The ‘Like a Dragon’ franchise, formerly referred to as Yakuza, has experienced remarkable evolution over the past two decades. Launched in 2005, the first Yakuza game introduced players to Kazuma Kiryu and his complex ties to the Yakuza world, a storyline that continues to develop.
Initially recognized for its intense and violent themes, akin to the operations of the Japanese organized crime syndicate, the series has gradually shifted towards a more comedic approach. This transformation highlights its exaggerated features, setting each installment apart from its predecessors. If you’re curious about the sequence of the titles, here’s a guide to the main Yakuza games in order.
How Many Yakuza Games Are There?
Since its launch in 2005, Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have introduced nine primary Yakuza games in order, along with two remakes. Initially, these titles were exclusive to PlayStation, but they have since been made available on Xbox and PC as well. Starting with Yakuza: Like a Dragon, all new releases have been launched simultaneously across various platforms, except for the Nintendo Switch.
In total, there are 23 Yakuza games available, which include nine primary installments along with various spin-offs and associated titles.
Yakuza games in release date order
- Yakuza (2005 | PlayStation 2)
- Yakuza 2 (2006 | PlayStation 2)
- Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008 | PlayStation 3)
- Yakuza 3 (2009 | PlayStation 3)
- Yakuza 4 (2010 | PlayStation 3)
- Kurohyō: Ryū ga Gotoku Shinshō (2010 | PlayStation Portable)
- Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011 | PlayStation 3)
- Kurohyō 2: Ryū ga Gotoku Ashura Hen (2012 | PlayStation Portable)
- Yakuza 5 (2012 | PlayStation 3)
- Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014 | PlayStation 3)
- Yakuza 0 (2015 | PlayStation 3)
- Yakuza Kiwami (2016 | PlayStation 3)
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016 | PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One)
- Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017 | PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One)
- Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (2018 | PlayStation 4)
- Ryū ga Gotoku Online (2018 | Android, IOS, PC)
- Judgment (2018 | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, PC, Xbox Series X/S)
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020 | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
- Streets of Kamurocho (2020 | PC)
- Lost Judgment (2021 | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
- Like a Dragon: Ishin! (2023 | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
- Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023 | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (upcoming 2024 | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
1. Yakuza 0 (2014)
The sixth installment in the series is also the first in terms of its storyline. In Yakuza 0, players control two main characters. One of them is a young Kiryu Kazuma, set in the late 1980s, who finds himself wrongfully accused of a murder orchestrated by one of his own lieutenants within the Dojima family.
This incident revolves around an ‘Empty Slot’, a valuable piece of land where the murder allegedly occurred, which is crucial for whoever controls it. As the narrative unfolds, players delve deeper into the complexities of the characters’ lives and the intricate web of alliances and betrayals within the Yakuza world.
The events in this prequel set the stage for the subsequent games, revealing vital backstories and motivations that shape the series’ future. As fans of Yakuza games explore the series, they encounter various characters and storylines woven throughout the franchise.
One notable storyline follows Kiryu, who finds himself in danger from his own yakuza family. Meanwhile, Goro Majima, a former member of the yakuza, faces the consequences of his past actions by working at a cabaret after being involved in an assassination years prior.
His former boss, Futoshi Shimano, gives him a dangerous assignment: to eliminate a blind woman named Makoto. The motives behind this task remain unclear initially, but it is later uncovered that she is, in fact, the rightful owner of the coveted Empty Lot.
At the conclusion of the storyline, Kiryu returns to the Dojima family after overcoming all the lieutenants. Meanwhile, Majima allows Makoto to pursue her own path, and the Empty Slot is dismantled, paving the way for the construction of the Millennium Tower, an important landmark in the Yakuza series.
2. Yakuza (2005)
The initial entry in the Yakuza series introduces us to Kiryu Kazuma, who finds himself as the sole lead character after serving time in prison for a crime he did not commit. He takes the fall for the murder of Sohei Dojima, his boss, who was killed by his close friend Akira Nishikiyama. This tragic event unfolds as Sohei attempted to assault Yumi Sawamura, a mutual friend of both Kiryu and Nishikiyama.
After serving a decade in prison, Kiryu finds himself ousted from the Tojo Clan, grappling with the shocking news that ten billion yen has vanished from their funds, and Yumi is missing. Amidst this turmoil, he encounters Haruka, the child of a woman named Mizuki.
Haruka possesses a pendant that appears to be crucial to unraveling the mystery of the stolen money. Furthermore, Kiryu faces a new threat when Nishikiyama shoots his former captain and adoptive father, intensifying the conflict.
At the peak of the story, Kiryu reunites with Yumi, retrieves the missing money, and confronts Nishikiyama in a fierce battle. Following these events, Kiryu is offered the position of Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan, a role he initially accepts. However, he quickly appoints Yukio Terada, a former member of the Omi Alliance yakuza, as his successor and chooses to leave the yakuza lifestyle behind to raise Haruka as his adopted daughter.
3. Yakuza 2 (2006)
Yakuza 2 kicks off with Terada, the Fifth Chairman of the Tojo Clan, seeking Kiryu’s assistance to avert a conflict with the Omi Alliance, their long-standing adversaries. Following an ambush that leaves Terada apparently dead, Kiryu embarks on a quest to find Daigo Dojima, the son of Sohei Dojima, with the aim of appointing him as the new chairman of the clan.
In the journey of Yakuza games, Kiryu encounters Ryuji Goda, the heir to the Omi chairman. Their paths clash as Ryuji refuses to consider a peace agreement with the Tojo Clan. Alongside this conflict, detective Kaoru Sayama enters the scene, assisting Kiryu while she uncovers the mystery surrounding her parents’ disappearance from her childhood.
4. Yakuza 3 (2009)
The initial installment in the series available on PlayStation 3, Yakuza 3, offers a unique start as Kiryu steps away from the world of the yakuza. Instead of engaging in the underworld, he dedicates his time to managing an orphanage named Morning Glory Orphanage located in Okinawa. Kiryu is supported by Haruka as he tends to the needs of several new children residing there.
Regrettably, tranquility is short-lived. The main character finds themselves entangled in a web of conflicts with various individuals, confronting new yakuza clans, a series of assassinations, gunfire, treachery, an arms trafficking organization, and even the involvement of the CIA.
5. Yakuza 4 (2010)
A year after the storyline of its predecessor, Yakuza 4 elevates the drama and introduces a different narrative perspective. While it continues to delve into themes of family, betrayal, and crime, this installment uniquely unfolds through the viewpoints of four distinct characters.
In the realm of Yakuza games in order, we encounter not only the iconic Kiryu Kazuma but also three fresh characters making their mark in the bustling streets of Kamurocho. One of these newcomers is Shun Akiyama, a loan shark who runs his own company, Sky Finance.
Akiyama becomes embroiled in a power struggle between the Tojo Clan and the Ueno Seiwa Clan, all while navigating a request for a substantial loan of 100 million yen from an enigmatic woman called Lily.
Taiga Saejima, who is deeply connected to Goro Majima as his blood brother, was incarcerated following a hit on the Ueno Seiwa Clan back in 1985. Now, two decades later, having managed to escape from prison, he sets out to find Majima, who left him behind during their mission.
Detective Masayoshi Tanimura, a fresh protagonist in the series, is delving into a recent murder linked to the Tojo Clan. During his investigation, he encounters Lily, who turns out to be Saejima’s sister, and she is under assault from the Shibata family.
As Tanimura digs deeper, he uncovers that the head of the Shibata family has ties to the assassination that Saejima was involved in years prior. Eventually, Kiryu reunites with his new allies and uncovers the fates of all the characters entangled in the ongoing turmoil.
6. Yakuza 5 (2012)
Following the intricate storytelling in Yakuza 4, which introduced various protagonists, Yakuza 5 took this concept further by allowing players to control five different characters, each navigating their own unique challenges.
Initially, the story centers around Kiryu, who departs from Kamurocho and relocates to Fukuoka, leaving behind his orphanage and Haruka. However, his tranquility is short-lived as he soon discovers that Daigo has disappeared, signaling that the fragile peace between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance is on the verge of collapse.
Saejima finds himself back in prison, plotting an escape alongside his cellmate, Shigeki Baba. However, his plans take a dark turn upon learning that his blood brother, Majima, has passed away.
Meanwhile, Haruka has grown into her teenage years, chasing her aspiration of becoming a J-Pop Idol. The situation takes a twist when the head of her talent agency, Mirei Park, is discovered dead under suspicious circumstances that appear to be a fabricated suicide. Akiyama, a familiar face from previous stories, returns to assist Haruka in uncovering the truth behind Park’s mysterious demise.
The final element to consider is the introduction of Tatsuo Shinada, a once-prominent baseball player whose career was derailed when he was falsely accused of match-fixing. In a twist of fate, he encounters a mysterious individual, who turns out to be Daigo, and is tasked with uncovering the truth behind the events that led to his downfall years ago.
7. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016)
Yakuza games are best experienced in the correct sequence, and “Yakuza 6: The Song of Life” serves as the concluding chapter for Kiryu Kazuma’s journey within this iconic series. In this installment, Kiryu finds himself incarcerated once more, but this time it’s due to his own previous wrongdoings rather than being unjustly accused.
The story takes a significant turn when Haruka, during a concert, publicly discloses that Kiryu is her father and that he has a history as an ex-yakuza. Upon his release from prison, Kiryu makes a brief return to Kamurocho. However, he soon discovers that Haruka has fallen into a coma following a tragic car accident, and she has a son named Haruto.
Before the incident, Haruka had been living in Onomichi for an extended period. Concerned, Kiryu decides to travel there to uncover the truth behind the accident and to find out who Haruto’s father might be.
As you search for hints, key figures such as Daigo, Saejima, and Majima find themselves behind bars, while opposing factions like the Chinese Saio Triad and the Jingweon Mafia are poised to act in Kamurocho.
8. Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)
Yakuza: Like a Dragon marks a significant shift in the Yakuza series, presenting a new beginning for fans. Unlike previous installments, this game features Ichiban Kasuga as the central character, stepping away from Kiryu’s storyline. Ichiban, a member of the Tojo Clan, spent 18 years in prison to safeguard his captain, Jo Sawashiro. Upon his release, he discovers that no one is seeking him, as the Tojo Clan has been overthrown by the Omi Alliance.
Masumi Arakawa, the head of the Arawaka family, played a pivotal role in the storyline by convincing Ichiban to serve time in prison for Sawashiro’s crimes. This decision was part of a larger plot where he collaborated with the Omi and ultimately turned against the Tojo Clan. In a dramatic twist, when Ichiban and Arakawa reunite nearly two decades later, Arakawa shoots him.
Ichiban finds himself in Ijincho after waking up, where a homeless man named Yu Nanba tends to his injuries. This marks the beginning of our new hero’s journey as he encounters various characters who will join his team. Together, this diverse group will seek to unravel the mystery surrounding Arakawa’s actions, all while confronting three major criminal organizations: the Yokohama Liumang, the Geomijul Mafia, and the Seiryu Clan.
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source: Gamerode
