Originally launched as a PlayStation 2 game in 2005, Yakuza (known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) has evolved into a cherished and expansive video game series. Set in the fictional district of Kamurocho, Tokyo, the series delves into the intricate and often tumultuous lives of yakuza families. In 2022, the series was rebranded to "Like a Dragon," reflecting the English translation of Ryu ga Gotoku, marking a significant shift in its identity and gameplay.
The Yakuza games are renowned for their thrilling blend of action, melodrama, cinematic flair, and humor. Skipping the side quests means missing out on a crucial part of the games' charm and wit. It took years for the franchise to gain the international acclaim it now enjoys, largely due to consistent releases of localized versions, remakes, spinoffs, and new titles. The most recent addition to the lineup is the Majima-centric spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.
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Since its debut in 2005, Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have released a total of **nine mainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon games**, alongside two remakes - Yakuza Kiwami (2016) and Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017) - with a third remake on the horizon. Additionally, there have been 11 spin-offs. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, the series has expanded to Xbox and PC platforms, with all new games since Yakuza: Like a Dragon being released simultaneously across multiple platforms, except for the Nintendo Switch. However, Yakuza Kiwami is set to receive a Switch port in October 2024, as announced in the August 2024 Nintendo Direct.
The series boasts a variety of spin-offs, each bringing unique gameplay and settings. Kurohyō: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho (2010) and its sequel Kurohyō 2: Ryu ga Gotoku Ashura Hen (2012) are PlayStation Portable exclusives featuring a new protagonist, Tatsuya Ukyo. Judgment (2018) and Lost Judgment (2021) introduce Takayuki Yagami, a lawyer-turned-detective, whose adventures intersect with the Yakuza universe. Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) offers a dystopian twist with a zombie-infested setting, while Yakuza Online (2018) is a free-to-play mobile and PC TCG that introduced Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The series also ventured into historical settings with Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008) and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014), the latter re-released in the West as Like a Dragon: Ishin! in 2023. More recent additions include Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023), which explores Kiryu's post-Yakuza 6 life, and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (2025), featuring Goro Majima in a new adventure.
For newcomers eager to dive into the Yakuza saga, starting with Yakuza 0 offers a chronological introduction, while Yakuza: Like a Dragon provides a fresh start with a new protagonist and gameplay style.
For those new to the series or starting from Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami offers familiar controls, excellent localization, and a solid entry point into the franchise.
Beware: Mild spoilers for the plots, characters, and some major events of each game follow.
Set during the economic boom of the late 1980s, Yakuza 0 introduces us to two protagonists: Kazuma Kiryu, a young member of the Dojima family framed for murder, and Goro Majima, a former Shimano family member working in a cabaret as punishment. Their stories revolve around the coveted Empty Lot, a key plot element. By the game's end, Kiryu reclaims his place in the Dojima family, Majima allows Makoto to live her life, and the Empty Lot is razed to make way for the Millennium Tower.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC | IGN's Yakuza 0 Review
The first Yakuza game follows Kazuma Kiryu post-prison, having taken the fall for a murder committed by his best friend, Akira Nishikiyama. Upon his release, Kiryu faces a changed world with a missing friend, stolen clan money, and the mysterious disappearance of Yumi Sawamura. His journey leads him to Haruka, a pivotal character tied to the lost funds. The game culminates with Kiryu's brief tenure as the Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan before he steps away to raise Haruka as his adopted daughter.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (Yakuza Kiwami), PS2 | IGN's Yakuza Review | Yakuza Kiwami Review
Yakuza 2 sees Kiryu aiding the Tojo Clan's new chairman, Yukio Terada, in averting war with the Omi Alliance. After Terada's apparent assassination, Kiryu appoints Daigo Dojima as the new chairman and confronts Ryuji Goda, son of the Omi chairman. Alongside, detective Kaoru Sayama's subplot enriches the narrative.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (Yakuza Kiwami 2), PS3 | IGN's Yakuza 2 Review | Yakuza Kiwami 2 Review
In Yakuza 3, Kiryu attempts a peaceful life running the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa, but is drawn back into the yakuza world by new threats and betrayals, involving international espionage and arms smuggling.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN's Yakuza 3 Review
Yakuza 4 expands the narrative through four protagonists, including Kiryu, loan shark Shun Akiyama, escaped convict Taiga Saejima, and detective Masayoshi Tanimura. Their intertwined stories delve into clan conflicts, personal betrayals, and a quest for truth amidst the criminal underworld.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN's Yakuza 4 Review
Yakuza 5 introduces five protagonists across various settings, with Kiryu moving to Fukuoka, Saejima breaking out of prison, Haruka pursuing a career as a J-pop idol, Akiyama assisting her, and new character Tatsuo Shinada uncovering a baseball scandal. The game weaves their stories into a complex tapestry of yakuza intrigue.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN's Yakuza 5 Review
In Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, Kiryu's final chapter sees him emerge from prison to find Haruka in a coma and with a child. His quest leads him to Onomichi, Hiroshima, and back into the yakuza fray, confronting new threats and old allies.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC | IGN's Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Review
Yakuza: Like a Dragon marks a significant shift with a new protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga, and a turn-based combat system. Kasuga's journey begins after his release from an 18-year prison sentence, discovering the Tojo Clan's downfall and seeking answers from his former patriarch, Masumi Arakawa.
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series S|X, Xbox One, PC | IGN's Yakuza: Like a Dragon Review
The latest installment, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, reunites Kiryu and Kasuga in a sprawling adventure from Japan to Hawaii. Kasuga's search for his presumed-dead mother intertwines with Kiryu's personal struggles, including a cancer diagnosis, against a backdrop of international crime and intrigue.
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, PC | IGN's Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review
Mainline Yakuza games are marked in bold with an asterisk.
The Like a Dragon narrative is far from concluded. With Infinite Wealth setting a new sales record and ending on a cliffhanger, anticipation for the next mainline game is high. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has teased future projects, including the revival of Virtua Fighter and a new open-world game, "Project Century," announced at the February 2025 State of Play. However, details on the next Like a Dragon installment remain under wraps.
For those interested in other video game timelines, explore these guides:
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