SEGA's Yakuza series has been around since the days of the PlayStation 2, but only over the last few years or so has it really started to seep into the consciousness of a wider Western audience. This is largely thanks to 2017's Yakuza 0, which sparked a whole new wave of interest on PlayStation 4. It helped, of course, that Yakuza 0 ended up being one of the very best games in the franchise to date.
Now, you may be sitting there wondering what Yakuza is all about, and whether you'd like to give the series a try. Perhaps more importantly, you're questioning where you should actually start.
Well, with this ranking guide, we're going to try and break down the pros and cons of each Yakuza game. But before we begin...
What Is Yakuza, Exactly?
Yakuza is sometimes referred to as "Grand Theft Auto set in Japan", but that's not the case at all. The Yakuza games are not open world, and the only thing they really have in common with Rockstar's blockbuster franchise is that they have a core theme of crime.
Yakuza games are very story-based, with a lot of cutscenes and dialogue. Almost every game in the main series (barring Yakuza: Like a Dragon) features Kazuma Kiryu — a beast of a man who always manages to find himself wrapped up in the latest drama of the Japanese criminal underworld. In some games, however, Kiryu isn't the only playable character.
The series primarily takes place in a fictional red light district known as Kamurocho, although other settings do pop up in a number of games. Kamurocho and other environments are generally quite open, but again, they're not typically what we'd call open world. You can freely explore the streets of Kamurocho, but you can't hop into the nearest car and take a drive into the distance.
Kamurocho and other settings in the series certainly aren't as vast as the maps that you'll find in open world titles like Grand Theft Auto or Assassin's Creed, but they're densely populated. There are karaoke bars, batting cages, shops, apartment buildings, restaurants — everything that you'd expect from city life in Japan. And the key thing to note is that you're free to enjoy each attraction.
Indeed, minigames and side activities play an important role in the Yakuza series. When you're not following the story, you can head to the arcade and play some old school SEGA games. Or, if you're feeling a little more social, you can spend some time at the local hostess club and chat to the ladies. Minigames tend to be shockingly in-depth, with high scores and other details keeping you coming back for more.
It can be hard to nail down the genre that the Yakuza games actually belong to, but for our money, they're essentially action role-playing games (aside from Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which is a full-on turn based RPG). RPG elements like levelling up and steadily unlocking perks are part of the package, while side quests offer up optional storylines for you to pursue — many of which are wonderfully comical.
And then there's the combat. Yakuza is absolutely stuffed with fighting. Whether it's teaching street punks a lesson or going toe-to-toe with a murderous crime boss, Kiryu usually finds himself having to punch his way through problems.
Yakuza's traditional action-based combat system is pretty standard, at least on the surface. It's got free movement, light attacks, heavy attacks, combos, blocking, and dodging. Where it sets itself apart is the 'heat' system. As playable characters brawl, you'll fill up a special meter that can then be spent in order to unleash powerful cinematic moves. These attacks are often brutal, and transform the otherwise solid-but-not-amazing combat into something that's quite spectacular.
Oh, and it's worth mentioning that Yakuza can be very mature at times. It's been known to tackle some dark subject matter, and it goes without saying that there are many moments of bloody violence. Just a heads-up for the squeamish.
The Yakuza Timeline
There are a total of eight mainline Yakuza games, two of which are remakes, and seven of these games feature Kazuma Kiryu as a protagonist. If you want to experience the full Kiryu saga, you'll have to play through all seven games (although we don't think that's strictly necessary).
And yes, all the mainline Yakuza games have a chronological order. In Yakuza 0, Kiryu is 20 years old. By the time Yakuza 6 rolls around, Kiryu is nearing 50.
Below, we've listed all of the games in chronological order.
- Yakuza 0 (takes place in 1988)
- Yakuza: Kiwami (remake of the first Yakuza, takes place in 2005)
- Yakuza: Kiwami 2 (remake of Yakuza 2, takes place in 2006)
- Yakuza 3 (takes place in 2009)
- Yakuza 4 (takes place in 2010)
- Yakuza 5 (takes place in 2012)
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (takes place in 2016)
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon (takes place in 2019)
Does the Main Story Continue Over Multiple Yakuza Games?
Now this is the most common question that we see floating around when newcomers ask about Yakuza.
There is no "main story" in Yakuza. The games may feature returning characters and might even reference plot points from past games, but there's no single story that runs through all of them.
Each Yakuza game has its own storyline that starts and ends within that game. You can jump into the Yakuza series at any point and enjoy the game for what it is, even if you have no prior knowledge.
However, as alluded, there are returning characters, and events of past games often influence the events of others. For example, there are characters who start out as Kiryu's enemies in one game, but events in that game eventually lead to them being good guys in later titles.
If you want to experience everything that every character goes through, you have no real choice but to play each and every Yakuza game.
Again, though, it's perfectly possible to jump in at any point and have fun. The games generally do a very good job of explaining who certain characters are, and most of them have a mode where you can read about the events of prior games.
What About Judgment?
Judgment, released in 2019, is essentially a Yakuza spinoff game. It has nothing to do with the storylines or characters of the main Yakuza series, but it takes place within Kamurocho — the same red light district that features in every Yakuza title.
In Judgment, you play as a freelance detective named Takayuki Yagami. It's an entirely standalone experience, but the gameplay structure is almost identical to what you'll find in the main Yakuza games. It has story-heavy cutscenes, action-based combat, and a range of crazy minigames. The only real difference is that you're playing as a detective, so a handful of investigative gameplay elements have been added.
For our money, Judgment shines just as bright as any of the best Yakuza games, even if it isn't part of the main series, and should always be considered alongside the core instalments.
A sequel to Judgment, called Lost Judgment, released in 2021. While we don't think it reaches the heights of its predecessor, it's still a very engaging — and very robust — detective drama.
Ranking the Yakuza Games
Below, we've ranked the Yakuza games from worst to best, and we've included additional information about each title. However, it should be noted that we don't think any of these games are particularly bad. In fact, we'd argue that the Yakuza series is shockingly consistent — it's just that some entries are a little weaker than others.
We've also marked which games we think are best for beginners, so if you're totally new to the series, be sure to take that into consideration.
10. Yakuza: Kiwami
Platforms: PS3 (Japan only), PS4
Average Length: 20 - 30 hours
Yakuza: Kiwami is a remake of the very first Yakuza game, which originally released on the PlayStation 2 all the way back in 2005. It introduces series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu as an up-and-coming yakuza officer, before he takes the fall for a murder, committed by his dearest friend. Kiryu gets out of jail a decade later, only to discover that the yakuza landscape has changed considerably while he was behind bars. He sets out to regain his place in the world.
Kiwami also introduces a new gameplay mechanic called 'Majima Everywhere'. It's a gimmick that's unique to Yakuza: Kiwami, and acts as a fun way to give fan favourite character Goro Majima more of a presence throughout the game. Majima will show up at random intervals, forcing Kiryu to fight him in increasingly deadly duels.
Good place to start?
Starting your Yakuza journey with Yakuza: Kiwami isn't a bad idea seeing as it's a remake of the very first game, but it's a weak introduction to a series that's evolved quite a bit since its inception.
9. Yakuza 4
Platforms: PS3, PS4 (Yakuza 4 Remastered)
Average Length: 30 - 40 hours
Yakuza 4 was the first game in the series to introduce multiple playable characters. The story is split between four protagonists: returning hero Kazuma Kiryu, suave loan shark Shun Akiyama, escaped convict Taiga Saejima, and streetwise cop Masayoshi Takemura. Each main character has their own unique fighting style and optional activities, as well as their own reasons for being involved in the overarching story.
Good place to start?
Not really. Yakuza 4 features a load of recurring characters and story concepts, which could make it quite overwhelming if you're new to the series.
8. Yakuza 5
Platforms: PS3, PS4 (Yakuza 5 Remastered)
Average Length: 40 - 50 hours
Purely in terms of available content, Yakuza 5 is the biggest game in the series. Much like its predecessor, Yakuza 4, it features multiple playable characters. Kazuma Kiryu is once again in the spotlight, and he's joined by returning protagonists Akiyama and Saejima. New character and disgraced baseball player Tatsuo Shinada also enters the fray. Again, all four characters have their own unique fighting styles, optional activities, and connections to the overarching story.
However, Yakuza 5 doesn't stop there. Kiryu's adopted daughter, Haruka Sawamura, is the game's fifth playable lead, although she doesn't roam the streets beating up thugs. Instead, Haruka can challenge other up-and-coming popstars to rhythm-based dance battles.
Good place to start?
Not at all. Yakuza 5 can be an overwhelming game even if you're familiar with the series due to the sheer amount of content. A huge cast of characters makes the story difficult to penetrate, too.
7. Yakuza 3
Platforms: PS3, PS4 (Yakuza 3 Remastered)
Average Length: 30 - 40 hours
Yakuza 3 was something of a fresh start for the series on PS3, with Kazuma Kiryu now managing his own orphanage on a sunny beach in Okinawa. The game had a much different vibe to it compared to its PS2 predecessors — mostly because of its slow-paced opening hours. As always, though, Kiryu is eventually pulled back into the yakuza life that he's trying to leave behind.
Good place to start?
Yakuza 3 isn't a bad place to start your Yakuza journey due to its relatively straightforward story, which is somewhat detached from previous games. However, there are better, more modern games that you could dive into first.
6. Lost Judgment
Platforms: PS4, PS5
Average Length: 40 - 50 hours
Lost Judgment is a sequel to Judgment, taking place a couple of years after the events of the first game. It tells a brand new story, but protagonist Takayuki Yagami, and his detective agency allies, all return to the action. What starts out as an investigation into a bullying pandemic at a local school spirals into a twisted murder mystery.
In terms of general gameplay and structure, it's just like Judgment — but Lost Judgment goes above and beyond with its side content. It features a ridiculous amount of optional activities — even by Yakuza standards — as Yagami helps out various school clubs with their favourite hobbies.
Good place to start?
Lost Judgment isn't a terrible gateway to the Yakuza franchise, but you'd be much better off playing the first Judgment if you're new. Not just because it's a better game overall, but because Yagami and his friends barely get any character development in this sequel. It definitely helps to be familiar with the cast before diving in.
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5. Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Platforms: PS4, PS5
Average Length: 60 - 70 hours
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the most notable departure from Yakuza's traditional gameplay formula in series history. It follows the all-new story of Ichiban Kasuga, a refreshingly goofy protagonist who becomes entangled in a far-reaching political plot.
As alluded, Like a Dragon is very different beast when compared to the other Yakuza games on this list. It's a full-on RPG, with turn based battles, levelling up, equipment, and even party members. Indeed, Ichiban isn't left to fight by himself — he's joined by a roster of secondary heroes, all of whom have their own skills and abilities. What's more, an addictive job system lets you tweak the party to your liking, opening up different avenues of character growth as you develop the ultimate team.
Good place to start?
Yakuza: Like a Dragon can be a great place to start, but that's partly because it's so different to the other Yakuza games. As such, playing Like a Dragon can skew your perspective of what Yakuza is all about. What's more, Like a Dragon's story ties into previous events and characters, and these moments won't have much of an impact if you're unfamiliar with the other Yakuza games.
4. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Platforms: PS4
Average Length: 30 - 40 hours
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life concludes the story of long-standing protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. Now nearing 50, a tired-looking Kiryu is once again forced to take action when his loved ones are placed in danger. When it released in 2016, Yakuza 6 was easily the best looking game in the series, thanks to the all-new Dragon Engine. However, unlike Yakuza 4 and Yakuza 5, Yakuza 6 does not feature multiple protagonists. Instead, it focuses solely on Kiryu, in what is an intensely personal conclusion.
Good place to start?
Seeing as Yakuza 6 is the final chapter of Kazuma Kiryu's saga, it's all too easy to say that this would be a terrible place to jump in. Yakuza 6 has a much more profound impact if you're already familiar with Kiryu and the struggles that have led him to this point in his life.
3. Judgment
Platforms: PS4, PS5
Average Length: 40 - 50 hours
Judgment is a Yakuza game in all but name (and narrative). It takes place in the recurring setting of Kamurocho, where down-on-his-luck detective Takayuki Yagami tackles a brutal murder case. As alluded, the story itself has nothing to do with the other Yakuza games on this list, but the gameplay structure is almost identical — barring some added (but rather underutilised) detective work.
Good place to start?
Judgment is arguably the perfect game to start your Yakuza journey with. Since it's a standalone experience, you can get a feel for the Yakuza formula without having to commit to the massive Kiryu saga. Judgment can be a great gateway to the Yakuza series as a whole.
2. Yakuza 0
Platforms: PS3 (Japan only), PS4
Average Length: 40 - 50 hours
Yakuza 0 is a prequel set in the 1980s. It was the last Yakuza game before the series moved to the much more advanced Dragon Engine, but it's still a fan favourite instalment — and for good reason. The story is split between two playable protagonists: a 20-year-old Kazuma Kiryu, and a 24-year-old Goro Majima. Both main characters are struggling to make a name for themselves in the world of organised crime, with Kiryu stuck collecting money from lowlifes, and Majima forced to obey the orders of his corrupt superiors.
Good place to start?
Outside of Judgment, Yakuza 0 is probably the best Yakuza game to start with if you're completely new to the series. Chronologically, this is where Yakuza begins, and 0 does an amazing job of laying the foundations for Kiryu's character.
1. Yakuza: Kiwami 2
Platforms: PS4
Average Length: 30 - 40 hours
Yakuza: Kiwami 2 is a remake of Yakuza 2 using the Dragon Engine. Kazuma Kiryu is the sole protagonist, and the story sees him attempt to uncover a plot that could topple the mighty Tojo clan. Yakuza 2 all but perfected the blueprint for the series going forward, and Kiwami 2 elevates that whole experience to modern standards.
Good place to start?
Yakuza: Kiwami 2 isn't a bad game to begin with. It has a more straightforward story than Yakuza 0, and it's the most refined game in the entire series. Taken as a standalone Yakuza experience, it's perfectly enjoyable without any prior knowledge.
How would you rank the Yakuza games? Which Yakuza game is your favourite? Vote in our poll, and then become a dragon in the comments section below.
Comments (95)
My top 3 would be:
1. Judgment
2. Kiwami 2
3. Yakuza 0
Those 3 are quite close though, and I haven’t played 6 and 7.
This is absolutely crazy!
I’m currently playing all Yakuza games in order, from O onwards, and getting the platinum trophies (which usually means finishing everything and finishing the story at least twice) and I’m on 5 currently (so can’t comment on 6 or later).
4 is by far and away the worst Yakuza, no questions, no arguments. My order goes like this from best to worst so far:
5R, 0, K2, K1, 3R...4R
I know a lot of things are subjective, but 4 is just terrible and usually regarded as such.
Edit: as pointed out below, I got the order of the games wrong and thought they were ranked best to worst. All is sane in the world again!!
@thefourfoldroot Yakuza 4 is ranked second worst here. It goes from worst to best, if that wasn't obvious!
@ShogunRok
Yes, just saw that and was about to edit my post. I completely misread and let my incredulity hasten my post. Sorry. I guess it’s also partially that I can’t believe Kiwami would be at the bottom though.
Edit: And I see they are numbered now, thanks.
:/ Can't vote for og Yakuza 1 and 2, which I played on PS2. I started 3 but couldn't get into it - had severe Yakuza fatigue at that point.
I plan on giving Zero a shot. If that goes well I'll consider Song of Life and/or Like a Dragon. I'm skipping the others: too many, and too long, kind of like my Assassin's Creed mantra.
Yauza Zero is amazing. Played just about all of them - except Judgement.
Also loved Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Ichiban was great, and I played it as a handheld game over Shadow. The turn based system was perfect for streaming. People loved it on PC/Steam (great to see)
It is just a fantastic series.
Original release order is always, without exception, the best way to consume any media.
@thefourfoldroot Haha, it's all good. Thought I'd better make the numbers visible to avoid confusion!
Loved this.
Thanks, Robert.
I have a soft spot for Yakuza since playing the original one on PS2, and i like how the series marches at the sound of their own drums.
My only issue is time, and a shameful back log.
Simple: Start at 0, work your way to Like a Dragon 😎 No DMC or Metal Gear-level of archaic numbers and prequel sequels.
If you like good (aka well made) games, ypu shouldn't play any yakuza game.
Yakuza 0 is the only one I've played, and that was excellent. I do want to give the others a go eventually.
I've never played a Yakuza game.
What's the best one to start off ?
@hypnotoad Yakuza 0
@Salt_AU Thanking you, mate.
@ShogunRok Y5 taking 40-50 hours?? It took me 130!
A big negative for Y3 for me is that it is soooo bloated with substories; I think there's something like 120 of them?
I just have Y6 to go with the main series but don't want it to be over
At least I have Judgment and LAD to keep me going afterwards.
@hypnotoad Yakuza 0 or Judgment. Judgment is great because like the article says, it's a standalone spinoff, so you don't have to worry about playing the others should you dislike it.
@ShogunRok Thanks mate.
I still remember your guys' review of Yakuza 0 getting me interested in the series all those years back. Jumped into the wonderful world of Yakuza rabbit hole and never looked back.
I've beaten 0, K2, 6 and 7 so far. Probably plan on playing Judgment next followed by K1. I like to pace myself and play one every 6 or so months, which is perfect since I beat 7 a few months ago.
@Thrillho I dread to think how much time I put into Yakuza 5 back on the PS3. It's an insanely big game when you put it next to the rest of the series.
As for Yakuza 6, you'll get a lot out of it since you've played the rest. Really is a stunning conclusion to the Kiryu saga.
@Deadlyblack That's great to hear. Which one did you like best?
@ShogunRok I still have a hard time picking which entry is my favorite.
It's probably a toss up between 0 and 6.
@Deadlyblack Yeah, really hard to pick a favourite isn't it? 0 and 6 are damn good shouts though.
Where are dead souls and fist of the north star? Of you include judgment you should include those 2 too.
@ShogunRok For sure. The hunting side story was longer than most PS1 games.
@darkswabber Thought about adding them but they're much further from the traditional Yakuza template than Judgment is.
Could still add them in later if people are curious.
@Grimwood Why is every comment you make so negative?? Just because you don’t like a game, it doesn’t mean it’s not well made.
I've already played judgement, so i've seen the best of Yakuza. I'm going to start with kiwami and work my way through in order.
@ShogunRok I’d like to see where you would place them ☺️
FotNS to me was almost 100% yakuza except for the open world driving maybe. It’s my least favorite in the series so far (played 0, k1, og 3 and FotNS.)
I heard dead souls is not just a bad yakuza game but also a bad game in general. I’m still planning on playing it tho.
Here’s to hoping that kenzan and ishin get localized so you can even add them. Maybe even the psp game of sega feels generous.
Played all apart from Like a Dragon. Such a good franchise, and looking forward to starting LAD soon.
I got into the series a while back with Yakuza Kiwami, and haven't really looked back. After playing 0 I replayed Kiwami and started going through the series in order, currently playing through 5.
@darkswabber Yeah, Dead Souls isn't very good, the shooting mechanics are terrible, especially by today's standards. It's an interesting game but I wouldn't recommend it.
And I would love nothing more than to add Kenzan and Ishin to this list one day! SEGA seriously needs to localise them.
I feel like whether you love or don't care much for Kiwami 1 is largely tied to how much you enjoy Majima. To me he's freaking amazing, so Kiwami 1 is the Yakuza game that made me laugh the most - which puts it as my second favorite, behind Zero.
Haven't played Like A Dragon or Judgment yet so I'm looking forward to those.
The only one I've played is in dead last.....guess that explains why i stopped there.
Enjoyed my time with Yakuza Kiwami but definitely intimidated of jumping into the entire franchise. I do wanna check out Like a Dragon sometime soon though
They should've given 3, the Kiwami treatment. It looks very dated as a Remaster.
Playing judgement. Right now on my ps4 pro.amazing game with amazing graphics and gameplay.the story so far is really good also.word up son
Considering how samey these games seem to be, I'll be playing through the series slowly, but I mostly enjoyed Yakuza Kiwami, so if that's the worst game in the series, I think I'm going to be plenty happy with it.
I was going to play Yakuza Zero next, but I might just skip ahead to Like a Dragon. I REALLY like the idea of it being a more traditional JRPG in terms of the combat.
@Ralizah If you don’t play Zero first, you’re probably better off playing it later on as it has so many little nods to the other games and it would be more fun to go back and play as young Kiryu/Majima after getting to know them more.
Oh! I didn't know there existed remakes of the first two games — I'd been considering jumping in but would like to experience the whole saga, but didn't want to have to jump across 2-3 generations of consoles to do so — thanks for the heads up
Raised the bar WAY to high on this one, this article is perfection for someone like me who is Yakuza-illiterate. Combine that with a ranked list that includes the Pros/Cons list I love in the reviews? 20/10 article. I'll be picking up Yakuza 0 and Judment to get a taste of the series soon.
Ummmm... we're not gonna bundle Fist of the North Star in?
Having just finished FF7 Remake... I was googling this franchise to see whether or not I shouldn’t toes into it. This was a VERY helpful article, so thank you to the author. I did order Judgement, as per the article’s recommendation. I do imagine, from the reviews I’ve read, I’ll probably end up with 0 next and go through the Dragon. Maybe when I’m done... Black Panther will be ready for Avengers..? 😜🤣😂
I have 0 unplayed but plan to remedy that soon.
Even if I really like it (which I think I will), I still don't think I'll play the whole Kiryu saga, that's simply too much time lol
Other than that, I will certainly get 7 someday as the shift to turn-based appeals me quite a lot.
Good article but those average length times are misleading. To see and do most things across 0-6 you're looking at north of 600 hours, much more if you aim to platinum them all.
I can't recommend the series enough. That being said Kiryu's story can be a bit of a slog, if you really want to play the absolute minimum and I'd go Zero then Like a Dragon.
I started with kiwami 1 as a grab from the bargain bin after seeing the series as an inferior successor to Shenmue. Oh how wrong I was... It started a year long obsession playing through the entire series, both on PS4 and my beloved PS3. Since kiwami 1 sparked my love for Yakuza I would rank it higher. Personally I find the struggle between Kiryu and Nishiki emotionally gut wrenching, and by far one of, if not the best story in the entire series. Also makes the story of Yakuza 0 so much more rewarding when playing 1 first.
Yakuza 3 before 4 and 5? well everyone has their preferences
My top 3
1. Kiwami 2
2. Yakuza 4
3. Yakuza 0
I guess the Kiryu saga can be seen as 2 trilogies. Zero to 2 and 3 to 6.
The ovetarching story is the life of Kiryu.
I recommend playing them in numerical order. Yakuza zero is probably the best one. My second favorite is Yakuza 6 because it pays off moments from throughout the series.
Have almost all of them in my backlog. Just need the new one
Played Yakuza 1 decades ago. Need to jump back in with 0
I would say Yakuza 3 will be my favorite, since it’s the first game I have played. Gotta say I love the Fist of the North Star game as well.
Own all of them, have only played part of zero. Haha.
I have all of them but I've only gotten around to playing Zero so far. The telephone mini game I always get a bit of a giggle out of it.
Correction, Kiwami was the last game before it moved to the dragon engine
Kiwami 2 is so overrated. Unpolished game. The Kiwami remakes are the worst games in the franchise.
1) Like a Dragon
2) 0
3) Judgment
Kiwami 2 is so overrated. Unpolished game.
Not surprised to hear Yakuza 4 was a bad place to start (the fact that the series' main protagonist wasn't really that involved probably didn't help), but Kiwami at the bottom? Ouch.
I dunno, maybe it's my lack of experience (I've only played Kiwami and 4), but I found Kiwami a pretty solid game overall, and a much more enjoyable experience than 4 was (though admittedly, most of my gripes with that game are personal).
Also, I'm not really sure why it states that Kiwami is a 'straightforward introduction to the series' (and in the review states that it's the basic Yakuza experience) but then states that you're better off starting with 0? If Kiwami is the base-line experience (and the first in the series), and 0 similar to that, but better (can't say if that's the case myself, as I've only played Kiwami and 4), wouldn't it make more sense to play Kiwami first and get that simple introduction, then move on to the bigger and better prequal with 0? If you do the reverse, what's the incentive to play Kiwami and not just skip over it? (unless skipping it is the point)
I have played 0,1,2 did start 3 but it feels really dated and couldn't get into it so may skip it and go straight to 5 since everyone is saying 4 is bad lol. I have also played judgement which was great and am currently playing like a dragon which seems really good so far.
To anyone looking to start the series:
Just start from one of the newer ones like 5 or 0 the old ones (even Kiwami remakes) are old and dated now you are not missing much if you start like this, say: 0,5,6,judgement,like a dragon
My top 5 are:
Yakuza: Like a dragon (the Yakuza series should have been a rpg with turn based combat from the start) the normal button mashing combos gets old real quick after a few games especially. Unless they are going to go the recent God of war level of polish, fluidity, combos and skill trees then they Should stick to turn based as it suits the series more.
Yakuza 5: that game has everything a Yakuza should have, multiple chars, multiple deep mini games like the hunting part and multiple cities and areas to explore.
Yakuza 0: playable Majima and one of the more refined games and a couple decent mini games.
Yakuza 3 and 6: both had a really good story and 3 was great graphically at the time of launch.
I really hope they continue a branch of turn based games. If they had the variety of locations like part 5 mixed with a deeper char progression and skill system it could be the next great rpg franchise to take the crown and we could have quality churned out every 2 years.
@Daleaf yeah start at 5 it's one of the best as well.
Platted zero, kiwami 1 and 2 and in the middle of 3.
Gonna plat em all.
Also, where is fist of the north star?
Is post apocalyptic yakuza
@KiryuKasuga agreed, those old games are really dated now and should have just been left alone. But hey they are making a easy buck with less production time and people keep buying it. The problem is the ***** journos saying they are good which makes people buy them, which reinforces this behaviour of remakes because it's a easy $.
@Denni5m sweet, will probably start on 5 once I have finished like a dragon and another game in-between them otherwise get Yakuza fatigue lol. 3 just felt really bad to play and story was pretty slow and didn't really grab me think I got to chapter 4 before giving up on it.
Genuinely surprised to see that Kiwami is the worst here. My ranking based on only playing the Kiryu saga
1. Yakuza 0 - the most "Yakuza" in the series.
2. Yakuza 6 - swaps around with Kiwami 2 - brilliant wrap up of Kiryu
3. Kiwami 2 - best use of the Dragon engine I've played, best love interest (Judgement is on the way, getting PS5 ver, so cannot commento n that)
4. Yakuza 5 - almost made it top 3 thanks to amazing Haruka storyline and gameplay, Shinada is a decent replacement for Tanimura (and a more likely character too)
5. Yakuza Kiwami - middle of the road for Yakuza in terms of content, but still great story
6. Yakuza 4 - fixed all issues I had with 3
7. Yakuza 3 - the one that's aged the worst, the least interesting story and mini games.
@Ashkorsair
Best of luck, I’m doing the same thing myself and am up to 5. 3 was the first one where some of the minigames were truly messed up in the remaster and they became more difficult that the originals. The only really frustrating part was Ex hard batting though, that took a fair few attempts. Ultimate Match 3 is also a b*tch!
Some of the most satisfying platinum trophies around though. What a ride!
It is interesting to see all the different opinions on where each Yakuza ranks. I also find it funny that "Looks dated graphically" is listed as a con for each Yakuza pre-dating Dragon Engine. I don't think they actually look that bad, even Yakuza 3 which looks rough around the edges (at least if we are talking the remastered collection, can't really say otherwise).
I would probably rank the Kiryu Saga as follows from best to worst:
0, K2, 3, K1, 6, 5, 4
6 and 5 are probably interchangeable. I have played Judgment but as a spin-off, I don't see the point of including it in the ranking. I certainly would like Judgment 2 though. I also can't include 7 (Like a Dragon) as I have not finished it. I really like Ichiban as a character so far, but the turn-based combat is not holding my interest at all. I don't normally dislike turn-based combat, but for some reason, it gets stale for me fairly quickly in 7.
I think another great part of the series for me though is that even with the games that I don't think are as good, there are still great moments in them. 4 for example, whilst my least favourite game, does introduce Saejima who I think has a great moment in Purgatory that stands out to me. People who have played probably know what I am referring to (though to be fair, it might not be as significant to others I suppose).
Each Yakuza is worth playing (at least in Kiryu saga, again, can't fairly judge 7 yet). If nothing else, play 0 as you need no context prior to playing the game.
@MS7000
Great, and baffling, to see so many varying opinions here. Personally I agree 4 is the worst from what I have played so far (not played 6,7, or judgment) but, for me, 5 is the best. There is just so much great content, and each character and chapter feels truly different with the side missions included.
0 and 7 are the best ones.
I find this list very interesting because I've only ever played Yakuza Kiwama and I really liked it. The rest of the series is on "the list". So I look forward to playing the next one whenever it's time to hit the backlog.
Much like any long-running series, rankings will vary, from fan to fan. My list would be (From worst to best):
Yakuza 3
Yakuza 4
Yakuza Kiwami
Yakuza 5
Yakuza Kiwami 2
Judgment
Yakuza 0
I love lists and I love these games!
Loved them all, may i add, and have yet to play Yakuza 6 and 7.(They are in my collection and ready!)
I haven't yet played Fist of the Northstar, I heard it follows the formula down to a tee, so I'm gonna grab that next sale.
REALLY this is a great article about a legendary series in history
Yakuza 5 has to be No. 1 due to the Crazy Pop Idol section
@True_Jehuty Firstly love the name wish we got a ZOE 3.
Also my list is pretty similar love Kiwami 2, 4 and 0 Might Slot Like a Dragon above 0 but need sometime to reflect on it still.
@johncalmc Definitely play Kiwami 2 next it's the direct sequel and you'll get a lot out of it save Yakuza 0 until you finish 5 so you are essentially playing in release order outside of the kiwami games.
As someone, who wants to get into the "Yakuza"-games, I just wanted to say: This is a great guide, well structured, with just the right informations. I really appreciate the work you put into it. Thanks.
@thefourfoldroot @MS7000 I'm curious what the both of you found worse about 4 that 3 didn't do. I rank everything about the same but those two are definitely swapped for me. 3 had some of the absolutely most frustrating combat in not just Yakuza but all gaming. The orphanage and exploring Okinawa made it well worth the ride but the combat was a nightmare to me.
@ChiefsofState15
Personally, it was all about the story. In 3 we had a great look at Kiryu and Hiruka’s relationship and connection to the orphans, which brought an even more human touch to their characters. The story in 4 was disjointed (obviously) and at once both drawn out and superficial. It never came together in the same way as 5, nor did it have the unique gameplay of the side stories in 5. 3 didn’t need that given it was more focused.
Admittedly, for the first half of 3, until you levelled up, the combat is incredibly tedious due to the constant blocking of all enemies, but that frustration alleviates as you level and can break blocks and gain new abilities.
@ChiefsofState15 I feel like @thefourfoldroot put it more eloquently than I could have. Sure, 3's combat is rough, but assuming you played Kiwami 1 and 2 as opposed to the originals, it is also the oldest game in the series so that is not very surprising.
Also, whilst 4 introduced Saejima and Akiyama who I thought had great individual moments despite the overall story not grabbing me, Tanimura just did not interest me at all, he felt very disposable as a character. Whether this was because this was intended, or because of the character actor's seeming use of drugs that was discovered after 4 released, the character is never seen again either, which does not help the case against me feeling like the character is disposable. So there was a whole segment where the game kind of lost my interest. I did finish it of course, but it fell short for me compared to the others.
@thefourfoldroot @MS7000 awesome replies and I do tend to forget that y3 is now the "oldest" game if you play them all remastered or remade. I really do want it to get the Kiwami treatment because, like you both said, the story building up of Kiryu and Haruka's relationship is so key to the rest of the series and sometimes the gameplay gets in the way of that. Totally agree with everything about 4 you two noted, I guess I was so glad to actually land hits again that I was more forgiving of the story.
Re 0: "It was the last Yakuza game before the series moved to the much more advanced Dragon Engine"
No, it wasn't, Kiwami was - 0 came before Kiwami.
Also, there are a lot of references in 0 to the earlier (release wise) games so it hangs better to play it after 5 IMO.
If I were banished to a deserted island with only one media collection to last the rest of my life, it would be the Yakuza series.
Interesting to read your personal view, especially as 2 is one of my least favourites in the series. By least favourites I obviously mean it's still a great game, this is Yakuza after all...
Also, for anyone yet to play the series, I'd recommend starting at the beginning. Doing the games out of order won't throw you for a loop but you'd miss out on a bunch of neat details and character references.
I'd be interested to know how you'd rank them if they were all on identical playing fields. Technically, I mean.
YLAD needs a lot more love than what it's getting here. Just my own opinion. Easily one of the best niche RPGs I've played and I hope it gets some kind of follow up one day.
@NEStalgia Don't forget to pack an extremely long extension cord!
Yakuza zero is just ahead of all the others because the team had gained experience and were are to build a story without restraints. The world, the story is just one step above the others.
After that, i guess one that enjoys zero wants to get to yakuza kiwami 2 to get some sort of closure to zero.
Kiwami 1 is a step you probably need to take too.
From there it's ok to stop if interest is waning. If it's not, go all the way till 6 in order.
I have not played like a dragon. I was satisfied to have my conclusion with 6. But, will try it out whrn it's dirty cheap.
Played em all except dead souls. I'd rank 3 as the worst. Aged the worst and had the worst story. Really needs the kiwami treatment.
Lost judgement is the only one I haven't played yet, it's next after I finish Code Vein.
I have to disagree and say Yakuza 3 was the worst entry in my eyes. I had to force myself to finish the game. And there were times I wanted to quit and just skip it. I have never felt this with any other entry of the game. Yakuza 5 was also a bit of a drag in some areas, and It felt almost forced but otherwise the franchise has been fantastic and I look forward to future games. I do miss the action style however. Turn based becomes a chore by the time I get to the 99+ dungeon...
I have a preference for English localisation so I've only played Judgment and YLAD. I'm playing through Lost Judgment now. I'm glad they went in in direction of the option and I think it's paying off for them
Can I skip 3 and 4 (and maybe 5)??
I see that there's no love for Yakuza dead souls huh? How many people even know that game existed? 🤪
@NomNom
Agreed, Yakuza 3 was my entry point into the series and I almost drop the entirety of Yakuza because of it. Glad I gave 4 a chance because I found it a much better game than the garbage that was 3.
Judgment was the best for me, the story and charterers are so well done, and the English dub was just phenomenal, also the writing was extremely solid.
@hypnotoad Yakuza Kiwami is the best to start with. If you're a person who respects and likes narrative consistency and wouldn't read books randomly out of order, Kiwami is definitely share you want to start. The only argument supporting playing 0 first is people saying it's a better game. But for me, playing better games first is also worse because they're harder to come back to once you see the newer, more refined systems.
If you've never played a Yakuza game and dive into Kiwami and don't like it, you're not going to like the rest most likely anyway. And it's the way the creators intended the series to be played. It's literally the first game and it had the benefit of being a modern remake, so it actually feels newer than some of the later entries in certain ways because of that. 0 isn't meant to be played until after Yakuza 5. It's a prequel and has narrative elements you're not supposed to know yet. Will it ruin the series if you play it first? No. But I legitimately think it's worse that way and with Kiwami being so cheap and easy to get into, why not start there?
Besides, of 0 is the best (which is arguable, of course), wouldn't it be nice to see the series just get better and better until you reach that pinnacle? It's a nice pre send-off before Yakuza 6 and the close of that whole story arc.
Anyway, obviously you're welcome to play and do whatever you want, but those are my thoughts. Also, if you like turn based RPGs, Yakuza 7 (Like a Dragon) is a real treat too and my personal favorite in the series!
Don't think there's any Yakuza game I don't like, as for favourites, I agree with those on Kiwami 2 certainly being one of the best,
however I must admit purely for the story/characters alone I loved Yakuza 6,
also enjoyed my time with Yakuza 5, huge game for sure, but I liked it,
currently playing the first Judgment and although only a couple of chapters in I'm already loving the game and the main character is growing on me more & more all the time, I can already tell that I will rate this game highly by the time I finish it.
Only games I still need to play is Yakuza Like A Dragon, I have high expectations for this one but I'm a little worried about getting used to the RPG style fighting, if I take to it then I'm sure I'll like the game,
also need to play Lost Judgment as well once finishing the original Judgment.
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