Originally launched as a PlayStation 2 sport, Yakuza (generally known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) spawns a prolonged collection that follows the steps of Kiryu Kazuma, a member of one of the essential yakuza households (the Dojima household, underneath 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 popularity solely appears to extend because of the a number of localized re-releases and new video games. In this text, you’ll discover a chronology of the collection in case you’re occupied with enjoying every entry from the very starting.
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How Many Yakuza Games Are There?
Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku studio have launched 8 major Yakuza video games and two remakes because the collection’ debut in 2005. They have been initially PlayStation-exclusive titles, however they have been later ported to Xbox and PC, with each new sport since Yakuza: Like a Dragon releasing concurrently for each system except Nintendo Switch.
However, Yakuza is a collection recognized for having a number of and extensively totally 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 Portable, and so they function Tatsuya Ukyo, a very 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: Dead Souls, which options the basic forged of characters in a dystopic setting. Yakuza Online is a free-to-play TCG obtainable on cellular and PC during which you play as Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. The common Japanese collection Fist of the North Star obtained the Yakuza therapy when the studio developed the online game Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise, which shares Kiryu’s video games’ construction and gameplay components.
Finally, there are two spin-off video games which might be set in older Japanese eras and have historic figures as their major 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 aspect notice, it’s price 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 Games in Chronological Order
Beware of spoilers for the tales, characters, and related occasions of every sport within the checklist beneath.
1. Yakuza 0 (2014)
The sixth launched sport is definitely the primary Yakuza in terms of its chronology. In Yakuza 0, we play as a two protagonists. The first one is a younger Kiryu Kazuma within the late Eighties, who’s being framed for a homicide arrange by one among his lieutenants within the Dojima household. The purpose behind this has to do with an ‘Empty Slot’, the place the obvious homicide occurred. This is a bit 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 lady named Makoto for unknown causes — it’s later revealed that she’s the official 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 first Yakuza sport stars Kiryu Kazuma as its solely protagonist after he goes to jail as a result of 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 purpose 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 center of this, Kiryu meets Haruka, the daughter of a lady named Mizuki. Haruka has a pendant that appears to be a key ingredient associated to the misplaced cash. Also, Nishikiyama shoots Kiryu’s former captain and adoptive father, turning into an antagonistic power.
During 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. However, 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 useless and Kiryu seems to be for Daigo Dojima, son of Sohei Dojima, to make him the brand new chairman of the clan.
While serving to Daigo, Kiryu meets Ryuji Goda, the son of the Omi chairman, and so they grow to be enemies as a result of Ryuji doesn’t desire a truce with the Tojo Clan. Another 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 first entry launched on PlayStation 3, Yakuza 3 presents an uncommon starting with Kiryu far-off from the yakuza life-style. Instead, he’s taking good care of an Orphanage in Okinawa referred to as Morning Glory Orphanage. He’s assisted by Haruka, and he takes care of many new youngsters dwelling there.
Unfortunately, peace doesn’t final for lengthy. Our protagonist has to face a number of troubles with totally 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 sort of story to comply with. This remains to be a story of households, betrayals, and crimes, however on this chance, it’s proven from the eyes of 4 protagonists.
Apart from our well-known Kiryu Kazyuma, three different new faces be part of the streets of Kamurocho. The first 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 lady 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 seems to be 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. While doing so, he meets Lily, who is definitely Saejima’s sister, and he or she’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.
Ultimately, 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 acquired 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 largest sport within the collection.
First you comply with Kiryu, who left Kamurocho and moved to Fukuoka with out Haruka, leaving his orphanage behind. As typical, 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 useless. In the meantime, Haruka is already a youngster and he or she’s following her dream of turning into a J-Pop Idol. Things get difficult when the president of her expertise company, Mirei Park, is discovered useless, with what looks like a staged suicide. Returning protagonist Akiyama seems to assist Haruka be taught 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 essential match. A mysterious man, who’s really Daigo, will meet Shinada and ask him to search out out what actually occurred all these years in the past.
7. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016)
Yakuza 6: The Song 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. At the top 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 as a result of an obvious automobile accident, and he or she 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.
While discovering clues, essential characters like Daigo, Saejima, and Majima are imprisoned, and the rival teams of the Chinese Saio Triad and the Jingweon Mafia want 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 primary protagonist isn’t 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 person is searching for 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 an alternative 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 referred to as Yu Nanba heals his wounds. This is the start line for our new protagonist, who will meet a number of new faces for his social gathering. The new group will attempt to uncover the explanation behind Arakawa’s play, and they’ll face three felony teams whereas doing so: the Yokohama Liumang, the Geomijul Mafia, and the Seiryu Clan.
How to Play the Yakuza Games By Release Date
- Yakuza (2005)
- Yakuza 2 (2006)
- Yakuza 3 (2009)
- Yakuza 4 (2010)
- Yakuza 5 (2012)
- Yakuza 0 (2015)
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016)
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2020)
What’s Next for Yakuza?
It looks like 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 Name, which has a launch date for someday in 2023, and Like a Dragon 8, which is scheduled for 2024. The former will concentrate on Kiryu and what occurred to him after Yakuza 6, whereas the latter will proceed Ichiban’s story, however with Kiryu additionally having a serious position within the plot.
