Yakuza Order: This is the order in which you play them correctly

Since 2005, the Yakuza series has made it possible to experience new stories, intrigues and power struggles of the Japanese mafia. As of May 2022, the Yakuza series has spawned 18 video games. Here you can find out in which order you have to play the parts to keep the chronological thread.

Yakuza is considered one of the most popular flagship series in the action genre and is often cited as a worthy alternative to the GTA series. In addition, it is probably the most well-known video game series that deals with the Japanese mafia organization of the Yakuza. While the concepts behind the Yakuza games are relatively easy to grasp, it’s not always easy to follow the narrative of the series. That’s because some parts of the series like to go forward and backward in time from the chronology of the game’s plot.

at eight games in the main series and six spinoffs but that is not surprising. The events of a game can suddenly take place many years before the events of the previous title. Such time jumps can be particularly unsettling for newer fans unfamiliar with the Yakuza series. Where do you start? Which game follows the next? Which sequence of the Rhine is the right one? Since in this article we are referring to the narrative and continuity of the series, the game Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise, which due to its gameplay elements and mechanics is considered a part of the Yakuza series, but a whole following another plot are not included in this list.

This is what Yakuza 0 looks like on PC:

It all started exclusively in Japan for the Yakuza series in 2008 – or was it 1605?

Every great series has its origin. It’s the same with Yakuza. However, it will be difficult for a large part to experience the real origin of the series itself. The chronological beginnings are the two spin-offs “Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan!” and “Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin!”. The former was released in March 2008 on the PlayStation 3 and is set in the year 1605. The latter was released in February 2014 for the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation 4 in the period 1866-1867. However, these two games were only released in Japan. So many fans from Europe or America are at a disadvantage here. However, since these two games are only spin-offs, there is an understandable introduction to the series.

The Beginnings of the Yakuza Main Series

The beginning of the well-known main series was first revealed to fans in March 2015. This is “Yakuza 0”, which is the origin of the well-known series and was released for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The part takes place in 1988. While this title isn’t the chronological beginning of the series, it’s a great way for fans to get into the series.

The next four installments are, appropriately enough, the first four Yakuza games in the main series. The first Yakuza game was released in December 2005 for PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and the Wii U. The action of the game takes place in the period 1995-2005. “Yakuza 2” was released in December 2006 for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and the Wii. The action also takes place in the year of the release date. Yakuza 3 was first released in February 2009 for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The action takes place in the period 2007-2009. Yakuza 4 was released in March 2010 for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The action takes place again in the game’s release year.

This is how our editors find the sixth main part of the Yakuza series:

Yakuza Order: The later course

The narrative flow of the main Yakuza series is interrupted here by two spin-offs. In September 2010, the PSP exclusive game “Kurohyō: Ryū ga Gotoku Shinshō” was released, the action of which takes place in the same year. Since this was also released exclusively in Japan, fans from Europe and North America will once again have had little contact with this title. In 2011, the part “Yakuza: Dead Souls” was released, which sets the storyline again in the same year and was released exclusively for the PlayStation 3.

From here the events of the fifth and sixth part of the main series take place. “Yakuza 5” was released in December 2012 for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and technically takes place in the same year. The sixth part “Yakuza 6: The Song of Life” was released in December 2016 for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The action takes place between 2012 and 2016.

The last three published Yakuza games and as of 2022 chronologically the last parts of the series are “Judgment”, “Yakuza: Like a Dragon” and “Lost Judgment”. Judgment was released in December 2018 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and Google Stadia and is set again in the year of release. “Yakuza: Like a Dragon” is chronologically the last part of the main series, which was released in January 2020 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series. The story goes back a year this time and takes place in 2019. Lost Judgment is a direct sequel to Judgment and was released in 2021 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series. Again, the action takes place in the year of publication.

The Yakuza order at a glance

With more than a dozen video games, it’s easy to get lost. In the following we summarize the order of the entire Yakuza series including spin-offs, again for you.

In this order all Yakuza games appeared:

1. Yakuza-2005
2. Yakuza 2 – 2006
3. Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (exclusive only in Japan) – 2008
4. Yakuza 3 – 2009
5. Yakuza 4 – 2010
6. Kurohyo: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho (Japan Exclusive) – 2010
7. Yakuza: Dead Souls – 2011
8. Yakuza 5 – 2012
9. Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (exclusive to Japan) – 2014
10. Yakuza 0 – 2015
11. Yakuza Kiwami (Remake of the first part) – 2016
12. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life – 2016
13. Yakuza Kiwami 2 (Remake of the second part) – 2017
14. Ryu ga Gotoku Online (Japan Exclusive) – 2018
15. Judgment – 2018
16. Yakuza: Like a Dragon – 2020
17. Lost Judgment – 2021

This is the order in which the storylines of the Yakuza games unfold.

1. Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (exclusive only in Japan) – 1605
2. Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (exclusive only in Japan) – 1866 to 1867
3. Yakuza 0 – 1988
4. Yakuza & Yakuza Kiwami – 1995-2005
5. Ryu ga Gotoku Online (Japan Exclusive) – 1999
6. Yakuza 2 & Yakuza Kiwami 2 – 2006
7. Yakuza 3 – 2007-2009
8. Yakuza 4 – 2010
9. Kurohyo: Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho (Japan exclusive only) – 2010
10. Yakuza: Dead Souls – 2011
11. Yakuza 5 – 2012
12. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life – 2012 to 2016
13. Judgment – 2018
14. Yakuza: Like a Dragon – 2019
15. Lost Judgment – 2021

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