All Yakuza Games In Order: Release Date And Timeline

Ryū ga Gotoku (“Like a Dragon” in Japan) was a comparatively unknown sport sequence till their latest entry, Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Since then, Western audiences have been seeing these video games with rising curiosity.

Decades and consoles have handed since its debut. If you’re trying to play these “beat ’em up” JRPGs legal dramas, we’re right here to assist. 

Every Yakuza Game in Chronological Order

The formulation has remained constant throughout the eight major Yakuza video games, two worldwide-available spin-offs, two remakes, and a Remastered bundle. 

The whole is 13 Yakuza entries, and right here they ranked per worldwide launch 12 months and platform:

• Yakuza – 2006 (PS2)
• Yakuza 2 – 2008 (PS2)
• Yakuza 3 – 2010 (PS3)
• Yakuza 4 – 2011 (PS3)
• Yakuza: Dead Souls – 2012 (PS3) – Non-canon spin-off
• Yakuza 5 – 2015 (PS3, PS4)
• Yakuza 0 – 2017 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
• Yakuza Kiwami – 2016 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – Remake
• Yakuza Kiwami 2 – 2018 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – Remake
• Yakuza 6 – 2018 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) 
• The Yakuza Remastered Collection – 2019 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – Bundle
• Yakuza: Like A Dragon – 2020 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC)
• Lost Judgment – 2021 (PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) – Spin-Off 

The chronological order doesn’t comply with the discharge date, although. If you wish to comply with the story from starting to finish, you’d should being with Yakuza 0. Then, as a result of Kiwami and Kiwami 2 are remakes of the unique video games, proceed with these two. It could be like so: 

• Yakuza 0
• Yakuza Kiwami 
• Yakuza Kiwami 2 
• Yakuza 3
• Yakuza 4
• Yakuza 5
• Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
• Yakuza: Like A Dragon
• Lost Judgment

Yakuza’s major video games are on Xbox Game Pass for PC and console. Some are additionally out there through the PS Plus subscription. In any case, you’ll be able to play the primary saga and its spin-off on both PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series (through retro-compatibility), or PC.

Yakuza – 2005 (major entry)

SEGA revealed the unique title for PlayStation 2 in 2005. It was a SEGA IP, and the writer nonetheless retains the rights to the sequence. 

It was a beat ’em-up action-adventure title with janky fight and quick-time occasions. Moreover, the sport had three interconnected sport modes: Event, Adventure, and Battle. 

The setting is open-world. You can comply with the primary mission or wander round for facet content material. Also, there’re role-playing parts. For instance, the character features expertise in fight to unlock combating abilities. 

Lastly, the title launched its major protagonist, Kazuma Kiruy. He is a Yakuza member who spent ten years in jail for against the law he didn’t commit. After getting his freedom back, he begins a journey to retrieve stolen a reimbursement to a strong clan. 

Yakuza 2 – 2006 (Main Entry)

Yakuza 2 debuted in 2006 for PlayStation 2, though it reached worldwide audiences in 2008. Compared to the final en

The second entry retains related mechanics as the primary title. However, Sega improved the fight engine after fan enter for an total higher expertise. Also, the sport has grownup undertones and a love story.

As for the plot, Kiruy helps his former group, the Tojo Clan, preserve a friendship with the Western legal gang Omi Alliance. Along the journey, he learns a Korean mafia is working alongside Omi towards the Toja Clan.

Yakuza 3 – 2009 (Main Entry)

Yakuza 3 debuted in 2009 for PlayStation 3. The Sega title premiered in North America and Europe in 2010. Compared to earlier entries, it incorporates a darker tone and new battle sport modes.

Other gameplay adjustments will let you play in third-person in addition to third-person. Additionally, the sport introduces “Revelations,” collectibles to seek out within the open world to unlock abilities.

Story-wise, Kazuma Kiryu is now operating the Mornin Glory Orphanage in Okinawa. His former allies threaten to destroy his orphanage, and Kiryu travels to Tokyo’s underworld to face his former masters.

Yakuza 4 – 2011 (Main Entry)

The fourth Yakuza entry premiered in 2009 for PlayStation 3 and in 2011 for PlayStation 3 within the West. Notably, it grew to become the primary within the sequence with numerous playable characters.

The story places Kiruy and the opposite three playable characters amid a warfare between the Yakuza, the Tojo Clan, and the police. You might swap between them at any time. Some of those characters have been current in earlier video games, however others are new.

Lastly, the gameplay stays related however provides mini-games. These embrace fishing, massages, desk tennis, and karaoke duets with NPCs. Similarly, there’re some friendship and loyalty mechanics throughout playable characters and NPCs.

Yakuza 5 – 2012 (Main Entry)

Yakuza 5 debuted in 2012 for PlayStation 3 and in December 2015 for Western audiences. Compared to the earlier sport, it runs on a brand new graphics engine.

The title has 5 settings throughout Japan, alongside 5 playable characters. Its plot revolves round a brand new battle between the Omi Alliance and the Toja Clan. Kiryu is a taxi driver, however he returns to his outdated clan to finish the long-time wrestle.

The gameplay continues the development however enjoys the evolution of the graphics engine. Notably, the open-world settings grew to become larger, and the fight grew to become more fluid.

Yakuza: Dead Souls – 2012 (Spin-off)

Dead Souls debuted in 2012 for PlayStation 3. It’s the primary worldwide spin-off of the saga, however it’s a non-canon story set after Yakuza 4 -Kiryu and Gojo Majima combating towards a zombie outbreak. 

The gameplay is a shoot ’em-up title towards zombies. It has a sheer quantity of enemies, weapons, and boss monsters. The pacing will increase dramatically with larger and crazier action-set items and enemies because the story progresses.

And even inside a zombie apocalypse, there’re mini-games just like different Yakuza titles. Some of those embrace interacting with grownup entertainers. 

Yakuza 0 – 2015 (Main Entry)

Yakuza 0 debuted in 2015 for PlayStation 3. It’s at present out there on Xbox One, Windows, and PSVita. Also, it’s the primary entry within the saga that grew to become in style with Western audiences.

Timeline-wise, Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the whole saga. It tells how Kazuma Kiryu went to jail for against the law he didn’t commit in 1988. Yet, there’re two playable characters: Kazuma Kiryu and the recurring character Gojo Majima.

The sport alternates the 2 views at numerous factors throughout the primary story. Similarly, every character has 4 fight kinds they’ll swap throughout fight. It makes motion dynamic, complicated, and deeper than earlier than.

Lastly, the sport provides a particular forex, Completion Point. Doing facet quests and mini-games rewards these tokens you’ll be able to change for extra bonuses on a shrine.

Yakuza Kiwami – 2016 (Remake)

Yakuza Kiwami is a remake of the unique Yakuza sport. It debuted for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in 2016. Since 2020, it’s out there for Windows and Xbox One.

The title label has a brand new graphical engine, new textures, new character fashions, and new animations. Moreover, it trades the older fight system for Yakuza 0’s design, because the protagonist has 4 combating kinds gamers can swap in fight.

Also, it has a brand new “Majima Everywhere” gameplay system. It’s about introducing a rival character Gojo Majima ceaselessly to problem Kiryu to a battle.

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life – 2016 (Main Entry)

Yakuza 6 debuted in 2016 for PlayStation 4. It reached worldwide audiences in 2018. Compared to earlier titles, it overhauled character and fight animation/mechanics with the Dragon Engine physics engine. 

This is the ultimate sport that includes Kazuma Kiryu as the primary protagonist. After three years in jail, the anti-hero learns his adoptive daughter is comatose. Kiryu decides to journey throughout Japan to seek out out what occurred to Haruka.

The gameplay is just like earlier Yakuza titles. As ordinary, it’s an arcade-style beat’em up inside an open world and with character development mechanics.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 – 2017 (Remake)

Yakuza Kiwami 2 debuted in 2017 for PlayStation 4. It’s at present out there for Xbox One and Windows PCs as effectively.

This is a Yakuza 2 remake. It makes use of the newer Dragon Engine to overtake the older graphics, programs, and mechanics. It additionally added new gameplay mechanics and story parts that resolve weak plot factors.

Notably, fight is just like Yakuza 6, though there’re new strikes and cinematic “Heat Moves.” Lastly, a narrative situation options the recurring rival, Goro Majima, because the playable character.

The Yakuza Remastered Collection – 2019 (Bundle / Remaster)

Sega launched remastered variations of Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4, and Yakuza 5 in 2020. It celebrates the tip of Kiryu’s saga with 1080p / 60fps graphics. 

Yakuza: Judgement – 2020 (Spin-off)

Judgment debuted in 2020 for PlayStation 4. It’s at present out there for Xbox Series, PlayStation 5, and Google Stadia. That stated, it’s a canon story, however it doesn’t have many tie-ins with the primary storyline.

You play as personal detective Takayuki Yagami, investigating a serial homicide case within the Kamurocho district. That means the situation property are the identical, but the gameplay and story are very completely different.

The result’s an open-world beat ’em up with a deal with detective work. In specific, there’s an investigation mode. Likewise, gamers can lockpick, use disguises, and pursue suspects.

The fight system is just like Yakuza 0. The detective has numerous fight kinds he can swap throughout battle. Moreover, there’re parkour parts, a Rage mode, abilities, and particular talents.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon – 2020 (Main Entry)

Like a Dragon is the most recent major entry within the Yakuza franchise. It debuted in 2020 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series, and Windows. 

The title added turned-based fight to the already complicated sport formulation of the franchise. The result’s essentially the most profitable sport within the saga. 

 Kazuma Kiryu is in retirement, and the brand new protagonist is Ichiban Kasuga. He’s a former member of the Toja Clan in search of revenge towards those who betrayed him. Other characters be a part of his quest: Like a Dragon has a celebration of characters like a Final Fantasy sport. 

Similar to earlier video games, side-quest can yield extra rewards, even karaoke! But essentially the most notable change is fight, on choose talents and assaults for the squad members every flip. Notably, they’ll use surrounding gadgets like bicycles in fight.