Like a Dragon’ series, previously known as Yakuza, has seen tremendous growth in the last 20 years. In 2005, Yakuza introduced Kazuma Kiryu and his Yakuza family, which still unfolds today.
The Yakuza series was once known for its brutality, similar to the Japanese criminal syndicate. Over the years, it has become more humorous, emphasizing its over-the-top elements to distinguish each entry from the others.
For those wondering about the order of the games, here's a breakdown of the mainline Yakuza games in chronological order.
There are a total of 23 Yakuza entries, with nine of them being part of the mainline series. Some of the spin-offs, like Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise, feature characters from the Yakuza series but are not direct spin-offs. Other notable entries include Like a Dragon: Ishin!, Judgment, and its sequel, Lost Judgment, which follows a detective's story.
You don't need to play all 23 games to understand the Yakuza plot. However, each game adds depth to the world of these characters, expanding the ever-growing Yakuza universe.
Here is the suggested sequence to play the mainline Yakuza games to experience the series' story game by game:
Yakuza 0
Yakuza Kiwami
Yakuza Kiwami 2
Yakuza 3
Yakuza 4
Yakuza 5
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
How many Yakuza games are there in total?
There are 23 Yakuza games in total, with nine mainline entries and the rest being spin-offs and related titles.
What is the chronological order to play the mainline Yakuza games?
To experience the series' story game-by-game, start with Yakuza 0, followed by Yakuza Kiwami, Yakuza Kiwami 2, Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4, Yakuza 5, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, Yakuza: Like A