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How to Play All The ‘Yakuza’ Games in Chronological Order

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Oct 07, 2024 / 4560 Views

The Yakuza series has captured players worldwide with its engaging storytelling, intricate characters and unique blend of action and quirky humour. Games in this series are set in the heart of Japan’s criminal underworld. Their interconnected storylines and twisted character arcs make it essential for gamers to play all the Yakuza games in order.

For those new to the series, the task of playing Yakuza games in chronological order can be a bit daunting. There have been multiple releases over the years, followed by several remasters and spin-offs, but the core of the Yakuza experience lies in the mainline series.

The mainline series has such an engaging narrative that Amazon Studios is working on a live-action series based on it that will start streaming later this year.

‘Like a Dragon: Yakuza’ live-action series will premiere October 24 on Prime Video. pic.twitter.com/yQkh088Fas

— Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) June 4, 2024

If one follows all Yakuza games in order, one can witness the evolution of Kazuma Kiryu’s character and the complex web of relationships that defines the series. Each game consists of a sprawling open world and introduces new, allies and foes, giving gamers a rich immersive experience.

This guide will list all the mainline Yakuza games in chronological order, helping you navigate through the series. But first, let us explore all the original titles and remasters in the franchise.

List of all the ‘Yakuza’ games, arranged by release date

Yakuza- Released in 2005
Yakuza 2- Released in 2006
Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan!- A spin-off that released in 2008
Yakuza 3- Released in 2009
Yakuza 4- Released in 2010
Kurohyō: Ryū ga Gotoku Ashura Hen- A spin-off released for Sony’s handheld console PlayStation Portable in 2010
Yakuza: Dead Souls- A horror spin-off released in 2011
Kurohyō 2: Ryū ga Gotoku Ashura Hen- Released in 2012 for the PlayStation Portable
Yakuza 0- A prequel to the franchise that released in 2015
Yakuza Kiwami- Remake of the first game that released in 2016
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life– Released in 2016
Yakuza Kiwami 2- Remake of Yakuza 2 that released in 2017
Ryū ga Gotoku Online- An online game released for Android, iOS and PC in 2018
Judgement- A spin-off that was released in 2019
Yakuza: Like a Dragon- Released in 2020
Streets of Kamurocho- A promotional freeware beat ’em up video game released in 2020 for PC
Lost Judgement- Sequel to Judgement released in 2021
Like a Dragon: Ishin!- A spin-off released in 2023
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name- A spin-off that released in 2023
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth- Released in 2024

How to play the ‘Yakuza’ games in chronological order

Yakuza 0

yakuza games in order — *Yakuza 0* is the prequel to the whole series (Image Credit: Sega)

Release year: 2015
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, PC

This Game was released as a prequel to the first title in the series. It is set 17 years before the original Yakuza storyline, in Japan’s bubble era. Taking full advantage of its period, its story focuses on Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima as they get mixed up in a coNFLict between several Yakuza factions who want control of a patch of land.

Gameplay-wise, it’s an open-world title played from a third-person perspective. Combat is a mix of beat ‘em up and fighting where players take on several opponents while shifting between fighting styles such as brawler, beast, thug, slugger, etc.

Yakuza Kiwami

Release year: 2016
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch (releasing October 2024), PC

Yakuza Kiwami is the remake of the original Game in the franchise which kickstarted the series back in 2005. Set in 1995 and 2005, this Game follows Kazuma Kiryu as he tries to rebuild his life after spending 10 years in prison.

It is an open-world game with fighting-like combat mechanics. Players can also explore the Kamurocho district and participate in various side activities.

Yakuza Kiwami 2

Release year: 2017
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

This game is a remake of Yakuza 2, which was originally released in 2006. This remake introduced improved visuals and new gameplay mechanics to the original game, just like Yakuza 0 and Kiwami. This title is set in 2006 and focuses on Kazuma Kiryu as he faces new challenges while being dragged back into the criminal underworld that he wished to leave behind.

This time players can explore two districts, Kamurocho and Sotenborin, based on real-life locations of Kabukicho and Dotonbori. Combat introduces a new mechanic called “Heat Moves,” which are much more cinematic than your usual actions. There is also a new mode called The Majima Saga, which focuses on anti-hero Goro Majima.

Yakuza 3

Release year: 2009
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, PC

Yakuza 3 brings back Kazuma Kiryu as he attempts to leave his criminal past behind and start a new life in Okinawa. However, Yakuza has a firm grip on him and he is pulled back into that world yet again.

Like the previous games in the series, this game also features a detailed combat system. It also introduces several new elements to the gameplay, such as seamless battle, chase battle, revelation and first-person view.

Yakuza 4

Release year: 2010
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, PC

In Yakuza 4, players can control multiple protagonists; each of them has their own storyline that interweaves with Kazuma Kiryu’s. Besides Kiryu, players witness the stories of Masayoshi Tanimura, Shun Akiyama and Taiga Saejima. Besides these, the game introduces several new characters, resulting in a story that is told on a much larger scale.

Besides participating in typical Yakuza-style story missions, players also get into certain character-specific activities. They can use pachinko machines, fish, get a massage, play table tennis, play a game of hanafuda and sing karaoke.

Yakuza 5

Release year: 2015
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, PC

This is said to be one of the most ambitious titles in this franchise; it features five playable protagonists and multiple cities to explore. As usual, Kazuma Kiryu returns as the main character but this time, he is joined by Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima, Haruka Sawamura and Tatsu Shinada. All these characters have different stories that are connected to Kiryu’s journey.

The Gameplay remains largely the same; players can explore the open-world cities and participate in various unusual side activities. But this time around, the title is divided into two Game modes: adventure mode and combat mode. In adventure mode, players can explore and participate in side activities. The combat mode is just what the name suggests: you brawl with your enemies and hit them with those large metal chairs or whatever you get your hands on, maybe a teddy bear!

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

Release year: 2018
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

This is the game where you finally get to witness the conclusion of Kazuma Kiryu’s story. Players are shown how he does everything he can to protect those he cares about the most. It features a more heartfelt and personal storyline and ends several series’ long-running storylines.

Even though this is the first game in the franchise to be made on the new Dragon Engine, the gameplay mechanics remain largely the same. You explore, you do side quests and you brawl.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Release year: 2020
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, PC

This is a significant game in several ways. For one, this is the first title in the series to be released outside of Japan with the “Like a Dragon” name. It also introduces a new protagonist named Ichiban Kasuga and is set three years after Yakuza 6.

Another significant change came with its gameplay; instead of real-time brawling, this game changed its combat to real-time turn-based. Even after all these changes, the game remains as fun as any of its predecessors.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Release year: 2024
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PC

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth brings back Ichiban Kasuga in the lead and features Hawaii as the first-ever overseas location in the series.

The Game features largely similar Gameplay mechanics to its predecessor, with a few improvements. This time around, a player character’s position in the arena makes a lot of difference, as every character has a ring denoting their area of movement and can move freely during combat.

If someone wants to play the Yakuza games in order, they have a massive task ahead. Maybe that’s why Sega finally announced Yakuza Kiwami for Nintendo Switch, so players can enjoy these stories on the go.

This is the first ever game to be released on this console; maybe we will see more games on Nintendo Switch 2? These games start getting more demanding as the series advances. Let’s see where Sega takes these games next and if they decide to bring any more titles on Nintendo’s hybrid consoles.

(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Sega)

This story first appeared on Augustman Hong Kong