Initially launched as a PlayStation 2 sport, Yakuza (referred to as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) spawns a prolonged collection that follows the steps of Kiryu Kazuma, a member of one of the vital vital yakuza households (the Dojima household, beneath the Tojo Clan), within the sport’s fictional metropolis of Kamurocho, Tokyo. He and his a number of allies and buddies attempt to keep away from the conflicts and plans being schemed by different highly effective mob teams.
It took years for the Yakuza franchise to start out receiving the reward and recognition it at present has exterior Japan. Its repute solely appears to extend due to the a number of localized re-releases and new video games. On this article, you’ll discover a chronology of the collection in the event you’re enthusiastic about enjoying every entry from the very starting.
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How Many Yakuza Video games Are There?
Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku studio have launched 8 most important Yakuza video games and two remakes for the reason that collection’ debut in 2005. They had been initially PlayStation-exclusive titles, however they had been later ported to Xbox and PC, with each new sport since Yakuza: Like a Dragon releasing concurrently for each system except Nintendo Swap.
Nonetheless, Yakuza is a collection identified for having a number of and extensively completely different spin-offs. For instance, Kurohyō: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho and its sequel Kurohyō 2: Ryu ga Gotoku Ashura henu are two titles unique to the PlayStation Transportable, they usually function Tatsuya Ukyo, a totally new character. The Judgement collection, which follows the story of detective Takayuki Yagami, can be set in Kamurocho however with different characters.
Then there’s the zombie-infested spin-off Yakuza: Lifeless Souls, which options the basic forged of characters in a dystopic setting. Yakuza On-line is a free-to-play TCG accessible on cellular and PC during which you play as Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The favored Japanese collection Fist of the North Star obtained the Yakuza remedy when the studio developed the online game Fist of the North Star: Misplaced Paradise, which shares Kiryu’s video games’ construction and gameplay parts.
Lastly, there are two spin-off video games which can be set in older Japanese eras and have historic figures as their most important protagonists. These are Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! and Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! The latter has been launched within the West in 2023 as Like a Dragon: Ishin!
As a facet be aware, it’s value mentioning that after Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the collection adopted ‘Like a Dragon’ as its new title, which is the English translation of ‘Ryu ga Gotoku’ (the unique Japanese title).
Yakuza Video games in Chronological Order
Watch out for spoilers for the tales, characters, and related occasions of every sport within the record beneath.
1. Yakuza 0 (2014)
The sixth launched sport is definitely the primary Yakuza on the subject of its chronology. In Yakuza 0, we play as a two protagonists. The primary one is a younger Kiryu Kazuma within the late Eighties, who’s being framed for a homicide arrange by one in every of his lieutenants within the Dojima household. The rationale behind this has to do with an ‘Empty Slot’, the place the obvious homicide passed off. It is a piece of land that can be a key asset for the individual and group who owns it.
As Kiryu turns into a goal by his personal yakuza household, former yakuza member Goro Majima is working in a cabaret as a punishment for being a part of an assassination some years in the past. He’s tasked by his ex-patriarch, Futoshi Shimano, to kill a blind girl named Makoto for unknown causes — it’s later revealed that she’s the authentic proprietor of the Empty Lot.
By the top of the sport, Kiryu will get again to the Dojima household after defeating all of the lieutenants, Majima leaves Makoto to reside her life, and the Empty Slot is destroyed — right here can be constructed the Millennium Tower, a key location within the collection.
2. Yakuza (2005)
The primary Yakuza sport stars Kiryu Kazuma as its solely protagonist after he goes to jail attributable to taking the blame for a homicide he didn’t commit. The sufferer was Sohei Dojima, Kiryu’s boss, and he was murdered by Akira Nishikiyama, our protagonist’s finest good friend. The rationale behind this crime was that Sohei tried to rape Yumi Sawamura, a good friend of each Kiryu and Nishikiyama.
When Kiryu comes out of jail ten years later, he’s expelled from the Tojo Clan, somebody has stolen ten billion yen from the clan’s account, and Yumi is nowhere to be discovered. In the midst of this, Kiryu meets Haruka, the daughter of a lady named Mizuki. Haruka has a pendant that appears to be a key aspect associated to the misplaced cash. Additionally, Nishikiyama shoots Kiryu’s former captain and adoptive father, turning into an antagonistic power.
Through the climax, Kiryu finds Yumi, the misplaced cash, and fights Nishikiyama. Kiryu is requested to be the Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan, which he accepts. Nonetheless, moments later he names Yukio Terada, a former Omi Alliance yakuza, as the brand new chairman, and he decides to cease being a yakuza to lift Haruka as his adopted daughter.
3. Yakuza 2 (2006)
Yakuza 2 begins with Terada, the Fifth Chairman of the Tojo Clan, asking Kiryu to assist him forestall a conflict between his clan and the Omi Alliance, their everlasting rivals. After being shot in an ambush, Terada appears to be lifeless and Kiryu appears for Daigo Dojima, son of Sohei Dojima, to make him the brand new chairman of the clan.
Whereas serving to Daigo, Kiryu meets Ryuji Goda, the son of the Omi chairman, they usually turn into enemies as a result of Ryuji doesn’t desire a truce with the Tojo Clan. One other character, detective Kaoru Sayama, comes into play and tries to assist Kiryu whereas studying about her dad and mom, who disappeared when she was younger.
4. Yakuza 3 (2009)
The primary entry launched on PlayStation 3, Yakuza 3 presents an uncommon starting with Kiryu distant from the yakuza life-style. As a substitute, he’s taking good care of an Orphanage in Okinawa known as Morning Glory Orphanage. He’s assisted by Haruka, and he takes care of many new children dwelling there.
Sadly, peace doesn’t final for lengthy. Our protagonist has to face a number of troubles with completely different characters, involving new yakuza households, a number of assassinations, shootings, betrayals, an arms smuggling group, and even the CIA.
5. Yakuza 4 (2010)
One 12 months after the occasions of the earlier sport, Yakuza 4 raises the stakes and brings one other kind of story to observe. That is nonetheless a story of households, betrayals, and crimes, however on this chance, it’s proven from the eyes of 4 protagonists.
Aside from our well-known Kiryu Kazyuma, three different new faces be a part of the streets of Kamurocho. The primary one, Shun Akiyama is a mortgage shark who works in his personal agency, Sky Finance, and finds himself in the course of a battle between the Tojo Clan and the Ueno Seiwa Clan. He’s additionally requested for a 100 million yen mortgage from a mysterious girl named Lily.
Taiga Saejima, Goro Majima’s buddy, went to jail after performing successful in opposition to the Ueno Seiwa Clan in 1985. Twenty years later, after efficiently escaping, he appears for Majima, who deserted him after they needed to carry out the hit.
Detective Masayoshi Tanimura, one other new protagonist, is investigating one of many latest murders within the Tojo Clan. Whereas doing so, he meets Lily, who is definitely Saejima’s sister, and she or he’s being attacked by the Shibata household. Tanimura later finds out that the patriarch of that household was associated to the hit Saejima participated all these years in the past.
Finally, Kiryu meets his new companions and finds out what occurred to all of the characters concerned within the ongoing conflicts.
6. Yakuza 5 (2012)
If Yakuza 4’s story obtained difficult with the a number of protagonists’ factors of view, Yakuza 5 went all-in in the identical course. This time, you play as 5 protagonists in numerous eventualities, making this one the most important sport within the collection.
First you observe Kiryu, who left Kamurocho and moved to Fukuoka with out Haruka, leaving his orphanage behind. As ordinary, he received’t be calm for lengthy earlier than he learns that Daigo is lacking, and the peace between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance is about to interrupt.
Saejima is in jail as soon as once more, however he’s seeking to escape together with his cellmate Shigeki Baba when he hears that his buddy Majima is lifeless. Within the meantime, Haruka is already a young person and she or he’s following her dream of turning into a J-Pop Idol. Issues get difficult when the president of her expertise company, Mirei Park, is discovered lifeless, with what looks as if a staged suicide. Returning protagonist Akiyama seems to assist Haruka study who was actually behind Park’s demise.
The final piece of the puzzle is the model new character Tatsuo Shinada, a former skilled baseball participant who was banned after being framed for fixing an vital match. A mysterious man, who’s truly Daigo, will meet Shinada and ask him to search out out what actually occurred all these years in the past.
7. Yakuza 6: The Music of Life (2016)
Yakuza 6: The Music of Life is offered as the ultimate beat in Kiryu Kazuma’s life within the Yakuza collection. Our protagonist spends a while in jail once more, however on this event, it’s for his previous crimes and never by being framed by anybody. On the finish of the earlier sport, Haruka revealed in a live performance broadcast that Kiryu was her father and that he was an ex-yakuza member.
After getting out of jail, Kiryu returns to Kamurocho however just for a short time. He learns that Haruka is in a coma attributable to an obvious automobile accident, and she or he had a baby named Haruto. Haruka was in Onomichi for a very long time earlier than the accident, so Kiryu goes there to research what occurred and who’s Haruto’s father.
Whereas discovering clues, vital characters like Daigo, Saejima, and Majima are imprisoned, and the rival teams of the Chinese language Saio Triad and the Jingweon Mafia wish to make their strikes in Kamurocho.
8. Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)
A contemporary new begin, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a giant turning level within the collection. For the primary time, the principle protagonist shouldn’t be Kiryu, however a Tojo Clan member named Ichiban Kasuga, who went to jail for 18 years to guard Jo Sawashiro, his captain. When he will get out, he finds out that no one is in search of him as a result of the Tojo Clan has lastly been defeated by the Omi Alliance.
Masumi Arakawa, the patriarch of the Arawaka household and the person who requested Ichiban to take the blame and go to jail as a substitute of Sawashiro, was scheming with the Omi and betrayed the Tojo Clan. He additionally shoots Ichiban after they meet after nearly 20 years.
Ichiban wakes up in Ijincho, and a homeless man known as Yu Nanba heals his wounds. That is the place to begin for our new protagonist, who will meet a number of new faces for his occasion. The brand new group will attempt to uncover the explanation behind Arakawa’s play, and they’re going to face three legal teams whereas doing so: the Yokohama Liumang, the Geomijul Mafia, and the Seiryu Clan.
Tips on how to Play the Yakuza Video games By Launch Date
- Yakuza (2005)
- Yakuza 2 (2006)
- Yakuza 3 (2009)
- Yakuza 4 (2010)
- Yakuza 5 (2012)
- Yakuza 0 (2015)
- Yakuza 6: The Music of Life (2016)
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)
What’s Subsequent for Yakuza?
It looks as if the Yakuza universe is much from over. Now retitled ‘Like a Dragon’, there are two new upcoming releases within the franchise: Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Identify, which has a launch date for someday in 2023, and Like a Dragon 8, which is scheduled for 2024. The previous will give attention to Kiryu and what occurred to him after Yakuza 6, whereas the latter will proceed Ichiban’s story, however with Kiryu additionally having a serious function within the plot.
