Game · in order
Yakuza / Like a Dragon Games in Order
The main Yakuza / Like a Dragon series in order. Release order is the safest path; Yakuza 0 (1988 prequel) comes first chronologically and is a great newcomer starting point.
Yakuza / Like a Dragon Games in Order — complete list
Check off what you've finished — it saves automatically · See all your lists → ·
Why this order?
The Yakuza series, known in Japan as Ryu Ga Gotoku, is a long-running crime saga that rewards playing it in order because its story is deeply serialized. We default to release order because the games were built to be experienced that way: each entry assumes you know the characters, betrayals, and emotional beats of the one before it. Following release order means you meet protagonist Kazuma Kiryu in the original 2005 Yakuza, watch his world expand through Yakuza 2 to 6, and witness the 2020 handover to brawler-turned-RPG-hero Ichiban Kasuga in Yakuza: Like a Dragon and its sequel Infinite Wealth.
The chronological order is the popular alternative, and the reason is a single game: Yakuza 0. Released sixth in 2015 but set in 1988, it is a prequel that shows a young Kiryu before the first game. Many newcomers start here because it is the most modern-feeling and accessible entry while still being the earliest point in the timeline. Our chronological order places Yakuza 0 first, then folds the rest back into their story sequence, which largely tracks release order from the first game onward.
One important gotcha: Yakuza Kiwami and Kiwami 2 are full remakes of the first two games. They are not separate stories, so we list the originals here to keep the timeline clean, but most players today experience those entries through the Kiwami remakes. Another shift to know about is the genre change. Through Yakuza 6 the games are real-time brawlers; from Yakuza: Like a Dragon onward the mainline series becomes a turn-based RPG.
If you enjoy this kind of melodramatic, systems-rich crime story, the spin-off Judgment games share the same studio and city. Start with release order, or jump in at Yakuza 0 if you want the chronological beginning.
Timeline 2005–2024
Every entry plotted by release year — see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
How many Yakuza / Like a Dragon games are there?
This page lists nine mainline games, from the original Yakuza (2005) through Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024). Note that the first two games were also remade as Yakuza Kiwami and Kiwami 2, and the series has several spin-offs like the Judgment titles.
What order should I watch Yakuza in?
Play in release order for the intended experience: Yakuza, 2, 3, 4, 5, 0, 6, then Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Infinite Wealth. If you prefer the story timeline, start with the 1988 prequel Yakuza 0, then continue from the first game onward.
Where should a newcomer start?
Yakuza 0 (2015) is the most popular starting point. It is a prequel set in 1988, plays smoothly for new players, and is the earliest point in the timeline. Yakuza Kiwami, the remake of the first game, is a natural next step.
Are Yakuza Kiwami and Kiwami 2 separate games?
No. They are full remakes of the original Yakuza and Yakuza 2. We list the originals to keep the timeline clean, but most players today experience those two stories through the Kiwami versions.
When did the protagonist change from Kiryu to Ichiban?
Kazuma Kiryu leads through Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. The 2020 entry Yakuza: Like a Dragon introduces Ichiban Kasuga as the new protagonist and switches the series from brawler combat to turn-based RPG battles.
Do I need to play them in order?
It is strongly recommended. The story is heavily serialized, with characters and plot threads carrying across entries. Yakuza 0 can be a clean starting point, but otherwise following release order avoids spoilers and missing context.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
← Browse all orders