Table of Contents
Introduction
Before you even get started with the Yakuza games, you may get confused on which game to even start with. You may have seen the titles “Yakuza” and “Like a Dragon” thrown around, as well as “Judgement” and “Lost Judgement”. There’s also the “Kiwami” games and “Yakuza 0”.
Not to mention earlier in 2022, Sega announced “Like a Dragon: Ishin!” and “Like a Dragon Gaiden” for 2023 and “Like a Dragon 8” for 2024.
“Yakuza 0? Like a Dragon? Judgement? Kiwami? I just want to start playing Yakuza!”
This spoiler-free guide is for newcomers to the series and for those who are confused with all of the games that Sega has blessed us with. Below is a list of Yakuza games, as well as a short FAQ to clear up some questions you may have about the series.
List of Yakuza Games in Order
Main Yakuza Series
- Yakuza 0
- Yakuza or Yakuza Kiwami
- Yakuza 2 or Yakuza Kiwami 2
- Yakuza 3
- Yakuza 4
- Yakuza 5
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
- Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name [2023]
- Yakuza: Like A Dragon (aka Yakuza 7)
- Like a Dragon 8 [2024]
Judgement Games
- Judgement
- Lost Judgement (aka Judgement 2)
Historical Era Games
- Ryu Ga Gotoku: Kenzan!
- Ryu Ga Gotoku: Ishin! or Like a Dragon: Ishin! [2023]
Other Spinoff Titles You May Like
- Yakuza: Dead Souls (play after Yakuza 4)
- Kurohyou: Ryu Ga Gotoku Shinsho
- Kurohyou 2: Ryu Ga Gotoku Ashura-hen
- Yakuza Online
In a Nutshell:
- Play the main Yakuza series in the order above if you want the Main Kiryu experience.
- Like a Dragon Gaiden is said to take place after Yakuza 6.
- The Judgement games can be played anytime but it’s usually recommended to play Judgment after the main Yakuza games.
- Judgment’s story doesn’t cross paths with Yakuza’s story, but both series are said to be set in the same universe.
- You can play the historical era games anytime. The games are apparently canon and happen a long time ago before the main Yakuza story.
- Yakuza Dead Souls’ non-canon zombie story starts after Yakuza 4.
- The Kurohyou games can be played anytime. It’s also said to be in the same universe as the main games.
FAQ:
What’s the difference between “Yakuza” and “Like a Dragon”?
“Yakuza” is the English title for the games while “Like a Dragon” is the Japanese title translated into English.
The Japanese title for the series is “龍が如く” or “Ryu Ga Gotoku” in romaji, which is “Like a Dragon” in English.
As mentioned by Sega, the succeeding “Yakuza” games will now carry the “Like a Dragon” name instead. This is so that the English name can be similar to its original Japanese name.
So when you hear “Yakuza” or “Like a Dragon”, they’re talking about the same game series.
Read more here by PCGamer: https://www.pcgamer.com/the-yakuza-series-will-be-called-like-a-dragon-going-forward/
How are the Judgment games related to the main Yakuza games?
They’re not entirely connected to each other. The Judgement games are said to be in the same universe as the Yakuza games, but their stories never meet directly. There are some small references in the Judgement games that connect the two series though.
What are the “Kiwami” games and do I have to play the original ones too?
Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 are remakes of Yakuza and Yakuza 2 respectively. They both have the same stories as their originals.
You can play either the original games or the Kiwami games. The remakes are faithful to the original stories. Play the originals if you’re a die-hard fan or if you like the classic PS2 vibe. You’ll be fine either way story-wise.
Can I skip Yakuza 0?
Yes, you can skip Yakuza 0. It’s the prequel to the first game, and the story doesn’t really affect what happens in the later games.
It’s one of the Yakuza games that made Kiryu more popular in the gaming scene. Heck, even my first game review on this blog is about it. I really recommend you start at Yakuza 0 so you get to know Kiryu and Majima more.
In other words, Yakuza 0 is skippable and doesn’t affect the main story, but it’s highly recommended to start your Yakuza experience with this fan favorite.
Can I play Yakuza: Like a Dragon first?
Yes, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is capable of being played by itself. You can play it first without playing the previous games. In the latter part of the story, the game references things that have happened in previous games, but they’re not important to Ichiban’s story.
Conclusion: Welcome to Kamurocho
Needless to say, the Yakuza series has a lot of games in it. I hope that with the lists and FAQ I provided will help you walk the streets of Kamurocho.
