Ever since the launch of Yakuza (also known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan and now Like a Gaiden) back in 2005, the beat-em-up RPG series that centres around organised crime syndicates quickly grew in popularity and has become one of the largest Sega-owned franchises to date.
This violent adventure that spans over 8 main titles is as wacky and inventive as it is serious and dramatic, giving fans plenty of laughs and cries as they unravel many sinister plots set in the well-lit streets of Kamurocho, Tokyo.
The Yakuza franchise has no plans on slowing down, with 2 more games announced and potentially more planned further down the pipeline. Whether you’ve been a fan of the series for years or are getting ready to put yourself in the shoes of a Yakuza member gone rogue, this list is here to help you decide where you should start your journey of righting your wrongs and kicking some serious criminal asses.
Yakuza Release Order
To start off, the release order is a safe way to begin, as the story flows well throughout the series, even giving some prequel context once you have several games under your belt, which will give you a unique perspective on the in-game world.
Please note that the release order is for the initial release in Japan rather than the worldwide release, though some do align.
- Yakuza (2005)
- Yakuza 2 (2006)
- Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan (2008)
- Yakuza 3 (2009)
- Yakuza 4 (2010)
- Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011)
- Yakuza 5 (2012)
- Like a Dragon: Ishin! (2014)
- Yakuza 0 (2015)
- Yakuza Kiwami (2016)
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016)
- Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017)
- The Yakuza Remastered Collection (2019)
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)
- Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023)
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024)
While this is a release order featuring the main story and side adventures, it also includes remasters and a non-canon survival horror game. Some of these can be skipped for story purposes, but they are fun entries in the series and worth checking out if you are a die-hard Yakuza fan.
Yakuza Chronological Order
The chronological order for the Yakuza franchise offers little difference other than a prequel game to kickstart the events of the series. It may get a little confusing towards the end as Sega abandons the number system and name in favour of renaming the title ‘Like a Dragon’ for the next two releases planned for the end of 2023 and early 2024.
It’s worth noting that the chronological list doesn’t feature remasters and non-canon entries such as Yakuza: Dead Souls. The upcoming Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, is set after the events of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life and acts as a bridge between Yakuza 6 and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
- Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan (2008)
- Yakuza 0 (2015)
- Yakuza (2005)
- Yakuza 2 (2006)
- Yakuza 3 (2009)
- Yakuza 4 (2010)
- Yakuza 5 (2012)
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016)
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)
- Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023)
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024)
This is the chronological order for the Yakuza series, which is only growing in numbers. Each game has its own self-contained story while also adding its own story beats to the overarching narrative that spans across the franchise, with spin-offs adding more context to the criminal underworld of Yakuza.
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