Which Yakuza should I start with?

[Damerindin]

Might seem like a stupid question, but I've only played the Yakuza PS2 game and admittedly didn't get very far (this was years ago as well, around mid-2000s, so I don't remember any of the story). I don't know how connected all the Yakuza games listed on Steam are or which has the best gameplay or story. I'm also confused about how Like A Dragon is related to the Yakuza games. I can always start the PS2 Yakuza over, but which one would people recommended after that?

All in all, I'm confused and would appreciate anyone helping out with this.

[Xafron Chi]

Yakuza 0 > Yakuza Kiwami > Yakuza Kiwami 2 > Yakuza 3 Remastered > Yakuza 4 Remastered > Yakuza 5 Remastered > Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

If you want to continue past that, then it would go:

Yakuza: Like a Dragon (7)

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (8)

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (9)

If you want spinoffs:

Like a Dragon: Ishin! has the faces / voices you know from the series taking on roles of characters loosely based off of historical Japanese figures.

Judgment and Lost Judgment has you taking on the role of Yagami, an attorney-turned-private investigator. So far he has not entered the main series but it seems likely he will sooner or later, though to what degree I can't say.

The upcoming Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii looks to be fully embracing the goofy side of things in the Yakuza series and has you playing solely as Goro Majima.

[Damerindin]

Originally posted by Xafron Chi:

Yakuza 0 > Yakuza Kiwami > Yakuza Kiwami 2 > Yakuza 3 Remastered > Yakuza 4 Remastered > Yakuza 5 Remastered > Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

If you want to continue past that, then it would go:

Yakuza: Like a Dragon (7)

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (8)

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (9)

If you want spinoffs:

Like a Dragon: Ishin! has the faces / voices you know from the series taking on roles of characters loosely based off of historical Japanese figures.

Judgment and Lost Judgment has you taking on the role of Yagami, an attorney-turned-private investigator. So far he has not entered the main series but it seems likely he will sooner or later, though to what degree I can't say.

The upcoming Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii looks to be fully embracing the goofy side of things in the Yakuza series and has you playing solely as Goro Majima.

Thanks! :)

[Xafron Chi]

I think you can technically end with Yakuza 6. Or start with Yakuza: Like a Dragon. But they are still connected.

Personally I think it's best to start with Yakuza 0 and go from there.

0 through 6 are the brawler beat em up action combat you're familiar with.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a fairly unique feeling turn-based combat that still, in my opinion, manages to retain that "brawler" feel in a way.

Gaiden is action again.

Infinite Wealth is turn-based.

All the spinoffs are action.

[Lar Dass]

Originally posted by Xafron Chi:

Yakuza 0 > Yakuza Kiwami > Yakuza Kiwami 2 > Yakuza 3 Remastered > Yakuza 4 Remastered > Yakuza 5 Remastered > Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

If you want to continue past that, then it would go:

Yakuza: Like a Dragon (7)

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (8)

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (9)

If you want spinoffs:

Like a Dragon: Ishin! has the faces / voices you know from the series taking on roles of characters loosely based off of historical Japanese figures.

Judgment and Lost Judgment has you taking on the role of Yagami, an attorney-turned-private investigator. So far he has not entered the main series but it seems likely he will sooner or later, though to what degree I can't say.

The upcoming Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii looks to be fully embracing the goofy side of things in the Yakuza series and has you playing solely as Goro Majima.

This. Summed up well, Ill add you can play judgment before or after yakuza 7 but make sure you play lost judgment after yakuza 7 because the events from 7 is mentioned in lost judgment, but overall 0 is the best way to go, start with the kiryu saga and then join the current saga which is ichiban

[Wabbajack]

Originally posted by Xafron Chi:

Yakuza 0 > Yakuza Kiwami > Yakuza Kiwami 2 > Yakuza 3 Remastered > Yakuza 4 Remastered > Yakuza 5 Remastered > Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

If you want to continue past that, then it would go:

Yakuza: Like a Dragon (7)

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (8)

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (9)

If you want spinoffs:

Like a Dragon: Ishin! has the faces / voices you know from the series taking on roles of characters loosely based off of historical Japanese figures.

Judgment and Lost Judgment has you taking on the role of Yagami, an attorney-turned-private investigator. So far he has not entered the main series but it seems likely he will sooner or later, though to what degree I can't say.

The upcoming Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii looks to be fully embracing the goofy side of things in the Yakuza series and has you playing solely as Goro Majima.

Does Yakuza: Like a Dragon (7) has a story about Kiryu?

[Xafron Chi]

Originally posted by Wabbajack:

Originally posted by Xafron Chi:

Yakuza 0 > Yakuza Kiwami > Yakuza Kiwami 2 > Yakuza 3 Remastered > Yakuza 4 Remastered > Yakuza 5 Remastered > Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

If you want to continue past that, then it would go:

Yakuza: Like a Dragon (7)

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (8)

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (9)

If you want spinoffs:

Like a Dragon: Ishin! has the faces / voices you know from the series taking on roles of characters loosely based off of historical Japanese figures.

Judgment and Lost Judgment has you taking on the role of Yagami, an attorney-turned-private investigator. So far he has not entered the main series but it seems likely he will sooner or later, though to what degree I can't say.

The upcoming Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii looks to be fully embracing the goofy side of things in the Yakuza series and has you playing solely as Goro Majima.

Does Yakuza: Like a Dragon (7) has a story about Kiryu?

He's in it some but the protagonist in that is Ichiban.

Kiryu is in Infinite Wealth a lot more but Ichiban is still kind of the focus.

And Kiryu is the main character in Gaiden.

[Damerindin]

I appreciate you going into all this detail about the games. It's great help. Thanks again. :)

I just bought Yakuza 0 on sale. It'll be good to get into these games properly again.

[Xafron Chi]

Originally posted by Damerindin:

I appreciate you going into all this detail about the games. It's great help. Thanks again. :)

I just bought Yakuza 0 on sale. It'll be good to get into these games properly again.

Nice, hope you enjoy them.