August 2024.
In addition to the mainline series, Like a Dragon boasts a variety of unique 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, exploring mysteries in Kamurocho with connections to the Tojo Clan. Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) offers a zombie-infested twist on the classic setting, while Yakuza Online (2018) introduces Ichiban Kasuga in a free-to-play TCG format. Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (2018) adapts the popular Japanese series into the Yakuza gameplay style. Historical spin-offs Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008) and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014), the latter released in the West as Like a Dragon: Ishin! in 2023, explore Japan's past with historical figures. Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023) follows Kiryu's journey post-Yakuza 6, and the latest spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, features Goro Majima in an amnesiac adventure set in Honolulu.
Which Yakuza Game Should You Play First?
For newcomers, starting with Yakuza 0 provides a chronological entry point into the saga, or alternatively, diving into Yakuza: Like a Dragon offers a fresh start with a new protagonist and gameplay style.
Yakuza Kiwami
For those new to the series or who started with Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami offers familiar controls, top-notch localization, and an excellent entry point 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)
Set in the late 1980s, Yakuza 0 is the chronological start of the series despite being the sixth game released. It follows two protagonists during Japan's economic boom. Kazuma Kiryu, a young member of the Dojima family, is framed for a murder linked to the Empty Lot, a key piece of land. Goro Majima, a former Shimano family member, 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 allows Makoto to live, 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)
The original Yakuza game follows Kazuma Kiryu after he serves a 10-year prison sentence for a murder he didn't commit, protecting his friend Akira Nishikiyama. Upon release, he's expelled from the Tojo Clan, and must navigate the mystery of a stolen ¥10 billion and the disappearance of his friend Yumi Sawamura. He meets Haruka, whose pendant is crucial to the plot, and confronts Nishikiyama, who has turned against him. Kiryu ultimately becomes the Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan before stepping down to raise Haruka as his adopted daughter.
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 the Tojo Clan's new chairman, Yukio Terada, prevent a war with their rivals, the Omi Alliance. After Terada's apparent death, Kiryu supports Daigo Dojima as the new chairman while facing off against Ryuji Goda of the Omi Alliance. Alongside, detective Kaoru Sayama assists Kiryu while uncovering her parents' fate.
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 attempts to leave the yakuza life behind, managing the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa with Haruka. However, he's drawn back into the underworld through conflicts involving new yakuza families, assassinations, and international intrigue.
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: Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima, and Masayoshi Tanimura. The story delves into the Tojo Clan's conflicts with the Ueno Seiwa Clan, loan sharking, prison escapes, and detective work, weaving their stories into a complex tapestry.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN's Yakuza 4 Review
6. Yakuza 5 (2012)
Yakuza 5 amplifies the series' scope with five protagonists: Kiryu, Saejima, Haruka, Akiyama, and Tatsuo Shinada. The game spans multiple locations and intertwines their stories around the Tojo Clan, Omi Alliance, and other criminal enterprises, culminating in a gripping narrative.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN's Yakuza 5 Review
7. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016)
In Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, Kiryu's story reaches its climax as he serves time for his past crimes. Upon release, he learns of Haruka's accident and her son Haruto, leading him to investigate in Onomichi, Hiroshima. Amidst this, he confronts new threats from rival groups while his old allies face their own challenges.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC | IGN's Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Review
8. Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)
Marking a major shift, Yakuza: Like a Dragon introduces Ichiban Kasuga and a turn-based combat system. Kasuga, after serving 18 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, returns to find the Tojo Clan defeated by the Omi Alliance. His quest to uncover the truth leads him to new allies and cities, including Yokohama and Sotenbori.
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)
The largest Like a Dragon game to date, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, brings together Kiryu and Kasuga in a dual-protagonist narrative that spans Japan and Hawaii. Set after the events of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the story follows Kasuga's search for his mother and Kiryu's battle against his cancer, weaving a complex tale involving international crime syndicates and more.
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.
- Yakuza (2005) / Yakuza Kiwami (2016)*
- Yakuza 2 (2006) / Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017)*
- Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008)
- Yakuza 3 (2009)*
- Yakuza 4 (2010)*
- Kurohyō: Ryū ga Gotoku Shinshō (2010)
- Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011)
- Kurohyō 2: Ryū ga Gotoku Ashura Hen (2012)
- Yakuza 5 (2012)*
- Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014) / Like a Dragon: Ishin! (2023)
- Yakuza 0 (2015)*
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016)*
- Yakuza Online (2018)
- Judgment (2018)
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)*
- Lost Judgment (2021)
- Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023)
- 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 saga continues to evolve. While Infinite Wealth concluded its own narrative arc, it left the door open for future stories. The franchise's popularity ensures more mainline and spin-off titles are on the horizon. At the 2024 Game Awards, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio announced the revival of Virtua Fighter and a new open-world game titled "Project Century" at the February 2025 State of Play, but details on the next Like a Dragon installment remain under wraps.
