Yakuza Series: Chronological Play Guide

Originally launched as a PlayStation 2 title in 2005, the Yakuza series (known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) has evolved into a cherished saga that explores the intricate webs of yakuza family dynamics within the fictional Tokyo district of Kamurocho. In 2022, the series was rebranded to Like a Dragon, reflecting its Japanese title, Ryu ga Gotoku.

The Yakuza games are renowned for their thrilling action, dramatic storytelling, cinematic flair, and quirky humor. Skipping the side quests would mean missing out on the games' unique comedic charm. It took years for the franchise to gain widespread recognition outside Japan, but its reputation has been bolstered by a steady stream of localized re-releases, spin-offs, and new titles. The latest addition to the series, "Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii," follows the adventures of the beloved character Goro Majima.

The Yakuza Games In (Chronological) Order

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

Since its inception in 2005, Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have released nine mainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon games, along with two remakes—Yakuza Kiwami (2016) and Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017)—and a promise of a third remake in the future. The series has also spawned 11 spin-offs. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, the games have since been ported to Xbox and PC, with every title from Yakuza: Like a Dragon onwards being released simultaneously across multiple platforms, excluding Nintendo Switch—until the announcement in the August 2024 Nintendo Direct that Yakuza Kiwami would be the first Like a Dragon game to receive a Switch port in October 2024.

In addition to the mainline games, the Like a Dragon series includes a variety of unique spin-offs. Kurohyō: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho (2010) and its sequel Kurohyō 2: Ryu ga Gotoku Ashura Hen (2012) are exclusive to the PlayStation Portable and introduce a new protagonist, Tatsuya Ukyo. Judgment (2018) and Lost Judgment (2021) feature lawyer-turned-detective Takayuki Yagami, who investigates mysterious crimes in Kamurocho with tangential connections to the main Yakuza storyline.

Other notable spin-offs include the zombie-themed Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011), the free-to-play mobile and PC TCG Yakuza Online (2018), which introduced Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (2018), which adapts the popular Japanese manga into the Yakuza gameplay style. Historical spin-offs like Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008) and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014), the latter of which was released in the West as Like a Dragon: Ishin! in 2023, feature historical figures as protagonists.

In 2023, RGG released Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name, which delves into Kiryu's story following the events of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. The latest spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, released in 2025, stars Goro Majima as an amnesiac protagonist in Honolulu.

Which Yakuza Game Should You Play First?

With such an expansive series to explore, newcomers might wonder where to start. We recommend beginning with Yakuza 0 for a chronological journey or diving into Yakuza: Like a Dragon for a fresh start with a new protagonist and gameplay mechanics.

Yakuza Kiwami

For newcomers or those who started with Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami offers familiar controls, excellent localization by SEGA, and a solid entry point into the Yakuza saga.

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 in the series, Yakuza 0 is actually the first in the chronological timeline. Set during Japan's economic boom in the late 1980s, the game follows two protagonists: a young Kazuma Kiryu, framed for a murder at the Empty Lot, and Goro Majima, who is working in a cabaret as punishment for a past assassination attempt. The game concludes with Kiryu returning to the Dojima family, Majima allowing Makoto, the rightful owner of the Empty Lot, to live her life, and the destruction of the Empty Lot, which leads to the construction of the Millennium Tower, a pivotal location in the series.

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

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

The inaugural Yakuza game features Kazuma Kiryu post-incarceration after taking the fall for a murder committed by his best friend, Akira Nishikiyama. Upon his release, Kiryu finds himself expelled from the Tojo Clan, embroiled in a mystery involving stolen funds and the disappearance of Yumi Sawamura. His journey leads him to Haruka, a young girl with a pendant tied to the missing money, and culminates in a confrontation with Nishikiyama. Kiryu ultimately declines the position of Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan, opting instead 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 aiding the new Tojo Clan chairman, Yukio Terada, in averting a war with the Omi Alliance. Following an ambush where Terada is presumed dead, Kiryu searches for Daigo Dojima to lead the clan. He encounters Ryuji Goda, the son of the Omi chairman, and detective Kaoru Sayama, who is investigating 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)

In Yakuza 3, the first PlayStation 3 title in the series, Kiryu has left the yakuza life behind to run the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa with Haruka. However, he is drawn back into the underworld to tackle new threats involving yakuza families, assassinations, and international espionage.

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 through the perspectives of four protagonists, including Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima, and Masayoshi Tanimura. The game delves into the conflicts between the Tojo Clan and the Ueno Seiwa Clan, exploring themes of betrayal and crime.

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

6. Yakuza 5 (2012)

Yakuza 5 is a sprawling narrative featuring five protagonists across various locations. Kiryu, now in Fukuoka, is drawn back into the fray when Daigo goes missing. Saejima, imprisoned again, plans an escape, while Haruka pursues her dream of becoming a J-pop idol. Akiyama aids Haruka in uncovering the truth behind her agency president's death, and Tatsuo Shinada, a former baseball player, seeks to clear his name.

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 conclusion of Kazuma Kiryu's central narrative. After serving three years in prison for his past crimes, Kiryu returns to find Haruka in a coma and learns of her child, Haruto. His investigation leads him to Onomichi, Hiroshima, where he uncovers the truth about Haruto's father amidst escalating conflicts with rival groups.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC | IGN's Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Review

8. Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)

A significant shift for the series, Yakuza: Like a Dragon introduces a turn-based combat system and new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga. After serving 18 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Kasuga returns to a changed yakuza world where the Omi Alliance has overtaken the Tojo Clan. His journey leads him to confront his former patriarch and uncover a larger conspiracy.

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, unites Kiryu and Kasuga in a dual-protagonist story spanning Japan and Hawaii. Set in 2024, the narrative follows Kasuga's quest to find his supposedly deceased mother, intersecting with Kiryu's mission, who is battling cancer. The game weaves a complex tale involving international crime syndicates, a religious cult, 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.

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 saga continues to evolve, with Infinite Wealth setting the stage for future adventures. Despite concluding its own narrative arc, the game leaves room for further exploration. RGG Studio has also announced projects like the revival of Virtua Fighter and "Project Century," an open-world game, at recent gaming events. However, details about the next mainline or spin-off Like a Dragon game remain under wraps.