Originally launched as a PlayStation 2 exclusive in 2005, Yakuza (known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) has evolved into a beloved franchise that delves into the complex lives and schemes of yakuza families within the fictional Tokyo district of Kamurocho. In a significant rebranding move, the series was renamed to Like a Dragon in 2022, reflecting its English translation of Ryu ga Gotoku.
The Yakuza/Like a Dragon series is renowned for its unique blend of action, melodrama, cinematic storytelling, and humor, often accentuated by its engaging side quests. While it took time for the franchise to gain international acclaim, its consistent release of localized re-releases, spinoffs, and new entries have solidified its reputation. The latest addition, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, showcases fan-favorite Goro Majima in a new light.
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 titled Yakuza Kiwami (2016) and Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017), with a third promised for the future, and 11 spin-offs. Initially exclusive to PlayStation, these games have since been ported to Xbox and PC. Every new game since Yakuza: Like a Dragon has been released simultaneously across multiple platforms, except for the Nintendo Switch, which began receiving ports with Yakuza Kiwami in October 2024, as announced in the August 2024 Nintendo Direct.
In addition to the mainline titles, the Like a Dragon series boasts a variety of spin-offs with unique themes and characters. **Kurohyō: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho** (2010) and its sequel **Kurohyō 2: Ryu ga Gotoku Ashura Hen** (2012) are exclusive to the PlayStation Portable and focus on a new character, Tatsuya Ukyo. **Judgment** (2018) and **Lost Judgment** (2021) introduce Takayuki Yagami, a lawyer-turned-detective who investigates mysteries in Kamurocho, with ties to the Tojo Clan.Yakuza: Dead Souls (2011) presents a dystopian scenario featuring the classic cast amidst a zombie outbreak. 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) reimagines the popular Japanese series with gameplay mechanics similar to Kiryu's adventures.
Two spin-offs, Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008) and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014), later released in the West as Like a Dragon: Ishin! in 2023, are set in historical Japan and feature real historical figures.
In 2023, Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name explored Kiryu's fate post-Yakuza 6, while the newest spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, released in 2025, stars Goro Majima in a fresh narrative set in Honolulu.
Which Yakuza Game Should You Play First?
For those new to the series, starting with Yakuza 0 offers a chronological entry point, while Yakuza: Like a Dragon provides a fresh start with new characters and gameplay mechanics.
### Yakuza Kiwami
0For newcomers or those familiar with Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami offers refined controls, excellent SEGA localization, and a solid introduction to the franchise's world and characters. See it at AmazonMainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon Games in Chronological Order:
Yakuza 0Yakuza / Yakuza KiwamiYakuza 2 / Yakuza Kiwami 2Yakuza 3Yakuza 4Yakuza 5Yakuza 6: The Song of LifeYakuza: Like a DragonLike a Dragon: Infinite WealthBeware: Mild spoilers for the plots, characters, and some major events of each game follow.
1. Yakuza 0 (2014)
Yakuza 0, released as the sixth game in the series, serves as the chronological starting point. Set during Japan's economic boom in the late 1980s, the game 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 tasked with killing a blind woman named Makoto. By the game's end, Kiryu clears his name, Majima helps Makoto, and the Empty Lot is replaced by the Millennium Tower, a significant location in the series.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC | IGN’s Yakuza 0 Review
2. Yakuza (2005) / Yakuza Kiwami (2016)
Yakuza, the first game in the series, follows Kazuma Kiryu after his release from a decade-long prison sentence for a murder he didn't commit. Set in 2005, the game involves a missing ¥10 billion, the disappearance of Yumi Sawamura, and Kiryu's encounter with Haruka. The climax sees Kiryu confronting his former friend Nishikiyama, accepting the role of Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan, only to resign to care for 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 assisting the new Tojo Clan chairman, Yukio Terada, in preventing a war with the Omi Alliance. After Terada's apparent death, Kiryu seeks to appoint Daigo Dojima as the new leader. The story intertwines with the ambitions of Ryuji Goda and the personal quest of detective Kaoru Sayama to uncover her family's past.
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 marks Kiryu's transition to a peaceful life managing the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa. However, he is drawn back into the yakuza world due to various conflicts involving new families, assassinations, 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 expands the narrative through four protagonists: Kiryu, loan shark Shun Akiyama, escaped convict Taiga Saejima, and detective Masayoshi Tanimura. Their stories intersect amid conflicts between the Tojo Clan and the Ueno Seiwa Clan, uncovering deep-seated betrayals and criminal activities.
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC (The Yakuza Remastered Collection), PS3 | IGN’s Yakuza 4 Review
6. Yakuza 5 (2012)
Yakuza 5 introduces five protagonists, including Kiryu, Saejima, Akiyama, Haruka, and new character Tatsuo Shinada. Their interconnected stories span across Japan, dealing with the disappearance of Daigo Dojima, staged deaths, and a quest for justice in the world of professional baseball.
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 concludes Kiryu's saga as he emerges from prison after three years, only to find Haruka in a coma and her son Haruto. His investigation leads him to Onomichi, Hiroshima, and back to the conflicts in Kamurocho involving rival groups.
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 marks a significant shift with its turn-based combat system and new protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga. Released from an 18-year prison sentence, Kasuga navigates a changed yakuza landscape, forming a new party in Yokohama to uncover the truth behind the Tojo Clan's downfall.
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 brings together Kiryu and Kasuga in a dual-protagonist narrative that spans from Japan to Hawaii. Set in 2024, the story follows Kasuga's search for his supposedly deceased mother and Kiryu's battle with cancer, weaving a complex tale involving international crime syndicates and a religious cult.
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, PC | IGN's Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review
All of 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, with Infinite Wealth's success and cliffhanger ending paving the way for future installments. RGG Studio has announced the revival of Virtua Fighter and a new open-world game titled "Project Century" at the February 2025 State of Play, but details on the next Like a Dragon game remain undisclosed.For more video game timelines, explore these guides:
Grand Theft Auto Games in OrderGod of War Games in OrderAssassin's Creed Games in OrderResident Evil Games in Order
