If you’re a fan of the Yakuza video game series, you’ll be happy to know that PlayStation Plus has most of the Yakuza games on the service. However, you may be wondering what order you should play the games in to get the best experience. The Yakuza series has a complex and interconnected narrative, so the order in which you play the games can make a big difference in how much you enjoy them.
The Yakuza series currently consists of eight main games and several spin-off titles. The main games are all set in the same universe and follow the story of Kazuma Kiryu, a member of the Japanese mafia, known as the yakuza.
The best order to play the Yakuza games in is chronological order, which means starting with the first game and playing through each subsequent game in the series. This is the best way to experience the full narrative arc of the series, as each game builds upon the events and characters of the previous ones.
Here is the chronological order in which you should play the Yakuza games:
- Yakuza 0
- Yakuza Kiwami
- Yakuza Kiwami 2
- Yakuza 3: Remastered
- Yakuza 4: Remastered
- Yakuza 5: Remastered
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon
1. Yakuza 0
Timeline: 1988
Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the Yakuza series of video games and follows the stories of Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, two members of the Japanese mafia known as the yakuza. Set in the neon-lit districts of Kamurocho and Sotenbori in 1988, the game follows Kiryu and Majima as they get caught up in a power struggle within their respective yakuza clans.
Both characters must navigate their respective criminal underworlds, fighting against rival gangs and corrupt officials, in order to rise in the ranks and eventually confront the ultimate enemy who threatens to destroy their world. The game features an open-world environment and a variety of gameplay elements, including combat, exploration, and side quests.
2. Yakuza Kiwami
Timeline: 1995 and 2005
Yakuza Kiwami is a remake of the original Yakuza game, which was released for PlayStation 2 in 2005. The game is set in Kamurocho, a fictionalized version of Tokyo’s Kabukicho district, and follows the story of Kazuma Kiryu, a former member of the yakuza.
Kiryu is betrayed by his former comrades and ends up serving a ten-year prison sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. When he is released, he finds that Kamurocho has changed dramatically in his absence and he must navigate a new world of violence, corruption, and betrayal to uncover the truth about what happened to him.
3. Yakuza Kiwami 2
Timeline: 2006
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a remake of the second Yakuza game, which was originally released for PlayStation 2 in 2006. Like the first Kiwami game, it is set in Kamurocho, a fictionalized version of Tokyo’s Kabukicho district, and follows the story of Kazuma Kiryu.
In Yakuza Kiwami 2, Kiryu must travel to the city of Sotenbori in Osaka to deal with a conflict between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance. Along the way, he must confront old enemies and make new allies in order to protect those he cares about and uncover the truth about a devastating secret from his past.
The game features updated graphics and gameplay mechanics, as well as new side quests and additional content. Like the other games in the Yakuza series, Yakuza Kiwami 2 combines action-adventure gameplay with RPG elements and a deep, engaging storyline.
4. Yakuza 3: Remastered
Timeline: 2009
Yakuza 3: Remastered is an enhanced version of the third game in the Yakuza series, which was originally released for PlayStation 3 in 2009. Like the previous games, it is set in Kamurocho, a fictionalized version of Tokyo’s Kabukicho district, and continues the story of Kazuma Kiryu.
In Yakuza 3: Remastered, Kiryu has retired from the yakuza and is now the director of the Morning Glory Orphanage in Okinawa. However, he is drawn back into the world of the yakuza when he is forced to deal with a power struggle within the Tojo Clan and a potential land development project that threatens the future of the orphanage.
5. Yakuza 4: Remastered
Timeline: 2010
Yakuza 4: Remastered is an enhanced version of the fourth Yakuza game, which was originally released for PlayStation 3 in 2010. It is also set in Kamurocho, a fictionalized version of Tokyo’s Kabukicho district, and follows the stories of four different characters: Kazuma Kiryu, Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima, and Masayoshi Tanimura. Each character has their own unique story and gameplay mechanics, and the player can switch between them at certain points in the game.
In Yakuza 4: Remastered, Kiryu is once again drawn into the world of the yakuza when he is implicated in the murder of a powerful real estate developer. He must team up with three other playable characters – Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima, and Masayoshi Tanimura – to uncover the truth behind the murder and protect those he cares about.
6. Yakuza 5: Remastered
Timeline: 2012
Yakuza 5: Remastered is an enhanced version of the fifth game in the Yakuza series, which was originally released for PlayStation 3 in 2012. In Yakuza 5: Remastered, Kiryu is once again drawn into the world of the yakuza when he is tasked with protecting a young girl named Haruka Sawamura, who is the daughter of Kiryu’s former love interest. The game features five playable characters – Kiryu, Haruka, Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima, and Tatsuo Shinada – and takes place in five different Japanese cities.
The game features updated graphics and gameplay mechanics, as well as new side quests and additional content. Like the other games in the Yakuza series, Yakuza 5: Remastered combines action-adventure gameplay with RPG elements and a deep, engaging storyline.
7. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Timeline: 2016
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is the sixth main game in the Yakuza series, which was originally released for PlayStation 4 in 2016. It is the seventh main game in the Yakuza series, and the final chapter in the story of Kazuma Kiryu, the series’ long-time protagonist.
In Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, Kiryu has retired from the yakuza and is living a peaceful life in Okinawa with Haruka Sawamura, the daughter of his former love interest. However, his peaceful life is interrupted when he receives news that Haruka has been involved in a hit-and-run accident and is in a coma. Kiryu must return to Kamurocho and investigate the accident to protect Haruka and the child she gave birth to during the game.
8. Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Timeline: 2019
Note: Yakuza: Like a Dragon was made available as part of the PlayStation Plus monthly games for August 2022, and is not currently available on the service.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon (also known as Ryu ga Gotoku 7: Whereabouts of Light and Darkness in Japan) is the seventh main game in the Yakuza series, which was originally released for PlayStation 4 in 2020. Unlike the previous games, which were set in Kamurocho, a fictionalized version of Tokyo’s Kabukicho district, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is set in the city of Yokohama.
In Yakuza: Like a Dragon, players take on the role of a new protagonist named Ichiban Kasuga, who is a member of the Arakawa family, a subsidiary of the Tojo Clan. The game follows Ichiban’s journey as he is betrayed by his own family and must team up with a group of unlikely allies to uncover the truth behind the betrayal and clear his name.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon features a new turn-based combat system and a variety of mini-games, including job classes that allow players to take on different roles and abilities in battle. It also includes a new game mode called “Business Mode,” in which players can manage and grow their own business in Yokohama.
Summary
It’s worth noting that Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the first Yakuza game, and Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a sequel to the rest of the series, so they don’t quite fit into the chronological order. However, it’s still best to play them in this order to understand the events and characters of the series fully.
In addition to the main games, there are also several spin-off titles that are set in the Yakuza universe. These include Yakuza: Dead Souls, Yakuza: Ishin, and Yakuza: Kenzan. These games are not essential to the main narrative of the series, so you can choose to play them after you’ve completed the main games or skip them entirely if you prefer.
To sum up, the best order to play the Yakuza games is chronological order, starting with the first game and playing through each subsequent game in the series. This is the best way to experience the entire narrative arc of the series and understand the events and characters of the Yakuza universe.
