Originally released as a PlayStation 2 game in 2005, Yakuza (Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) has evolved into a cherished and expansive video game series. Set in the fictional Tokyo neighborhood of Kamurocho, the series delves into the intricate conflicts and schemes of yakuza families. In 2022, the series rebranded to Like a Dragon, reflecting its English translation of Ryu ga Gotoku.
The Yakuza games are celebrated for their unique blend of action, melodrama, cinematic storytelling, and humor. Engaging with the side quests is essential, as they add a layer of levity and richness to the experience. Initially slow to gain international acclaim, the franchise has now become a global phenomenon, thanks to consistent releases of localized re-releases, spin-offs, and new titles. The latest addition, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, stars the fan-favorite Goro Majima in a thrilling Hawaiian adventure.
The Yakuza Games In (Chronological) Order
10 Images
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 promised in the future, and 11 spin-offs. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, the series has expanded to Xbox and PC platforms, with every game since Yakuza: Like a Dragon releasing simultaneously across multiple platforms, except for the Nintendo Switch. However, Yakuza Kiwami will be the first Like a Dragon game to be ported to the Switch in October 2024, as announced in the Nintendo Direct from August 2024.
In addition to the mainline titles, Like a Dragon boasts a variety of 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, featuring a new protagonist, Tatsuya Ukyo. **Judgment (2018)** and **Lost Judgment (2021)** introduce lawyer-turned-detective Takayuki Yagami, who investigates murders in Kamurocho and has connections to the Tojo Clan.Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) brings the classic characters into a zombie-infested dystopian setting. Yakuza Online (2018) is a free-to-play trading card game available on mobile and PC, introducing Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (2018) applies the Yakuza gameplay to the iconic Japanese series.
Two spin-offs, Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008) and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014), are set in historical Japan and feature historical figures as protagonists. The latter was released in the West as Like a Dragon: Ishin! in 2023.
In 2023, Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name was released, detailing Kiryu's journey following Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. The most recent spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, features Goro Majima as an amnesiac protagonist set six months after the events of Infinite Wealth.
Which Yakuza Game Should You Play First?
For those new to the series, we recommend starting with Yakuza 0 for a chronological experience or Yakuza: Like a Dragon for a fresh start with a new protagonist.
### Yakuza Kiwami
0Newcomers or those who started with Yakuza 0 will appreciate the familiar controls, excellent SEGA localization, and a solid entry point into the franchise.
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 in the series chronologically. Set during the late 1980s economic boom, it follows 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 working in a cabaret. By the game's end, Kiryu returns to the Dojima family, Majima leaves Makoto to live her life, and the Empty Lot is destroyed, making 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, Kazuma Kiryu takes the fall for a murder he didn't commit in 1995, serving a 10-year sentence. Upon release, he's expelled from the Tojo Clan, and must navigate the theft of ¥10 billion and the disappearance of his friend Yumi. He meets Haruka, whose pendant is key to the lost money, and faces off against his former friend Nishikiyama. Kiryu ultimately becomes the Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan before resigning to raise Haruka.
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 Terada prevent a war between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance. After Terada's apparent death, Kiryu seeks to appoint Daigo Dojima as the new chairman. Amidst this, he encounters Ryuji Goda and detective Kaoru Sayama, whose parents' disappearance is intertwined with the plot.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (Yakuza Kiwami 2), PS3 | IGN’s Yakuza 2 Review | Yakuza Kiwami 2 Review
4. Yakuza 3 (2009)
Yakuza 3 finds Kiryu running the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa in 2007. Peace is short-lived as he faces new yakuza families, assassinations, betrayals, an arms smuggling group, 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: Kazuma Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima, and Masayoshi Tanimura. Their interconnected stories involve the Tojo Clan, the Ueno Seiwa Clan, and a mysterious woman named Lily.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN’s Yakuza 4 Review
6. Yakuza 5 (2012)
Yakuza 5 expands to five protagonists across different scenarios in 2012. Kiryu, Saejima, Haruka, Akiyama, and newcomer Tatsuo Shinada navigate complex plots involving the Tojo Clan, the Omi Alliance, and more.
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 end of Kiryu's main storyline. After serving three years for his past crimes, he returns to find Haruka in a coma and her son, Haruto. Kiryu investigates in Onomichi, Hiroshima, amidst rivalries with the Saio Triad and Jingweon Mafia.
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 Ichiban Kasuga and a turn-based combat system. After serving 18 years for a crime he didn't commit, Kasuga uncovers the truth behind the Omi Alliance's defeat of the Tojo Clan and the betrayal of his patriarch, Masumi Arakawa.
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 unites Kiryu and Kasuga in a dual-protagonist narrative spanning Japan to Hawaii. Set in 2024, Kasuga searches for his mother while Kiryu, diagnosed with cancer, seeks sanctuary. Their journey involves international mob groups, a religious cult, live streamers, 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)
18. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023)
19. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024)*
20. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (2025)
What’s Next for Yakuza/Like a Dragon?
The Like a Dragon saga continues to expand. While **Infinite Wealth** concluded its narrative, it left room for future developments. Following the success of **Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii**, fans eagerly await news on the next mainline or spin-off game. At the 2024 Game Awards, RGG announced the revival of Virtua Fighter and a new open-world game, "Project Century," at the February 2025 State of Play, yet details on the next Like a Dragon title remain undisclosed.Looking for more video game timelines? Check out these guides:
- Grand Theft Auto Games in Order
- God of War Games in Order
- Assassin's Creed Games in Order
- Resident Evil Games in Order
