Summary
Despite its commercial success in both its native Japan and, more recently, in the West, theLike a DragonorYakuzaseries remains an enigma to those that have never spent time in one of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios' sweeping crime dramas. Part beat ‘em up, part RPG, and the closest thing to a captivating video game soap opera, theYakuzaseries (now going under the original Japanese titleLike a Dragon) has eight mainline titles, several spin-offs, a side-series about a detective (Judgment) and even a historic reenactment that uses familiarLike a Dragonseries characters as stand-ins for real-life figures.
All of this can be a lot to take in for newcomers that have watchedLike a Dragongrow in popularity yet never taken the plunge into the series. With the upcoming release of the eighth mainline game in the series,Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and the recent release ofLike a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Nameto catch players up on how Kiryu gets involved with Ichiban, there’s likely a whole new audience of potential fans wondering how to break into the franchise. Thankfully, re-releases, remasters, and ports to PC and modern consoles make a comprehensive deep-dive into theLike a Dragonfranchise more possible than it ever has been.
Getting Into the Like a Dragon/Yakuza Series, Including Necessary and Skippable Entries
With the sheer number of games available across the franchise, simply sitting down and playingevery mainlineYakuzagameand the various spin-offs is a monumental task. Some games in the series can run upwards of 100 hours if players engage in the worthwhile and entertaining side content along with the main story, and even though the series maintains a standard of quality that’s impressive, there are some games that players are safe skipping in the interest of time. That said, if one is new to the series, playsYakuza 0and is immediately hooked, it’s worth playing through the entire saga from front to back. The mainline games and spotlighted spin-offs in theYakuzaseries include:
Release Year:2015
Platforms:PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox One
Synopsis:While some might make the claim that playingYakuza Kiwamiahead ofYakuza 0gives greater context for the characters and heightens the impact of their origin stories explored in this prequel,Yakuza 0makes a strong case for being a perfect jumping-on point for series newcomers. Players meet young yakuza enforcer Kazuma Kiryu and follow him through one of the more tumultuous and formative periods in his life, as well as getting to play as his recurring series rival Majima. The combat is excellent, Kamurocho is absolutely packed with entertaining side activities, and it’s a perfect litmus to test if players are interested in the series for the long haul.
Release Year:2016
Synopsis:Although “kiwami” translates to “extreme”, this 2016 remake of the first game in the series (originally released on the PS2 in 2005) is actually a bit of a step back from the excellence ofYakuza 0. A large part of that rests on the fact that it’s a remake of a much older game, but for those that are coming off fresh fromYakuza 0, there’s still a lot to like inYakuza Kiwami, especially its continuation of Kiryu’s story. There’s not as much entertaining side content as inYakuza 0, and the “Majima Everywhere” system is a love-it-or-hate-it mechanic that sees him show up at some hilariously inopportune times, butYakuza Kiwamiis essential for developing Kiryu’s character.
Release Year:2017
Platforms:PC, PS4, Xbox One
Synopsis:Longtime series fans tend to consider eitherYakuza 0orYakuza Kiwami 2as the best games in the series, and playingKiwami 2makes it easy to see why the game is held in such high regard. LikeYakuza Kiwamibefore it,Yakuza Kiwami 2is a remake of the originalYakuza 2but this time completely redone in RGG’s new Dragon Engine. The result is one of the absolute best-looking games in the series, complete with one of the most realistic and jaw-dropping recreations of Japan for players to get lost in. The combat is some of the best in the entire series, both Kiryu and Majima’s stories hit some emotional highs, and the side content could practically be considered its own standalone game.
Release Year:2009
Synopsis:Yakuza 3is an interesting outlier in the series as one of the few dips in quality for what’s otherwise one of the most consistently entertaining game franchises. Partially due to the fact that it’s a simple remaster of a nearly 15-year-old game and not a remake or brand-new prequel likeYakuza 0throughKiwami 2,Yakuza 3is a noticeable step-down in terms of its combat, pacing, and side-content. That said, the game opens with one of the more entertaining turns for Kiryu’s character, with the Dragon himself now operating an orphanage in Okinawa. It’s a good game, but not nearly as polished or tightly-paced as the first three games in the chronology, which makes it skippable for all but diehard fans.
Release Year:2010
Synopsis:After the slight misstep ofYakuza 3,Yakuza 4comes out swinging to be one of the better entries in the franchise and kicks off a new era for the series. No longer focusing solely on Kiryu, players get to take control of four different protagonists throughout the story, each with their own captivating stories and unique fighting styles. The best aspect ofYakuza 4is the way that it satisfyingly interweaves and then ties up each character’s stories by the end of the game, and it introduces players to some important characters that reappear later in the series.
Release Year:2012
Synopsis:The fifth mainline game intheYakuzaseriesis notorious for how incredibly long it is to complete if players engage with all of its content. Going one step further thanYakuza 4,Yakuza 5introduces five protagonists that players get to take control of, taking them through one of the franchise’s most grandiose tales in the process. Longtime fans have justifiable gripes with this game for how it takes the focus off of the series hero Kiryu, and the subplot involving his adopted daughter’s turn as a pop idol understandably isn’t for everyone’s tastes in a series that normally involves gratuitous street fighting.
Synopsis:AlongsideYakuza 0andKiwami 2,Yakuza 6is one of the best and most important games in the series’ overarching narrative for how it (at the time)concludes Kazuma Kiryu’s story. The game begins with Kiryu once again getting released from jail, only to find that his adopted daughter-turned-pop idol Haruka is missing. As Kiryu starts looking for answers as to her whereabouts, he discovers that she has a son, which triggers the softer, father-like side of Kiryu that players get glimpses of in earlier games. The setting of Onomochi is once again a brilliant and dense open world location for players to explore, and the combat is incredibly polished and satisfying, right along with the game’s incredible story.
Release Year:2018
Platforms:PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Synopsis:While it’s not directly connected to theLike a Dragonseries per se,Judgmenttakes place in the fictional district of Kamurocho from theLike a Dragongames and sees players control a detective. Seeing the Japanese criminal underworld from the side of the law presentstheJudgmentseriesas an excellent companion piece to theLike a Dragongames, but they are by no means essential playing. That said, if players find that they enjoy the pacing and structure of RGG Studios' games, there’s a lot to like aboutJudgmentand its captivating tale of detective Takayuki Yagami as he tracks down a serial killer.
Release Year:2020
Platforms:PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Synopsis:Yakuza: Like a Dragonis an excellent jumping-on point for anyone new to the series as it marks a new era for theLike a Dragonfranchise alongside its introduction of new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga. Contrary to Kazuma Kiryu’s stoic but noble characterization, Ichiban is a goofball with a heart of gold that is immediately affable and relatable as a protagonist. Additionally,Yakuza: Like a Dragonswitches up the real-time beat ‘em up combat that theLike a Dragonseries is known for in favor of becoming a turn-based RPG. The result is thatLike a Dragonis both an excellentLike a Dragongame and one of the best JRPGs of the current era. For anyone interested inInfinite Wealth, Ichiban’s story starts here.
Release Year:2021
Synopsis:Like its predecessorJudgment,Lost Judgmentonce again sees players take on the role of private detective Takayumi Yagami. This time, Yagami is called on to investigate a bullying ring at a local school and winds up stumbling into a much more sinister plot at play. Once again taking place in Kamurocho from theYakuzaseries,Lost Judgmentadds in some new features that help to differentiate it as a sequel, such as Yagami’s ability to cruise around on a skateboard and a greater emphasis on stealth.Lost Judgmentis an excellent RGG game but not necessarily essential to play ahead ofInfinite Wealth.
Release Year:2023
Synopsis:Regardless of whether fans thinkIshin!should be played before any of the mainline games or after beating all of them, it’s a welcome surprise that the game finally arrived in the West after being a Japan-only spin-off for years. Originally releasing in 2014,Like a Dragon: Ishin!retells the story of Japan’s real-life transition from the Shogunate into the period known as the Meiji Restoration. Though the story uses real-life events and historical figures, players will recognize familiar faces from across the series standing in for the likeness of these important players in Japanese history. Getting to control the historical samurai Sakamoto Ryoma and use four distinct fighting styles as they support the end of feudalism in Japan is a blast, but not a must-play beforeInfinite Wealth.
Synopsis:The most recent game in the series is a shorter, more self-contained adventure that aims to explain how Kiryu winds up inLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, bridging the gap betweenYakuza 6,Yakuza: Like a Dragon,and the next mainline entry in the series. Kiryu, now older and forced out of retirement, has two distinct fighting styles that are suited for either one-on-one encounters or crowd control. As one would expect, the setting of Sotenbori is chock-full of entertaining and worthwhile side content that provides a nice distraction from the game’s main quest.
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
WHERE TO PLAY
EPIC EMOTIONAL DRAMATwo larger-than-life heroes brought together by the hand of fate, or perhaps something more sinister…Ichiban Kasuga, an unstoppable underdog who’s no stranger to crawling up from rock bottom, and Kazuma Kiryu, a broken man facing down his last days.BEST-IN-CLASS RPG ACTIONExperience one-of-a-kind combat with dynamic, fast-paced RPG battles where the battlefield becomes your weapon, and anything goes. Adapt your party’s skills to the situation with outlandish jobs and customizations to strategically subdue enemies with over-the-top moves.INFINITE ADVENTURELive it up in Japan and explore all that Hawaii has to offer in an adventure so big it spans the Pacific. Unforgettable moments await at every step of the journey with a unique mix of quests and activities to enjoy at your leisure.
