Yakuza Series: Chronological Play Guide

Originally launched on the PlayStation 2 in 2005, the Yakuza series (known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) has evolved into a cherished franchise, captivating audiences with its tales of yakuza families and their intricate conflicts within the fictional Tokyo neighborhood of Kamurocho. In a notable shift, the series was rebranded to Like a Dragon in 2022, reflecting its English translation of Ryu ga Gotoku.

The games are renowned for their unique blend of action, melodrama, cinematic storytelling, and humor. Skipping the side quests means missing out on a key component of the series' charm. While it took time for the franchise to gain international acclaim, its popularity has soared thanks to a consistent stream of localized re-releases, spin-offs, and new titles, including the latest addition, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, which features Goro Majima as an amnesiac protagonist in Honolulu.

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 expanded the Yakuza/Like a Dragon universe with nine mainline games, two remakes — Yakuza Kiwami (2016) and Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017) — and a third in the works, alongside 11 spin-offs. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, the series has since been ported to Xbox and PC, with every new title from Yakuza: Like a Dragon onwards being released simultaneously across multiple platforms, except for Nintendo Switch. However, Yakuza Kiwami became the first Like a Dragon game to be ported to the Switch in October 2024, following the announcement at the August 2024 Nintendo Direct.

In addition to the mainline games, Like a Dragon has ventured into various spin-offs. Kurohyō: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho (2010) and its sequel Kurohyō 2: Ryu ga Gotoku Ashura Hen (2012) are PlayStation Portable exclusives centered around a new character, Tatsuya Ukyo. Judgment (2018) and Lost Judgment (2021) introduce lawyer-turned-detective Takayuki Yagami, whose investigations in Kamurocho intersect with the Tojo Clan.

Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) presents a dystopian scenario with the classic characters fighting zombies. Yakuza Online (2018), a free-to-play trading card game available on mobile and PC, introduced Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (2018) brings the Yakuza gameplay style to the iconic Japanese manga series.

Two spin-offs, Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008) and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014) — released in the West as Like a Dragon: Ishin! in 2023 — are set in historical Japan and feature real historical figures as protagonists.

In 2023, Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name was released, detailing Kiryu's story post-Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. The latest spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, released in 2025, follows Goro Majima as he navigates life in Honolulu.

Which Yakuza Game Should You Play First?

For those new to the series, starting with Yakuza 0 offers a chronological entry point, while Yakuza: Like a Dragon provides a fresh start with a new protagonist and gameplay style.

### Yakuza Kiwami

0Newcomers or those who began with Yakuza 0 will appreciate the familiar controls, top-notch SEGA localization, and a solid introduction to the franchise. [ttpp]See it at Amazon[ttpp]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)

Despite being the sixth game released, Yakuza 0 is the first chronologically, set during Japan's economic boom in the late 1980s. Players control two protagonists: Kazuma Kiryu, a young member of the Dojima family framed for a murder at the Empty Lot, and Goro Majima, a former Shimano family member tasked with killing a blind woman named Makoto, the legitimate owner of the Empty Lot. By the game's end, Kiryu reconciles with the Dojima family, Majima allows Makoto to live freely, and the Empty Lot is destroyed to make way for the Millennium Tower.

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

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

In the original Yakuza game, Kazuma Kiryu emerges from a 10-year prison sentence for a murder he did not commit — the murder of his boss Sohei Dojima, carried out by his friend Akira Nishikiyama. Upon release, Kiryu is expelled from the Tojo Clan, discovers ¥10 billion has been stolen, and searches for Yumi Sawamura. He encounters Haruka, whose pendant is key to the lost money, and faces Nishikiyama, now an adversary. Kiryu briefly becomes the Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan but steps down to raise Haruka as his 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 begins with Kiryu helping the Tojo Clan avoid war with the Omi Alliance. After an ambush leaves the Fifth Chairman Terada seemingly dead, Kiryu seeks to appoint Daigo Dojima as the new leader. He clashes with Ryuji Goda, son of the Omi chairman, and works alongside detective Kaoru Sayama, who investigates 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, Kiryu seeks peace running the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa. However, he is drawn back into the yakuza world, facing new families, assassinations, and even the CIA.

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

5. Yakuza 4 (2010)

Yakuza 4 introduces four protagonists: Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima, and Masayoshi Tanimura. Their intertwined stories explore the Tojo Clan's conflicts with the Ueno Seiwa Clan and other groups, revealing deep betrayals and criminal undertakings.

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

6. Yakuza 5 (2012)

Yakuza 5 features five protagonists, each with unique stories set in 2012. Kiryu navigates the fallout of Daigo's disappearance, while Saejima escapes prison, Haruka pursues her dream of becoming a J-pop idol, Akiyama investigates her agency's president's death, and newcomer Tatsuo Shinada seeks to clear his name in a baseball scandal.

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 returns from a three-year prison stint to find Haruka in a coma and her son Haruto in need of care. His investigation takes him to Hiroshima, where he uncovers the truth about Haruto's father amid rival gang tensions.

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. After serving 18 years for a crime he didn't commit, Kasuga returns to find the Tojo Clan defeated by the Omi Alliance. His quest for answers leads him to new allies in Yokohama and beyond.

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 sprawling narrative that spans Japan and Hawaii. Kasuga's search for his mother and Kiryu's battle with cancer set the stage for a story involving international mob groups, 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 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. While Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth concluded its story, it left room for future developments. At the 2024 Game Awards, RGG announced the revival of Virtua Fighter and unveiled "Project Century" at the February 2025 State of Play, but details about the next Like a Dragon mainline or spin-off remain under wraps.

For more gaming timelines, explore guides on other popular series such as Grand Theft Auto, God of War, Assassin's Creed, and Resident Evil.