You're standing in front of a digital storefront or a shelf, looking at a dozen games with names like "Like a Dragon," "Yakuza 0," and "Judgment," and you're probably feeling that specific brand of paralysis. I get it. The series is a sprawling, melodramatic, hilarious, and often heartbreaking soap opera about Japanese organized crime. But here's the thing: the "correct" way to play the yakuza games in order isn't just about dates on a calendar. It’s about whether you want the emotional payoff to hit like a freight train or if you’d rather see the series evolve technically from the clunky PS2 era to the modern Dragon Engine.
Honestly, the timeline is a bit of a mess because Sega decided to release a prequel ten years into the franchise's life. This changed everything.
The Chronological Path vs. The Release Date Debate
Most people will tell you to start with Yakuza 0. They're right, but with a tiny asterisk. Chronologically, Yakuza 0 takes place in 1988, during the height of Japan’s "bubble economy." You play as a young Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. It sets the stage for every single betrayal and bromance that follows. If you play this first, the stakes in Yakuza Kiwami (the remake of the first game) feel massive. You aren't just meeting characters; you're seeing old friends.
However, some purists argue for release order. They want you to feel the growing pains. They want you to struggle with the static camera angles of the original 2005 PlayStation 2 title before earning the right to play the buttery-smooth 60fps sequels. I think that's a bit much for a newcomer in 2026. Unless you have a deep nostalgia for mid-2000s jank, stick to the chronological flow. It makes the narrative arc of Kazuma Kiryu feel like one long, exhausting, beautiful life.
Starting at the Beginning: The Kiryu Saga
If you’re going for the full experience, your journey starts in the neon-soaked streets of Kamurocho.
Yakuza 0 is the gold standard. It’s 1988. Money is literally flying off people when you punch them. It introduces the "Empty Lot" plot, which is the catalyst for the entire series. More importantly, it explains why Goro Majima is the way he is. He wasn't always a "Mad Dog."
Next is Yakuza Kiwami. This is a remake of the 2005 original. Kiryu goes to prison for ten years, comes out, and finds his world upside down. It’s a tighter, more personal story about a missing ten billion yen and a little girl named Haruka. Then comes Yakuza Kiwami 2. This uses the modern Dragon Engine. The transition from Kiwami 1 to Kiwami 2 is jarring because the graphics jump forward about a decade in quality. The antagonist here, Ryuji Goda, is widely considered the best rival Kiryu ever had. There can only be one dragon, right?
Then we hit the "Remastered" block. Yakuza 3, 4, and 5.
Listen, Yakuza 3 is a bit of a shock. It’s an older remaster, not a ground-up remake. People call it "Blockuza" because the enemies guard constantly. It’s slower. It’s about Kiryu running an orphanage in Okinawa. It’s cozy, then it’s tragic. Yakuza 4 introduces multiple protagonists, including the fan-favorite loan officer Shun Akiyama. Yakuza 5 is massive. It’s five characters, five cities, and honestly, probably too much content for one human to consume in a month. You’re hunting bears in the mountains one hour and performing as an idol in Osaka the next.
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Yakuza 6: The Song of Life wraps up Kiryu's primary story. It’s a technical marvel, but it’s bittersweet. By the time you finish this, you’ve spent roughly 300 hours with this man. You’ve seen him age from 20 to nearly 50.
The New Era: Like a Dragon
Around 2020, the series rebranded in the West. It’s all "Like a Dragon" now, which is a direct translation of the Japanese title Ryu Ga Gotoku.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon (aka Yakuza 7) soft-reboots the whole thing. New protagonist: Ichiban Kasuga. He’s the opposite of Kiryu. He’s loud, optimistic, and obsessed with Dragon Quest. The gameplay shifts from real-time brawling to turn-based RPG combat. It sounds like a disaster on paper, but it’s brilliant. Ichiban’s schizophrenia makes him see enemies as monsters, justifying the RPG mechanics in-world.
Then we get Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. This is a shorter "side story" that fills in what Kiryu was doing during the events of the seventh game. You should definitely play this after Yakuza 7, but before the next big entry.
Finally, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. This is the big one. Hawaii. Ichiban and Kiryu teaming up. It’s a massive RPG that deals with the legacy of the series while pushing into the future. It’s perhaps the most refined the series has ever been.
What About the Spinoffs?
You’ll see Judgment and Lost Judgment in the store. These take place in the same city (Kamurocho) but follow a private detective named Takayuki Yagami. They are fantastic legal thrillers with some of the best combat in the franchise. You can play these whenever, really, but Lost Judgment contains a minor spoiler regarding the status of the Yakuza clans that occurs in Yakuza 7.
Then there’s Like a Dragon: Ishin!. This is a historical spinoff set in the 1860s. The characters use the "faces" of the main series cast, but they are playing historical figures like Sakamoto Ryoma. It’s fun, but totally optional for the main plot.
The Crucial Order for 2026 Players
To make it easy, here is the list you actually need. No fluff.
- Yakuza 0 (The 1988 Prequel)
- Yakuza Kiwami (The Remake of 1)
- Yakuza Kiwami 2 (The Remake of 2)
- Yakuza 3 Remastered (The Orphanage Era)
- Yakuza 4 Remastered (The Four Heroes)
- Yakuza 5 Remastered (The Massive One)
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (The End of the Kiryu Era)
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon (The New Hero/RPG Era)
- Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (The "Bridge" Story)
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (The Latest Masterpiece)
Misconceptions That Might Stop You
People think you have to play every single game to understand what’s going on. Sorta. Each game has a "recap" feature. If you start at Yakuza 7, you’ll be fine. You’ll miss the emotional weight of certain cameos, but the story stands on its own.
Another big mistake is rushing. If you try to marathoning the yakuza games in order by only doing the main story, you're missing 50% of the game. The side quests (Substories) are where the heart is. One minute you're stopping a global conspiracy, the next you're helping a guy who forgot to wear clothes get across town without being seen. That tonal whiplash is why people love these games.
Also, don't ignore the minigames. Cabaret Club Management in Yakuza 0 and Kiwami 2 is unironically better than some standalone management games. Don't skip them.
Actionable Steps for Your Journey
If you’re ready to dive in, don't buy the "Whole Series" bundle yet. It's too much.
Start with Yakuza 0. It is frequently on sale for under $10. Give it five hours. The game starts slow—lots of talking, lots of world-building. Once you get to the first boss fight in the Dojima HQ, you’ll know if this series is for you.
If you find Yakuza 3 too dated when you get there (it’s a common hurdle), watch a story summary on YouTube and move to Yakuza 4. It’s better to skip one game than to quit the whole series because of an old engine.
Most importantly: take your time. This isn't a race. These games are meant to be lived in. Grab a virtual drink at the Kanrai restaurant, play some mahjong, and let the story unfold at its own pace.
Check your platform's subscription services first. Most of these titles have cycled through Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra. You might already own half of them without realizing it. Start downloading Yakuza 0 tonight.