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For a first playthrough, use this spoiler-aware route: Yakuza Kiwami, Yakuza Kiwami 2, Yakuza 3 or Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, Yakuza 4, Yakuza 5, Yakuza 0, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Like a Dragon Gaiden, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, then the optional Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. If you care only about the story timeline, begin with Yakuza 0 and continue through the numbered games. The chronological route is valid, but the release-aware route usually gives character reveals and callbacks their intended context.
What order should I play the Yakuza games in?
The best default for a new player is a remake-first, release-aware sequence. It follows the central Kiryu story in a coherent progression, uses the practical modern versions of the first two games, and postpones the prequel until its connections can land with more context.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Yakuza Remastered Collection Standard Edition (PS4) | $25.93 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Yakuza Remastered Collection (Playstation 4) | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Yakuza: Like A Dragon - Xbox Series X | $15.88 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Yakuza 4 - Playstation 3 | $35.55 | Buy on Amazon |
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Recommended first-playthrough sequence
- Yakuza Kiwami — A modern remake of the first Yakuza story.
- Yakuza Kiwami 2 — The remake of the second mainline story.
- Yakuza 3 or Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties — Choose the remastered original or the newer remake. Kiwami 3 also contains the separate Dark Ties story.
- Yakuza 4 — Continues the main saga after Yakuza 3.
- Yakuza 5 — The next numbered chapter and the natural bridge to the later games.
- Yakuza 0 — An optional prequel placed here to preserve a release-era experience while still letting its backstory enrich what you have already seen.
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life — The conclusion of Kiryu’s principal numbered arc.
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon — The Ichiban-led beginning of the new mainline chapter, also known as Like a Dragon 7 in Japan.
- Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name — A side story that overlaps events around Like a Dragon; play it after that game so its viewpoint and reveals make sense.
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth — Follows Like a Dragon and expands the newer ensemble.
- Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii — A Majima-led spin-off placed after Infinite Wealth in the commonly used franchise chronology.
This is an editorial order, not an official sequence mandated by SEGA. SEGA’s official lineup identifies the series entries, remakes and release groupings, while the placement of Gaiden and Pirate Yakuza relies on a secondary chronology reference.
Why the release-aware route works
It protects the way reveals were designed to land
The numbered games introduce people, relationships and historical events in stages. Playing a prequel first can make later references feel familiar before the original story has earned that familiarity. Starting with Kiwami and Kiwami 2 lets you meet the central characters in the modern retellings, then move through the numbered saga without jumping backward in tone or presentation.
#1 Best Overall
- Complete the journey of the Dragon: the Yakuza remastered collection brings the final missing chapters in Kiryu's story to the PlayStation 4. From Yakuza 0 to Yakuza 6: the song of life, players can now experience the full story of the Dragon of Dojima, all on a single platform
- remastered and refreshed: all three games in the collection have received impressive graphical and performance upgrades, from 720p at 30FPS to 1080p at 60FPS and have also gone through a rigorous re-localization process. Missing content from the original Western releases has been re-added to the remastered versions, and the full English scripts have been reviewed, revised, and had portions rewritten for accuracy alongside the original Japanese releases
- Playstation 4
It uses the practical versions of the opening stories
Kiwami and Kiwami 2 retell the first two games rather than replacing the overall continuity with unrelated stories. For most new players, they are easier entry points than locating the original releases. Players who already own or prefer the remastered original Yakuza 3 can use it instead of Kiwami 3; the story position is the same.
It gives Yakuza 0 more context
Yakuza 0 is the prequel and belongs at the beginning of the broad timeline. It was nevertheless released after Yakuza 5, so placing it after 5 in a remake-first run preserves much of the release-era perspective while still allowing its history to deepen your understanding before Yakuza 6.
Should I play in release order or chronological order?
| Choice | Starting point | How Yakuza 0 is handled | What happens with remakes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release-aware first playthrough | Kiwami | After Yakuza 5, before Yakuza 6 | Use Kiwami and Kiwami 2; choose Kiwami 3 or the remastered Yakuza 3 | New players who want reveals and callbacks in a familiar progression |
| Strict broad chronology | Yakuza 0 | First, because it is the prequel | Follow with Kiwami, Kiwami 2 and Kiwami 3 or Yakuza 3 | Players who prioritize in-universe chronology over release context |
| Completionist route | Kiwami or Yakuza 0 | Include it either at the start or after Yakuza 5 | Play both a preferred remake and any original or remastered edition only if you want to compare versions | Returning players and fans exploring alternate editions |
Neither route is objectively wrong. Choose release-aware play if you want the historical experience of discovering the saga as its later games referenced earlier ones. Choose chronology if you would rather know the earliest events first and accept that a prequel can change the emotional effect of later introductions.
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For the broad story timeline, use this sequence. The two remake choices occupy the same narrative positions as their respective original games.
1. Yakuza 0
This is the earliest mainline story in the timeline and the clearest chronological entry. It follows the younger versions of key characters before the events of the first game.
2. Yakuza Kiwami
Continue with the remake of the first Yakuza story. If you began with 0, this is where the prequel’s background starts feeding directly into the main saga.
3. Yakuza Kiwami 2
Move to the remake of the second game. It advances the central conflict while retaining the series’ established characters and setting.
Rank #2
- Inkl. die Spiele Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4 und Yakuza 5
- Alle drei Spiele in der Sammlung haben beeindruckende Grafik- und Leistungsverbesserungen von 720p bei 30 fps auf 1080p bei 60 fps erhalten
- The Yakuza Remastered Collection kommt mit einem auffälligen roten Inlay welches mit Kiryus Drachentattoo verziert ist
4. Yakuza 3 or Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties
Play the remastered original Yakuza 3 or the remake. Kiwami 3 is the newer option and adds Dark Ties as a separate story rather than merely reproducing the original campaign.
5. Yakuza 4
The fourth numbered entry follows Yakuza 3 in the timeline. Keep it before Yakuza 5 regardless of which edition you used for the earlier games.
6. Yakuza 5
This is the next mainline chapter and should precede Yakuza 6. It also marks the point after which a release-aware player may insert Yakuza 0 instead of starting with it.
7. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Yakuza 6 follows the events of the fifth game and closes the main numbered portion of Kiryu’s story.
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8. Yakuza: Like a Dragon
After Yakuza 6, begin the Ichiban-led era with Yakuza: Like a Dragon, called Like a Dragon 7 in Japan. Its new lead and role-playing structure make it a clear handoff to the next mainline chapter.
9. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
Gaiden’s story overlaps the period around Like a Dragon. A strict timeline can place scenes alongside that game, but playing Gaiden afterward is safer because it assumes you understand the seventh game’s events and viewpoint.
10. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Infinite Wealth follows Like a Dragon and is the next principal numbered-style entry in the modern series.
Rank #3
- Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking grunt of a low-ranking yakuza family in Tokyo, faces an 18-year prison sentence after taking the fall for a crime he didn't commit.
- Never losing faith, he loyally serves his time and returns to society to discover that no one was waiting for him on the outside, and his clan has been destroyed by the man he respected most.
- Confused and alone, he embarks on a mission to discover the truth behind his family's betrayal and take his life back, becoming an unlikely hero for the city’s outcasts on his journey.
- Experience dynamic RPG combat like none other. Switch between 19 unique Jobs ranging from Bodyguard to Musician, and use the battlefield your weapon. Take up bats, umbrellas, bikes, street signs, and everything else at your disposal to crack some skulls!
- When you're not busy bashing heads, relax by hitting up the local arcade for classic SEGA games, compete with locals in a no holds barred go-kart race around Yokohama, complete 50 substories, or just take in the scenery of a modern-day Japanese city.
11. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
The secondary franchise chronology places this Majima-led spin-off after Infinite Wealth. Treat it as optional rather than as a required numbered chapter.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhat are Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties?
SEGA’s announcement describes Yakuza Kiwami 3 as a reimagining of the 2009 Yakuza 3 and confirms that it includes a new, separate Dark Ties story. The game became available on February 12, 2026, and SEGA’s release notice lists PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and Steam.
Where it belongs
Place Kiwami 3 in the same slot as Yakuza 3: after Kiwami 2 and before Yakuza 4. You do not need to play both versions to understand the main story.
Which version should a new player choose?
- Choose Kiwami 3 if you want the current remake presentation and the additional Dark Ties campaign.
- Choose the remastered Yakuza 3 if you already own it, prefer its original form, or want to preserve the older version’s presentation.
- Do not treat Dark Ties as a replacement for Yakuza 3. It is an additional story bundled with the remake, so the main Yakuza 3 campaign remains the relevant chronological chapter.
How to handle Gaiden without spoiling yourself
Gaiden is the most confusing placement because it is neither a simple sequel nor an unrelated side story. Its events overlap the period covered by Like a Dragon. The safest practical order is:
- Finish Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
- Play Like a Dragon Gaiden.
- Continue to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
This order avoids asking you to interrupt a campaign to chase an overlapping perspective. It also gives Gaiden’s returning-character material the context it expects. A chronology purist may map portions of Gaiden alongside Like a Dragon, but that is less useful for a first playthrough.
Where Pirate Yakuza and other spin-offs fit
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
Pirate Yakuza is an optional Majima-focused adventure. The commonly referenced franchise chronology places it after Infinite Wealth, so play Infinite Wealth first if you want its position and character context to remain intact.
Judgment and Lost Judgment
Judgment and Lost Judgment share the broader Like a Dragon universe but are not required to follow the mainline order above. The available evidence does not establish a sufficiently precise, spoiler-safe placement for inserting them between the numbered games. Keep them as a separate optional branch rather than interrupting the main sequence.
Rank #4
- Get lost in the infamous "sin-city district" of Tokyo, as you walk and fight in back alleys, main streets, city rooftops and underground areas
- Discover and experience Tokyo's adult nightlife including hostess bars, karaoke pickup bars, massage parlors, and pachinko palaces
- Additional activities include: video arcades, golf and bowling, batting cages, pool and darts, blackjack, Texas hold’em and more
- Experience a deep and twisting crime story where you play all four characters
- Take on all challengers with a deeper fighting system and new street chase functionality
Ishin and other side projects
Ishin Kiwami and other historical, arcade or crossover projects are optional. They may reuse faces, themes or names, but they are not required steps in the main Kiryu-to-Ichiban progression. Play them when you want a self-contained detour, not because the central order requires them.
Platform and edition notes
SEGA’s official catalog is the best place to verify a title’s identity, release grouping and listed systems: the Like a Dragon lineup. Platform availability varies by entry and edition, so check the specific product listing for the device you own rather than assuming every game in the sequence is on the same systems.
For the newest remake, the February 12, 2026 release notice lists PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. That platform list applies to Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, not automatically to every earlier game.
Three practical ways to plan your playthrough
Plan A: First-time player who wants the safest order
- Start with Kiwami.
- Continue through Kiwami 2, Yakuza 3 or Kiwami 3, Yakuza 4 and Yakuza 5.
- Play Yakuza 0 as the prequel interlude.
- Finish Kiryu’s arc with Yakuza 6.
- Switch to Ichiban with Like a Dragon.
- Play Gaiden, then Infinite Wealth.
- Add Pirate Yakuza afterward if you want the Majima spin-off.
Plan B: Timeline-first player
- Begin with Yakuza 0.
- Use Kiwami, Kiwami 2 and Kiwami 3 or Yakuza 3 for the next three chapters.
- Continue through Yakuza 4, Yakuza 5 and Yakuza 6.
- Play Like a Dragon, Gaiden, Infinite Wealth and then Pirate Yakuza.
Plan C: Returning player replacing only older editions
Keep your existing sequence and substitute Kiwami 3 for Yakuza 3 when you reach that chapter. There is no story-order advantage to replaying both versions back-to-back; do that only if comparing their presentation or the added Dark Ties material.
Common order mistakes to avoid
- Starting with Infinite Wealth: It follows Like a Dragon, so you will miss the setup for the Ichiban-led era and its returning characters.
- Putting Gaiden before Like a Dragon: The overlapping structure makes that tempting, but the later game supplies context that makes Gaiden easier to follow.
- Treating Yakuza 0 as mandatory first: It is the chronological beginning, not the only correct starting point. A release-aware player can place it after Yakuza 5.
- Playing every spin-off before continuing: Judgment, Lost Judgment, Ishin and Pirate Yakuza are optional branches. They should not delay the mainline games unless you specifically want their side stories.
- Assuming a remake changes the order: Kiwami, Kiwami 2 and Kiwami 3 occupy the same story positions as the games they reimagine.
- Buying by title alone: Confirm the exact edition and platform, especially for Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, whose listed systems are PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and Steam.
How large is the series?
The scale of the franchise is useful context but does not change the order. SEGA reported that Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth shipped to retailers and sold digitally to consumers at a combined total of one million units in its first seven days in 2024, describing it at that time as the fastest-selling title in the series. The figure includes physical units shipped and downloadable units sold across platforms: SEGA’s announcement.
In its February 12, 2026 release notice for Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, SEGA said the franchise had surpassed 27.7 million standalone game sales worldwide: the release notice. These are franchise-scale figures, not a recommendation to add any particular side game to your playthrough.
Bottom line for your first playthrough
Start with Kiwami and Kiwami 2, move through Yakuza 3 or Kiwami 3, 4 and 5, then use Yakuza 0 as a prequel before Yakuza 6. Follow with Like a Dragon, Gaiden and Infinite Wealth; finish with Pirate Yakuza only if you want the optional Majima adventure. Start with Yakuza 0 instead when strict story chronology matters more to you than the order in which the series originally revealed its history.
Quick Recap
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