New To Yakuza Series...

[skeet1983]

Hi guys. I am new to the Yakuza game series, and am wondering where to start with it, and if there is a particular order I should play the games in? Also, where does this game fit into the series/storyline? Thoughts and help appreciated :)

[Punished Rusty Shackleford]

this is a story based series so I'd suggest start from the beginning with Yakuza 0 (it is the first game in the timeline of the story) because there are a lot of references and call backs in the game that it won't hurt if you don't know but it won't mean as much to you. Or you can watch videos of all the cutscenes on Youtube but I wouldn't do that because you'll be missing out on a lot of good game content. Also when you get to this game, it should be heavily discounted.

this is the latest game in the timeline and leading up to the next game "infinite wealth".

[Tracido]

Basically, this game is Yakuza 8 and the one releasing Jan 26th is Yakuza 9, just to clarify.

[Punished Rusty Shackleford]

• Yakuza 0
  
• Yakuza : Kiwami
  
• Yakuza: Kiwami 2
  
• Yakuza 3
  
• Yakuza 4
  
• Yakuza 5
  
• Yakuza 6
  
• Like a Dragon: Ishin (Yakuza 7)
  
• Like a Dragon Gaiden (Yakuza 8)
  
• Like a Dragon Infinite wealth (Yakuza 9)

those are the games in sequential order of the story. note there will be a dip in quality when you get to Yakuza 3 and 4 because those games were only remastered not remade like the others but they're just as fun and the quality goes way up when you get to 5 and 6 .

Like I said earlier, when these go on sale you can get them all for a steal.

[MancSoulja]

Originally posted by Punished Rusty Shackleford:

• Yakuza 0
  
• Yakuza : Kiwami
  
• Yakuza: Kiwami 2
  
• Yakuza 3
  
• Yakuza 4
  
• Yakuza 5
  
• Yakuza 6
  
• Like a Dragon: Ishin (Yakuza 7)
  
• Like a Dragon Gaiden (Yakuza 8)
  
• Like a Dragon Infinite wealth (Yakuza 9)

those are the games in sequential order of the story. note there will be a dip in quality when you get to Yakuza 3 and 4 because those games were only remastered not remade like the others but they're just as fun and the quality goes way up when you get to 5 and 6 .

Like I said earlier, when these go on sale you can get them all for a steal.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is 7, Ishin is a spin off. this game is in no way Yakuza 8, it's a spin off that takes part during Yakuza 7.

[LArc7thHeaven]

LAD: Ishin is RGG Ishin! Kiwami and a spin-off also remake of RGG Ishin!, not 8. RGG 8 is RGG 8 dumdum.

[FireLighT]

So let me give you an actual correct list instead of whatever that other guy there produced.

Play them in this order for best experience:
Yakuza 0 > Kiwami > Kiwami 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > Yakuza: Like A Dragon > Gaiden > Infinite Wealth (8) > If you want to play Ishin i recommend playing it after Yakuza: Like a Dragon but technically you can play it without any prior knowledge :)

And to answer your question, Gaiden fits in between 6 and Yakuza: Like a Dragon, but it contains hard spoilers for that game which is why you should play Yakuza: Like a Dragon BEFORE Gaiden. Hope that was helpful :)

[Punished Rusty Shackleford]

Originally posted by FireLighT:

So let me give you an actual correct list instead of whatever that other guy there produced.

Play them in this order for best experience:
Yakuza 0 > Kiwami > Kiwami 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > Yakuza: Like A Dragon > Gaiden > Infinite Wealth (9)

How is this any different from what I posted apart from you being condescending? I just gave the OP the list of games in the correct order and said Gaiden was pratically 8 and the "ummm actually" crowd came out in full force. Way to show the new person how awful you people can be

[Macho Sadness]

Originally posted by Punished Rusty Shackleford:

Originally posted by FireLighT:

So let me give you an actual correct list instead of whatever that other guy there produced.

Play them in this order for best experience:
Yakuza 0 > Kiwami > Kiwami 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > Yakuza: Like A Dragon > Gaiden > Infinite Wealth (9)

How is this any different from what I posted apart from you being condescending? I just gave the OP the list of games in the correct order and said Gaiden was pratically 8 and the "ummm actually" crowd came out in full force. Way to show the new person how awful you people can be

Well, you forgot the actual Yakuza 7 (Yakuza: Like a Dragon)

[Punished Rusty Shackleford]

i did have yakuza 7 on there, i just put Inshin there by mistake, i'll take my L and thanks for pointing that at. but being called names and being a condescending jerk just baffles me on how some people conduct themselves online. You politely pointed that out and I appreciate it, i just can't believe the other people in this thread.

[TheShadowHatter]

Here's the games and the timeline in which the events in the universe take place:

Yakuza 0 (1988)
Yakuza Kiwami (2005)
Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2006)
Yakuza 3 Remastered (2007 - 2009)
Yakuza 4 Remastered (2010)
Yakuza 5 Remastered (2012)
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2012 - 2016)
[Judgement] (2018)
Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2019)
[Lost Judgement] (2021) (play it before Gaiden though if you liked Judgement)
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (2019)
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2023)

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, takes place right after Yakuza 6: The Song of Life and during the events of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. As a Yakuza fan, I personally feel it's important you play all of these games in the order I put them in, only because you'll not only love the story, but you'll love all the fun mini games and sub stories as you explore fictional cities based off of real cities in Japan. You'll also appreciate Gaiden's ending 5000% more if you go through Kiryu's hero's journey from Yakuza 0 - 6 and Yakuza: Like a Dragon gets summarized in Gaiden too so yeah. Take your time and enjoy yourself and welcome to one of the best niche video game series of all time!

Sidenote: I'm sure you noticed by now, but there's two games on this list that have brackets on them. These are the Judgement games, also created by RGG who created the Yakuza series. They take place IN THE SAME UNIVERSE as the Yakuza series, and have references to events that have occurred in the Yakuza series (involving Yakuza clans like the Tojo and such), but are NOT REQUIRED to understand any of the Yakuza games. I merely added them in just in case you fall in love with this series and want to play more games within the universe that CAN be connected, even in a small way. There IS however, a nice treat in Like a Dragon Gaiden, that will be very satisfying to those who played and enjoyed the Judgement series, assuming you're the type of person to try and 100% these games (or at minimum you want to beat all the substories in each game).

Sidenote 2: Like a Dragon: Ishin doesn't take place in the Yakuza universe as far as I know, but it is based off a true story of the life of Sakamoto Ryoma (though obviously the game's going to be loosely based off of that story with how wild RGG games are). It's one of the best samurai games ever made and characters in this game are played by characters you'll recognize in the Yakuza series (my headcanon is that they're all acting in a movie which makes it fun to enjoy that way). So even though Ishin isn't required to play, it is another great RGG game you should consider playing if you enjoy this series as I know you will.

Sorry for the long winded post, but I get passionate about Yakuza and I really hope you take my post to heart and you enjoy it dude. You have no idea how much of a good time you're about to have!

Just please don't rush them. I understand Gaiden is the newest one and Infinite Wealth is a few days away, but this game series is so fantastic, that you'd do a disservice to yourself if you rush through it just because of FOMO. Gaiden and Infinite Wealth will still be here when you're ready for them.

GOOD LUCK with the series dude! and good luck with Amon!