Current Events > What order to play the Yakuza games in?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Seeing that there are a bunch on GamePass and some are not numbered, what order should they be played in?
Is GamePass missing any game?
How does Like a Dragon fit in it?
Are there spinoffs?
Do I really need to learn that tiles game whateveritisnamed that had a manga with SSJ Hitler?
Help me Obi Wan CyricZ!

0 -> K1 -> K2 -> 3 -> ... -> 6 -> 7 aka Like a Dragon -> 8 aka Infinite Wealth

is my understanding. The others are spin-off games

Release order tbh. That way you can enjoy the games and see how they improve game on game. If you go with the recent ones first I imagine itll be hard to go back to the older ones.

teep_ posted...

0 -> K1 -> K2 -> 3 -> ... -> 6 -> 7 aka Like a Dragon -> 8 aka Infinite Wealth

is my understanding. The others are spin-off games

Pretty much this but insert Gaiden between 7 and 8

The jump from K2 to 3 will feel bad but just power through it

Play Judgment after 6 and Lost Judgment after 7.

teep_ posted...

0 -> K1 -> K2 -> 3 -> ... -> 6 -> 7 aka Like a Dragon -> 8 aka Infinite Wealth

is my understanding. The others are spin-off games

This except throw in Gaiden after 7. If you want to play the Judgment series, you can play it probably anytime before Gaiden. I recommend Judgment before 7 and Lost Judgment after 7, but it's not that big of a deal.

The only other option is release order. However, the games have sort of pivoted around Zero and Kiwami. Even in retrospect, they make the stories in 3, 4,and 5 more meaningful because they know what to emphasize and expect. Going from K2 to 3 will feel weird, but it's a great game in it's own right. It just takes some getting used to.

I was someone just like you. I started with Kiwami 1, but I wish I had started with Zero since it set up the entire franchise really nicely. I just went through the entire series (including Judgment, Ishin, and even Fist of the North Star) and it's an incredible ride. Finishing Infinite Wealth earlier this year felt amazing.

K1 > 0 > K2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > Gaiden > 8

Kaldrenthebold posted...

K1 > 0 > K2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > Gaiden > 8

No, 0 first. K1 has plot points that continue on from 0 (like the pocket circuit racing)

The chronological order of the main series is:

Yakuza 0
Yakuza Kiwami (a remake of the first game)
Yakuza Kiwami 2 (a remake of the second game)
Yakuza 3
Yakuza 4
Yakuza 5
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

How does Like a Dragon fit in it?

"Like a Dragon" is the current series name in the west. It's just replacing the series title. In Japan, the series has always been known as "Like a Dragon".

Are there spinoffs?

Yes. First, there is the Judgment series of two games.

• Judgment takes place after Yakuza 6 but references very little from that game.
• Lost Judgment takes place after Yakuza: Like a Dragon and references an unavoidable plot point from that game, but it's not remotely the biggest spoiler of that game.

Honestly the Judgment series can be a good entry point to the series if you want a more modern game to start with.

There's also Yakuza: Dead Souls, a tough-to-get spinoff from the PS3 which is set between Yakuza 4 and Yakuza 5 but is non-canon and is about zombies. Don't worry about that one until you're WAY deep into the series.

There are also some entirely unrelated spinoffs:
Like a Dragon Ishin! is a spinoff set in the 1800's where you play as historical characters that have faces from the main series.

Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is another spinoff only available on the PS4 which is ostensibly just a Fist of the North Star game in the Yakuza style, only many of the characters in the game use Yakuza series voice actors.

Do I really need to learn that tiles game whateveritisnamed that had a manga with SSJ Hitler?

Mahjong is a fun game and if you want to learn how to play I can teach you. If you want to teach yourself, check out Mahjong Soul as it has a decent tutorial.

Is GamePass missing any game?

I don't think so, but granted I'm not on GamePass so I can't confirm. There was a time where some of the games dropped off GamePass but they might be back on?

DKBananaSlamma posted...

No, 0 first. K1 has plot points that continue on from 0 (like the pocket circuit racing)

K1 is the worst in the series, it is better to start that one and then go to 0 to get the context and fully enjoy the improvements. It's what I did and it is what I recommend to everyone asking.

Question your own motives if you feel telling someone "start with the worst game in the series" is a good idea.

(It's not even the worst, IMO, and even then "worst" in terms of this series is a matter of 7/10.)

CyricZ posted...

Question your own motives if you feel telling someone "start with the worst game in the series" is a good idea.

(It's not even the worst, IMO, and even then "worst" in terms of this series is a matter of 7/10.)

Why? Start with the most basic and least fun then go up from there. As you said, even the worst in the series is not the worst game ever, K1 just feels very tedious and has the worst boss fights in the series. I was perfectly fine going from K1 to 0 and the added context was nice. TC asked for an opinion of order and I gave mine, which is the same path that I took.

Only time I got burnt out was the end of 4 / all of 5. Otherwise I blitzed through all of them cause they are so great. K2 is my favorite of the series, more than 0. But I guess if you want to start with one of the best and then suffer through K1 that's an option too.

Kaldrenthebold posted...

K1 is the worst in the series, it is better to start that one and then go to 0 to get the context and fully enjoy the improvements. It's what I did and it is what I recommend to everyone asking.

It's what I did as well and I recommend the opposite. Kiwami is a sequel to Zero and follows up on a lot of story beats. It was weird when playing Zero and being like "Oh, that is why Kiryu already knows this person." It would have flowed a bit better the other way around.

It's not going to ruin anything, but it really did not feel right. Plus, moving into K2 directly after K1 would feel better too I imagine. I realize Zero is the better game, but it's also better than the entire rest of the series.

KlownArt posted...

It's what I did as well and I recommend the opposite. Kiwami is a sequel to Zero and follows up on a lot of story beats. It was weird when playing Zero and being like "Oh, that is why Kiryu already knows this person." It would have flowed a bit better the other way around.

It's not going to ruin anything, but it really did not feel right. Plus, moving into K2 directly after K1 would feel better too I imagine. I realize Zero is the better game, but it's also better than the entire rest of the series.

Hell my big issue with 0 is DAMMIT they never actually meet until the final scene!

I've beaten all of them going K1 > 0 > K2 ... 7, and K1 was by far my least favorite due to just how awful some of the boss fights are. The penultimate fight is the worst in the series, I hated it that much.

Starting with 0 or K1 is fine, I'm just giving my own opinion about it. I would assume 3 is regarded as the weakest in the series but frankly I really enjoyed the story even if the gameplay was a bit dated.

Kaldrenthebold posted...

I've beaten all of them going K1 > 0 > K2 ... 7, and K1 was by far my least favorite due to just how awful some of the boss fights are. The penultimate fight is the worst in the series, I hated it that much.

You are typing these words out and in the previous breath trying to convince new players to start with it.

I know of people who started the series with Kiwami and stopped because of the Chapter 3 boss fight and how they couldn't get through it.

You have to get out of the mindset of someone who believes everyone is just guaranteed to play every game in a series. Very few people have that kind of time.

Some people start with 0 and skip to 7. Some people literally play 0 and stop, and that's fine, so long as they get to experience some of the best the series has to offer.

Don't recommend people start a series at the worst game to "just get it over with" because these games are LARGE GAMES.

CyricZ posted...

You are typing these words out and in the previous breath trying to convince new players to start with it.

I know of people who started the series with Kiwami and stopped because of the Chapter 3 boss fight and how they couldn't get through it.

You have to get out of the mindset of someone who believes everyone is just guaranteed to play every game in a series. Very few people have that kind of time.

Some people start with 0 and skip to 7. Some people literally play 0 and stop, and that's fine, so long as they get to experience some of the best the series has to offer.

Don't recommend people start a series at the worst game to "just get it over with" because these games are LARGE GAMES.

Fair enough. K1 is the smallest of them all and isn't that long in the end, and the story clearly sets up the franchise since you deal with the ramifications of it throughout the rest of the series. I actually started with 3 on the PS3 but didn't "get it". I picked up K1 on sale many years later and then I got it, which started a rather large Yakuza addiction that was perfectly timed with the remastered collection coming out.

Start with 0 then TC, CyricZ is the go-to Yakuza guy in the end.

Kaldrenthebold posted...

K1 is the worst in the series, it is better to start that one and then go to 0 to get the context and fully enjoy the improvements. It's what I did and it is what I recommend to everyone asking.

Nah, if I started with K1 first, I'd be like "fuck this shitty series". 0's high is what kept me hooked

they have numbers and the numbered games move in a forward timeline. start with 0.

Oh, l thought Kiwami was a spinoff.
Thanks.

I played Like a Dragon first, and found it to be an excellent introduction to the series. And I know a lot of people say to start the mainline games at 0, but personally played 0 last and was glad I did because it makes a lot of references you won't get if it's your first. Also, it's really tough going from 0 to Kiwami 1 because K1 feels super dated.

Kiwami 1 is definitely the worst in the series

don't play Yakuza games back to back

it's the easiest way to get burnt out/lose interest on them

Anytime : Yakuza 7 (Yakuza like a dragon)

Ideal order

K1 > 0 > K2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > Gaiden > 8

If you prefer turn based rpg over brawler, you might want to consider 7. That's what I did and I went back to old entries

SSJGrimReaper posted...

don't play Yakuza games back to back

it's the easiest way to get burnt out/lose interest on them

Also this. I would say play another game between every Yakuza or wait a month and you can slowly catch up in a year or 2. Take it slow and pace yourself: they arent gonna go anywhere

Yakuza 5 especially. I needed a couple months before and after that game to relax because of how fucking beefy that game is. But it was really good

DipDipDiver posted...

I played Like a Dragon first, and found it to be an excellent introduction to the series.

This is also valid.

Don't get me wrong. 0 is my first choice, but there are other good choices for where to start the series. Heck, I started at 4.

The "most correct" answer is to time travel back to 2005 so you can play every game in order as it comes out so you don't get burnout.

Yes, 0 has sly reference to future games, and a lot of people got a lot of emotions given how certain established characters are "different" in 0, but personally, I think it's fascinating to see people who started with these characters in 0, then learn what they become later. It's still a valid experience.

SSJGrimReaper posted...

don't play Yakuza games back to back

This is different for everyone. Some people are demons. I usually don't tell people this because we're all adults and know what we can personally handle.

You can always go back and replay 0 after you play 5 and see all the references you missed.

DKBananaSlamma posted...

Yakuza 5 especially. I needed a couple months before and after that game to relax because of how fucking beefy that game is. But it was really good

It's apparently the longest according to how long to beat. Why is that?

epik_fail1 posted...

It's apparently the longest according to how long to beat. Why is that?

Because there's 5 playable characters, each with their own city and their own lengthy side story (ie: Saejima has hunting in the mountains, Kiryu has taxi driving missions, etc.). It really feels like they jammed 4 or 5 half-sized Yakuza games into 1. It was very ambitious, maybe a little too much sometimes. I had fun with it: it's just overwhelming at times.

I played the whole series back to back and the only time I felt burnt out was in the middle of 5 because it meanders so much. Aside from that I loved the continuity of playing them one after another, and each game changed things up just enough to keep it from feeling too repetitive.

DipDipDiver posted...

I played the whole series back to back and the only time I felt burnt out was in the middle of 5 because it meanders so much. Aside from that I loved the continuity of playing them one after another, and each game changed things up just enough to keep it from feeling too repetitive.

Yeah I enjoyed them all but 5 is probably my least favorite in terms of pacing. Good god does the middle of the game kill your drive.

Kaldrenthebold posted...

Start with 0 then TC, CyricZ is the go-to Yakuza guy in the end.

agreed. the guides are useful.

for 0 if you can power through baseball and mahjong. the platinum is obtainable.
even better if have good reflex in hitting the ball.

i noted to myself to save judgment and lost judgment to the end of the series (despite wanting to start them early).

Kaldrenthebold posted...

Yeah I enjoyed them all but 5 is probably my least favorite in terms of pacing. Good god does the middle of the game kill your drive.

Saejima's part in 5 is pretty bad but I liked the rest of it.

2 chapters in jail, 1 chapter in the mountains, then the final chapter in his city but the city sucks and you cant move anywhere without getting into a million fights.

He has the best hostess in the series tho >_>

Kaldrenthebold posted...

Yeah I enjoyed them all but 5 is probably my least favorite in terms of pacing. Good god does the middle of the game kill your drive.

I thought 5 had some really cool ideas, but yeah it was a bit much

I am doing kiwami 1 right now and I unlocked only 1 substory. Did I do something wrong?

Ruddager posted...

Pretty much this but insert Gaiden between 7 and 8

The jump from K2 to 3 will feel bad but just power through it

And just play 3 on easy. otherwise youll probably just give up on Blockfest.

epik_fail1 posted...

I am doing kiwami 1 right now and I unlocked only 1 substory. Did I do something wrong?

i don't think so. substory's unlock in each chapter?. some aren't unlocked till you finish a particular substory.

kingdrake2 posted...

i don't think so. substory's unlock in each chapter?. some aren't unlocked till you finish a particular substory.

I am at chapter 4 and there's apparently only 13 chapters

Does anyone else not really bother with the Amon fights? I usually give him like 2 or 3 good tries, but his fights are almost always built around some frustrating gimmick and by that point in the game I don't have the patience to deal with it. I think I've beaten him in two of the games

epik_fail1 posted...

I am at chapter 4

there's supposed to be a good chunk of them available soon as you reach a certain point within the chapter.

seems only 1 is available after chapter 2.

DKBananaSlamma posted...

Saejima's part in 5 is pretty bad but I liked the rest of it.

2 chapters in jail, 1 chapter in the mountains, then the final chapter in his city but the city sucks and you cant move anywhere without getting into a million fights.

He has the best hostess in the series tho >_>

It also doesn't help that Saejima in 4 has an extremely similar story beat so it's like, oh this AGAIN?

Then it ends and you play as Haruka doing idol stuff which is where I really got held up. Doesn't help that it isn't difficult but you just play the same damn song over and over again.

kingdrake2 posted...

there's supposed to be a good chunk of them available soon as you reach a certain point within the chapter.

seems only 1 is available after chapter 2.

How do I "detect" them?

epik_fail1 posted...

How do I "detect" them?

non spoiler way: make a backup save. continue through the chapter and try to find them yourself

spoiler way: use guide to locate as they appear.

DipDipDiver posted...

Does anyone else not really bother with the Amon fights? I usually give him like 2 or 3 good tries, but his fights are almost always built around some frustrating gimmick and by that point in the game I don't have the patience to deal with it. I think I've beaten him in two of the games

i usually never meet the requirements to get to him anyway because all Yakuza games have some substories that require you learn irl games like shogi or mahjong

If you're looking for substories in Kiwami, get some Completion Points and give them to Bob at the south end of Tenakichi St. for the "Trouble Finder" accessory.

CyricZ posted...

If you're looking for substories in Kiwami, get some Completion Points and give them to Bob at the south end of Tenakichi St. for the "Trouble Finder" accessory.

Thank you.

That said. Do they get more interesting? My limited experience makes me believe that they are likely to be a lot worse than Y0 and Y7/IW

SSJGrimReaper posted...

i usually never meet the requirements to get to him anyway because all Yakuza games have some substories that require you learn irl games like shogi or mahjong

Only Kiwami 2 requires you to use Mahjong for a substory and you can just use a cheat item to bypass it >_> I cant think of any Shogi substories in the series

DKBananaSlamma posted...

Only Kiwami 2 requires you to use Mahjong for a substory and you can just use a cheat item to bypass it >_> I cant think of any Shogi substories in the series

I'm convinced Mahjong isn't real and it is just an elaborate joke on us.

SSJGrimReaper posted...

i usually never meet the requirements to get to him anyway because all Yakuza games have some substories that require you learn irl games like shogi or mahjong

Any shogi requirements, and I can't think of any for Amon, can be easy to look up and mahjong is fun and like someone say for the substory that need it in kiwami 2, you can use a cheat item.

CyricZ posted...

If you're looking for substories in Kiwami, get some Completion Points and give them to Bob at the south end of Tenakichi St. for the "Trouble Finder" accessory.

this 100%. note: 7 substories are missable in kiwami (do them first when they appear).

now i want to play kiwami. gawd damnit. gotta stay on track.