Yakuza, also known as Like a Dragon, is a semi-open world action RPG crime series developed in Japan. It shares many similarities with Sega’s Shenmue series and is loaded with pop culture and side distractions. In the West, the series has mostly been considered a cult hit, and the crime series has stayed under the radar since it was first released to Western audiences in 2006.

However, this all changed with the launch of Yakuza 0, with the game selling far better than expected and earning several Game of the Year nominations. The various instalments are now launched simultaneously worldwide, and the IP has become Sega's biggest franchise aside from Sonic the Hedgehog. Most of the games are really good, as well.

Updated on February 13, 2024, by Dominic Allen: With the release of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the newest instalment in the franchise, it's a good time to update this list. Note that only the localized entries will count, so instalments that remain exclusive to Japan won't be factored in. With Infinite Wealth performing so well critically and commercially, the Yakuza franchise ain't stopping anytime soon, so this list will likely get updated for years to come.

16 Yakuza

The Rusty Original

The first game in the Yakuza series was released in 2005 in the West, and its crime story is as compelling now as it was back then. However, being the first in the series, it is seen as a diamond in the rough, especially now with the Kiwami remake available.

The game was also fully voiced in English, and despite not being bad performances, the dialogue has been accused of being overly Westernized compared to its original Japanese launch. Additionally, it’s the only game in the mainline series to be localized in this way, and it feels awkward as a result. On the plus side, you do get Mark Hamill voicing Majima, and that's pretty cool.

15 Yakuza 3

The First Tropical Entry

Yakuza 3 was the first game in the series to be released on the PlayStation 3 and told a fantastic story that let us peek at a softer side to the lead character Kiryu as he tries to leave behind the life of a gangster and run the Morning Glory Orphanage. The tropical setting of Ryukyu is a refreshing one.

Unfortunately, this entry is held back by the awkward transition in development to the newer hardware. Worse still, there is a significant amount of side content that was cut from the game, such as the hostess clubs sections and a large chunk of substories. Shortfalls aside, Yakuza 3's story is still a gripping one. Additionally, most of the cut content was added back in for the remastered version!

14 Yakuza 2

A Good Follow-Up

When played back to back, the improvements to Yakuza 2 over the original are far more noticeable than they seem on the surface. The combat is faster and smoother, and the game is filled with even more side content to keep players busy for hours.

The second entry has arguably one of the best-developed stories in the saga and featured one of the series’ best villains in Ryuji Goda. Sadly, it is starting to show its age, especially compared to the more recent titles.

13 Yakuza: Dead Souls

Yakuza With Zombies

Japan has had several Yakuza spin-offs over the years; however, Yakuza: Dead Souls was the first to make its way to Western audiences (there are still many that need to be localized over here). This game is set a year after Yakuza 4 but is not canonical to the rest of the series, and understandably so, as it features a zombie outbreak.

Look no further if you ever wanted a fun zombie shooter featuring four of your favorite characters from the Yakuza series. Kiryu, Akiyama, Majima, and Ryuji are all playable characters in this title, and there's plenty of comedy alongside the zombie slaying.

It's fun for what it is, but the performance drags down the game immensely. If you have the horsepower, you're better off playing it through RPCS3 for a more consistent framerate.

12 Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

An Amazing Side Story

Like a Dragon Gaiden is essentially the prologue for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, similar to Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes. It sets the stage for the eighth instalment, and as such, it doesn't offer a lot. You get only one real location to delve into being Sotenbori, and there's nothing really new in terms of side activities.

Even the Hell Team Rumble matches are essentially a bigger version of the tag team bouts you'd have in previous games. That said, it's still a really good Yakuza game with a great story. Writing continues to be stellar, and the ending might have you cry. It just doesn't offer anything new to the table, which is why it's quite low.

11 Yakuza 4

When The Franchise Went Big-Time

Yakuza 4 was one of the better entries to the series that launched on the PlayStation 3. The city of Kamurocho was expanded and improved upon from Yakuza 3 in every way, and no side content was cut, with exploration far more enjoyable as a result.

What some players may find jarring is the game’s story is told from the perspective of four characters. In addition to Kazama Kiryu, there’s Masayoshi Tanimura, Shun Akiyama, and Taiga Saejima. Players may take some issue with the game not opening with Kiryu and the focus on the new characters, but Yakuza 4 is still a great title in the series. (And opened up a whole new fandom crush when it came to Akiyama.)

10 Yakuza 5

The Biggest Yakuza Game

Expanding on the fourth entry’s interweaving stories and perspectives, Yakuza 5 features five characters. While this may sound like overkill, the overarching story is expertly crafted and so well put together that each character's path feels both unique and familiar.

Each character not only offers engaging gameplay and combat variety, but the expanded viewpoints also place your characters in five distinct locales. Returning are Kamurocho and Sotenbori from the first two games and three new cities to explore, which are so packed with content and self-contained that they could pass as individual games in their own right.

9 Judgment

A Great Start To The Side Series

Judgment is a Yakuza spin-off series, giving players a detective drama set in the same familiar Kamurocho district. However, unlike the Yakuza: Dead Souls spin-off launched in 2012, Judgment is canon to the Yakuza universe. Despite being its own self-contained story that stands apart from the mainline series, with its detective mechanics and new characters, Judgment is a Yakuza title in all but name.

Though some of the features felt a little clunky at times — namely tailing people and the seemingly pointless key mechanic — there's a lot to love about Judgment, and it offers an enticingly dark story to sink your teeth into. Plus, it features popular Japanese singer and actor Takuya Kimura in the lead role; what more could you want?

8 Yakuza Kiwami

The Remake Yakuza 1 Needed

Yakuza Kiwami is a remake of the first game and sets the bar for how remakes of classic games should be handled by developers from now on. Remade from the ground up with re-recorded lines from the original cast and added scenes; this is the absolute best way to experience the first game in the series.

Yakuza Kiwami was built on the same engine as Yakuza 0 and packs in many new features and content. A standout addition is the 'Majima Everywhere' side quest, which sees Goro Majima stalk Kiryu throughout the game in a variety of ways, such as using disguises and hiding spots throughout the story and initiating fights.

7 Lost Judgment

An Enormous Sequel

After the success of Judgment, it was great to see Yagami and Kaito return in kick-ass style in Lost Judgment. The sequel opened up the area, not just allowing players to explore the well-trodden streets of Kamurocho, but also utilizing the Yokohama map from Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

Lost Judgment fine-tuned a lot of the gripes that fans had with the first title and offered an even darker murder mystery story to delve into. The new side activities, like the robot battles and skateboarding, were great and a breath of fresh air. It's an improvement on Judgment in every way and even gave the fans a little something to squeal about by having a couple of small Yakuza cameos.

6 Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life

Arguably The Best Story In The Franchise

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is where Kiryu’s story originally came to its heartfelt conclusion. This entry is as dramatic as the series gets, focusing on Kiryu taking care of Haruto, the son of his adoptive daughter Haruka as she lies in a coma from a hit-and-run incident.

Fans will miss using the three fighting styles seen in Yakuza 0, but they are crafted into one seamless style that works just as well. As always, the sub-stories offer fascinating side content to explore, often yielding comical or highly emotional story threads to follow. In addition, RPG fans will also appreciate the heavier focus on stats experience points.

5 Yakuza Kiwami 2

Yakuza 2 Has Never Looked Better

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a remake of the second title in the series using the new Dragon Engine. Yakuza 2 was already a fantastic title, but this remake with tons of additional content is the definitive way to experience one of the best games in the series.

Additionally, those rightfully using Yakuza 0 as a starting point for the series will appreciate the 'Majima Saga' sub-story that helps tie both the Yakuza Kiwami titles and the prequel together in a satisfying and organic way.

4 Like A Dragon: Ishin

The Most Overlooked Entry

Ishin originally launched in Japan in 2014 and has long been lauded as one of the best titles in the series. As a result, Western fans have been begging for it to be localized for years, and 2023 is when that dream finally came true with a remake-remaster hybrid. Ishin is a special spin-off for the series, as it takes place in historical Japan.

Though there are familiar faces within the game, they're all different characters from what you know and love. For example, the protagonist has Kiryu's looks, but he's actually Ryoma Sakamoto, an actual samurai from Japan's history. For this new version, RGG Studios updated the content and character models, adding character appearances from the rest of the series as well.

3 Yakuza: Like A Dragon

A Refreshing New Start

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the seventh installment in the series, marking the end of an era in more ways than one. RGG Studios decided to mix things up with this title, changing up the genre to more of a classic RPG format with the likes of turn-based battles, changeable job roles, proper party members, and more. This is refreshing, especially compared to other triple-A RPGs at the time, and exactly what the series needed.

Like a Dragon also introduced a new area for players to explore, Yokohoma, and more importantly, features a brand new series protagonist — Ichiban Kasuga, replacing fan-favorite Kiryu as the new face of the Yakuza series. Ichiban's no Raiden because he's an awesome character in his own right and incredibly likable.

2 Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

A Perfect Sequel

Infinite Wealth took Yakuza: Like a Dragon and improved nearly every aspect. You have two main characters again, two massive maps to explore, and a plethora of side activities that make this game feel like the biggest entry in years.

All the content as well is so rich in quality, minus Dondoko Island, which won't be for everyone. The story is exceptional, being a fantastic ending to Kiryu's saga, and even the turn-based RPG mechanics are improved. Infinite Wealth remains the highest-rated instalment in the franchise for a damn good reason because it's top tier.

1 Yakuza 0

Great Combat, Great Story, Great Everything

Yakuza 0 is a prequel, and as such, it's the perfect starting point for newcomers to get into the series. The game’s story is played from the perspectives of the series’ main character Kiryu, who explores his early days as a young member of the Yakuza, and shares the limelight with a young Goro Majima before his Mad Dog days.

Yakuza 0 is booming in '80s goodness, so throw in the ability to visit and play some of Sega’s arcade classics like OutRun, Super Hang-On, and Space Harrier in-game, and you may have arguably the best '80s video game ever made. Everyone needs to play this game. It has the same setting and stylized story that fans have come to know and love but may have the deepest and most involved storyline in the series to date.