Understanding the Yakuza Saga in Chronological Order
The Like a Dragon series (formerly known as Yakuza in Western regions) is one of gaming's most celebrated story-driven franchises. Created by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega, the narrative spans several decades of crime, betrayal, loyalty, and redemption across Kamurocho, Yokohama, Osaka, and beyond.
While players can jump into release order, playing through the chronological timeline provides an unparalleled narrative payoff. Below is the ultimate chronological timeline of the mainline games and major spin-offs.
1. Yakuza 0 (Set in 1988)
The story begins during Japan's bubble economy era in December 1988. Yakuza 0 serves as a prequel to the entire franchise and introduces a 20-year-old Kazuma Kiryu, a low-level enforcer blamed for a murder on a coveted plot of land known as the Empty Lot. Simultaneously, Goro Majima operates a cabaret club in Sotenbori while seeking reinstatement into the Tojo Clan. This title lays the foundation for their legendary dynamic and character motivations.
2. Yakuza Kiwami / Yakuza (Set in 1995 / 2005)
The events of Yakuza Kiwami (the modern remake of the original Yakuza) begin in 1995 when Kiryu takes the blame for a crime committed by his oath brother, Akira Nishikiyama. After serving ten years in prison, Kiryu emerges in 2005 to find Kamurocho in chaos following the theft of 10 billion yen from the Tojo Clan. Kiryu protects a young orphan named Haruka Sawamura, whose past holds the key to the missing money.
3. Yakuza Kiwami 2 / Yakuza 2 (Set in 2006)
Set one year after the events of the original title, Yakuza Kiwami 2 finds Kiryu trying to live a peaceful life with Haruka. However, an assassination forces him back into underworld diplomacy to prevent an all-out war between Tokyo's Tojo Clan and Osaka's Omi Alliance. Kiryu clashes with Ryuji Goda, the fierce Dragon of Kansai, while forming a connection with detective Kaoru Sayama.
4. Yakuza 3 (Set in 2007–2009)
In Yakuza 3, Kiryu retires from clan politics and moves to Okinawa to run the Morning Glory Orphanage alongside Haruka. His peaceful life is disrupted when land deals involving politicians and the Tojo Clan threaten the orphanage's survival. Kiryu returns to Kamurocho to protect his new family and preserve his sanctuary.
5. Yakuza 4 (Set in 2010)
Yakuza 4 expands the franchise's scope by introducing four playable protagonists: loan shark Shun Akiyama, escaped convict Taiga Saejima, corrupt detective Masayoshi Tanimura, and Kazuma Kiryu. Their paths converge around a complex web of police corruption, prison breaks, and a dark murder scheme dating back to 1985.
6. Yakuza 5 (Set in 2012)
Spanning five distinct locations across Japan, Yakuza 5 follows five protagonists: Kiryu (living under an alias as a taxi driver), Saejima, Akiyama, Haruka Sawamura pursuing her dream as a pop idol, and disgraced former baseball player Tatsuo Shinada. The plot revolves around the fragile truce between the Tojo Clan and Omi Alliance disintegrating, pulling each character back into the criminal underworld.
7. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (Set in 2016)
After spending three years in prison to clear his name, Kiryu discovers that Haruka has been critically injured in a hit-and-run accident in Kamurocho, leaving behind a baby boy named Haruto. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life takes Kiryu to Onomichi, Hiroshima, as he unravels the mystery surrounding Haruka's accident and a deeply hidden secret that impacts top-level Japanese politics.
8. Judgment (Set in 2018)
Set in Kamurocho, Judgment is a detective spin-off starring Takayuki Yagami, a former lawyer turned private investigator. Yagami investigates a series of brutal murders involving Yakuza members whose eyes have been gouged out. While set in the same world as the main saga, it operates as a standalone crime mystery.
9. Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Set in 2019)
Serving as a fresh starting point and transitioning the series into a turn-based RPG, Yakuza: Like a Dragon introduces new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga. After serving 18 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Ichiban is betrayed by his former patriarch. Left for dead in Isezaki Ijincho, Yokohama, Ichiban builds a party of allies to discover the truth behind his clan's collapse and major political corruption across Japan.
10. Lost Judgment (Set in 2021)
Lost Judgment follows detective Yagami as he investigates a complex bullying and revenge case tied to a high school in Yokohama. The story escalates into an intense moral debate involving law, vigilante justice, and systemic corruption.
11. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (Set in 2019–2023)
Bridging the gap between the end of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life and the new era, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name reveals what Kiryu was doing under his secret agent identity 'Joryu'. Operating under the Daidoji Faction, Kiryu works from the shadows during the major events of Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
12. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Set in 2024)
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth unites Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu as dual protagonists. The narrative takes the series international for the first time, leading Ichiban to Hawaii in search of his long-lost mother, while Kiryu faces personal health battles while coming to terms with his legacy.
Historical Spin-Offs Outside Main Timeline
The franchise also features historical entries that utilize the likenesses of main characters without connecting to the modern canon:
- Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (Set in 1605)
- Like a Dragon: Ishin! (Set in the 1860s Bakumatsu period)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the absolute best starting point for a newcomer?
The two best entry points are Yakuza 0 (if you want the full action-brawler experience starting with Kazuma Kiryu) or Yakuza: Like a Dragon (if you prefer turn-based RPG mechanics and want to follow Ichiban Kasuga).
Do I need to play Judgment to understand Like a Dragon?
No, Judgment and Lost Judgment feature independent storylines focused on private investigator Takayuki Yagami. They share the same city environments like Kamurocho and Ijincho, but their stories are self-contained.
Why did the series name change from Yakuza to Like a Dragon?
In Japan, the franchise has always been titled Ryu ga Gotoku, which translates to 'Like a Dragon'. Sega rebranded the series globally starting with recent titles to align international naming conventions with Japan's original title.
Final Thoughts
Following the chronological timeline of the Like a Dragon series offers an extraordinary storytelling journey. Watching Kazuma Kiryu mature over nearly four decades alongside the rise of Ichiban Kasuga creates one of the richest character-driven sagas in modern video games.
