Yakuza, must play substories

A quick summary of all the must play Yakuza substories to get the best understanding of the characters and the main story.

Yakuza, must play substories.

Notes

I originally made this for a friend of mine, however after spending some time on it I thought it was worth making available for everyone.
There are many very fun and enjoyable substories in each Yakuza game that has not been mentioned, the substories listed here are only ones that add additional depth to characters or the greater story.
While I recommend all players try and enjoy as many substories as they can as they are some of the best parts of the series. These are the substories I feel should not be missed.
In this guide I will lay out when these substories can be accessed and why I think they should be played.
I will try and avoid spoilers where I can though there may be some small spoilers throughout this guide so read at your own risk.
This guide does not tell you how to unlock or complete these substories, only which ones should be completed to get the minimum best yakuza experience. Think of this more as a checklist rather than an out and out guide.
I will include all substories that I think are necessary here so people can get a feel for what they need to do as they will likely start with 0. I will also publish a smaller guide for each game that includes just the necessary substories for that game. This should allow readers the best balance of depth and usability.
Please let me know if there is anything you think I might have missed and I will add it.

All Games

The Amon.secret fights are in every game and are cannon but require every substory to be beaten in each game so require some work and can be missed.

Yakuza 0

Chapter 2 – Kiryu - Don’t Dance Alone/Technique to die for/Maharaja showdown – (These do reference future characters. However, none of the characters are extremely important and all are disco substories which I personally found pretty boring so could be miss-able).

Chapter 2 – Kiryu - Play some pocket circuit to meet pocket circuit fighter (who appears in future games) complete the whole minigame to gain some fighter backstory

Chapter 3 – Majima – Rise of the Dragon - (Introduces a very important future character)

Chapter 3 – Majima – Disciple of a new order (begins a longer substory that continues through multiple games)

Chapter 3 – Majima – The Obatarian strikes (begins a longer substory that continues through multiple games)

Chapter 4 – Majima – Komaki training (complete Komaki’s training to meet a very important character in later games)

Chapter 5 – Kiryu – The visionary fortune teller (foreshadows a huge chunk of later games/ may be counted a spoiler so could be missed)

Chapter 5 – Kiryu – Heir to the family (Introduces a very important future character)

Chapter 7 – Majima – Play (and probably complete the Cabaret club czar minigame)

Chapter 10 – Kiryu – A shining example (Introduces a very important future character)

Yakuza Kiwami

Chapter 4 – Play some pocket circuit to catch up with pocket circuit fighter

Chapter 5 – My baby’s a showgirl (Adds some extra depth to Yuya’s character and the Dojima family)

Chapter 6 – Komaki training (doing all training is likely not necessary but Komaki is an important character and is worth mentioning)

Chapter 6 – A doctor’s duty (adds story to a character who appears in future games)

Chapter 7 – bet on a champ (Adds some depth to Haruka’s character)

Chapter 7 – Kyoka and Takashi (Begins a longer substory that continues through multiple game and adds some depth to Yakuza 1)

Chapter 7 – The B-King’s misfortune (Adds some depth to a small character and has a callback in a future game, not super important can be missed)

Chapter 8 – The rumoured party (continues a substory first started in Yakuza 0)

Chapter 10 – The fake Mizuki’s truth (adds depth to the main story of Kiwami)

Chapter 11 – Man on a ledge (begins a substory that continues through multiple games)

Chapter 12/Finale – The Yakuza’s wife (perhaps the most important substory introduces and adds depth to an important character, practically mandatory. DO NOT MISS THIS)

Chapter 12/Finale – Behind the Assassin (Adds depth to the main story of Kiwami)

Yakuza Kiwami 2

Chapter 1 – A Pervy peddler – (introduces a character who goes onto appear in most games)

Chapter 4 – Play the cabaret club minigame (though I believe it cannot be fully completed till later on) to add some extra character to the cabaret club from yakuza 0.

Chapter 5 – Be My baby (Is referenced again much later in Like a Dragon)

Chapter 5 – The legendary dragon (begins a substory that continues through multiple games)

Chapter 5 – Mr Try and Hit me (begins a substory that continues through multiple games, though is largely unimportant and probably missable)

Chapter 5 – Komaki training (doing all training is likely not necessary but Komaki is an important character and is worth mentioning)

Chapter 7 – A whirlwind dirt tour (begins a substory that continues through multiple games)

Chapter 7 and 8 – Grannys requests (likely not necessary but worth mentioning as it adds a very small amount of depth to an established character)

Chapter 8 – Embracing my true self (adds depth to an established character)

Chapter 10 – Yakuza sunset (begins a substory that continues through multiple games)

Chapter 11 – The obatarian strikes again (continues a substory from yakuza 0)

Chapter 13 – Rooftop revenge (continues a substory from yakuza kiwami)

Yakuza 3

Chapter 4 – Early Honeymoon (continues a substory from yakuza Kiwami 1 and Kiwami 2)

Chapter 4 – Morning glory hide and seek (adds depth to established characters)

Chapter 4 – Mikio’s munchathon (add depth to an established character)

Chapter 5 – Manga mania (adds a tiny amount of depth to an established character, probably missable)

Chapter 5 – Mr try and hit me again (continues a substory from Yakuza Kiwami 2, probably missable)

Chapter 5 – A ghost from the past (sheds some light on a character from Kiwami 1)

Chapter 6 – Begin the Hitman missions (These will take almost the whole game to complete and are difficult but add some background to important characters and reintroduce characters from earlier games)

*Need rikiya for the next two substories, do not miss these as they are very important

Chapter 6 – Hometown girl (adds depth to a very important character. Do not miss this substory)

Chapter 6 – Dotting the eye (adds depth to a very important character. Do not miss this substory)

Chapter 6 – Silver screen dragon (sort of continues a substory from Kiwami 2 and adds some insight into Kiryu’s place in the world)

Chapter 6 – Another stardust (add some depth to already established characters)

Chapter 6 – Il in theatre square (continues a substory from Kiwami 2)

Chapter 6 – The returnee (Continues a substory from Kiwami)

Chapter 9 – Murder at café alps (adds a small amount of depth to an already established character, but should be completed as it is honestly one of the best most original substories in the whole franchise)

Chapter 10 – Two fathers (adds depth to already established characters)

Chapter 12 – Date’s pride (adds depth to a very important character)

Chapter 12 – They never learn (continues a substory from Yakuza Kiwami, Kiwami 2 and earlier in 3)

Yakuza 4

It is worth noting that chapter numbers are repeated for each character don’t think that because you are on Akiyama chapter 3 you have missed Tanimura chapter 2. The chapters have been listed in the order you will reach them so do not worry.

Chapter 2 – Akiyama – Layoff already (adds some depth to Akiyama and his place in Kamurocho)

Chapter 2 – Akiyama – The apprentice part 1 (adds some depth to Akiyama and his place in Kamurocho)

Chapter 2 – Akiyama – How to spend money (adds some depth to Akiyama and his place in Kamurocho)

Chapter 3 – Akiyama – The fate of the 30 million yen (adds some depth to Akiyama and his place in Kamurocho)

Chapter 3 – Akiyama – The apprentice part 2 (continues an earlier Akiyama substory)

Chapter 3 – Akiyama - A wife’s concern (continues an earlier Akiyama substory)

Chapter 3 – Akiyama – Lonely Hana-Chan (adds depth to both Akiyama and Hana)

Chapter 4 – Akiyama – Tricks of the trade (continues an earlier Akiyama substory)

Chapter 4 – Akiyama – Beware of Imposters (riffs of a Yakuza Kiwami 2 substory)



Chapter 3 – Saejima – Dragon palace bouncer (adds some depth to Saejima and his place in Kamurocho)

Chapter 3 – Saejima – Old Yakuza, new tricks (add some depth to Saejima and his place in Kamurocho)

Chapter 3 – Saejima – brother and sister parts 1 and 2 (adds some depth to Saejima and his place in Kamurocho)

Chapter 4 – Saejima – brother and sister parts 3 and 4 (continues a substory from earlier in Saejima’s story)

Chapter 4 – Saejima – 25 years (add some depth to Saejima and his place in Kamurocho)

Chapter 4 – Saejima – meet sodachi (you can help out in his dojo for some Saejima background but simply meeting him is probably enough)



Chapter 2 – Tanimura – Another case (begins a string of substories that add a great deal to tanimura’s character and his place in kamurocho)

Chapter 2 – Tanimura – Clues (continues a string of substories that add a great deal to tanimura’s character and his place in kamurocho)

Chapter 2 – Tanimura - Voiceless cries (adds a depth to Tanimura’s character and a variety of smaller characters)

Chapter 4 – Tanimura – Burning Bridges (continues a string of substories that add a great deal to tanimura’s character and his place in kamurocho)

Chapter 4 – Tanimura – successor (closes out a string of substories that add a great deal to tanimura’s character and his place in kamurocho)

Chapter 4 – Tanimura - Letter to Mei Hua (continues an earlier Yakuza 4 substory and adds depth to Tanimura and a variety of smaller characters)

Chapter 4 – Tanimura – A dangerous game (add some depth to Tanimura’s character but is generally just a sick substory)



Chapter 2 – Kiryu – Yuya’s way (adds depth to an already established character)

Chapter 2 – Kiryu – Colour gangs (reintroduces some long-forgotten characters from kiwami 1)

Chapter 2 – Kiryu – The twist is back in style (reintroduces a character from Kiwami 1, this one is probably missable as it’s a baseball substory and quite difficult)

Chapter 2 – Kiryu – Kotaro gets a job (reintroduces a character from Yakuza 3)

Chapter 2 – Kiryu – return of the fake Kiryu (continues on from a substory in Yakuza kiwami 2)

Chapter 4 – Kiryu – Becoming family (adds depth to an important character)

Chapter 4 – Kiryu - A doctor’s pledge (continues a substory chain from kiwami 1 and 3)



FINALE – Kiryu – Kiryu the babysitter (a nice little substory that sees the protagonists spend some time together)

FINALE – Kiryu – Floriography (Adds depth to the protagonists and continues the story of a character from Kiwami 1)

FINALE – Kiryu – The Hills have noise (reintroduces a character from Kiwami 1)

Yakuza 5

It is worth noting that chapter numbers are repeated for each character don’t think that because you are on Kiryu chapter 3 you have missed Shinada chapter 2. The chapters have been listed in the order you will reach them so do not worry.


Chapter 2 – Kiryu – Another Haruka (adds depth to Kiryu’s character and his current place in the world)

Chapter 2 – Kiryu – From a far of land (adds some emotion to Kiryu’s current plight and is very touching)

Chapter 4 – Kiryu – A chance meeting (bump into an old friend from previous games)

Chapter 4 – Kiryu – Dragon mask Redux (continues a substory from Yakuza 3)

Chapter 4 – Kiryu – Kiryu the actor (continues a substory from Yakuza 3)

Chapter 4 – Kiryu (Minimida can be met here, he appeared In Yakuza 3 and 4)



Prologue – Saejima – A Familiar dojo (meet up with a friend from Yakuza 4)

Prologue – Saejima – A special place (meet up with a friend from Yakuza 4)

Chapter 4 – Saejima – Truth and lies (adds extra depth to a character in Yakuza 5)

Chapter 4 – Saejima – Pursuer and Persued (adds extra depth to a character in Yakuza 5)



Chapter 2 – Haruka – The letters (adds depth to Haruka’s current place in the world as well as some characters from yakuza 3)

Chapter 2 – Haruka – magical Haruka (allows Haruka to take part in Minimida’s game)

Chapter 2 – Haruka – A normal life (adds some depth to Haruka’s current place in the world)



Chapter 3 – Akiyama – Dancin’ Akiyama (unlocks a substory later)

Chapter 3 – Akiyama – Geriatric dance off (continues a substory from Yakuza 0 and Kiwami 2)

Chapter 3 – Akiyama – Giving up on a dream (riffs on a Yakuza 4 substory)

Chapter 4 – Akiyama – Money and Pride (Adds depth to Yakuza 4 and Akiyama’s character)



Chapter 2 – Shinada – Play the Batting side story (as it mirrors Shinadas larger story and adds depth to Shinada)

Chapter 2 – Shinada – Shinada’s interview (riffs of an earlier Kiwami 2 substory)

Chapter 2 – Shinada – Dirty Heart (adds depth to Shinada and his plight)

Chapter 2 – Shinada – The old Scout’s eyes (adds depth to Shinada’s character and plight)

Yakuza 6

Chapter 1 – Haruka’s biggest fan (nice substory that adds some extra weight to the story)

Chapter 1 – A man rises up (meet a character from yakuza 4 and 5)

Chapter 4 – Crisis management professional (meet a character from yakuza 4 and 5)

Chapter 4 – The sins of the father (finishes up a substory that began all the way back in Yakuza 0)

Chapter 5 – Pocket circuit fighter returns (finishes up a substory that began all the way back in Yakuza 0)

Chapter 6 – Baring their fangs (adds some story to an old enemy from yakuza kiwami and 3)

Chapter 6 – A rivalry reborn (adds some story to an old enemy from yakuza kiwami and 3)

Yakuza Like a Dragon (Yakuza 7)

Unlike all the other games Amon is not unlocked through doing all substories but instead by completing the final extra dungeon in the post-game so don’t worry about that too much.

Yakuza Like a Dragon is a soft reset of the franchise and as such there are very few substories that link into older games, these are the only ones I am aware of.

Chapter 4 – Baby don’t cry (a continuation of a substory from Yakuza Kiwami 2)

Chapter 5 - The Crawfish Caper (The begining of a substory that continues into Yakuza 8)

Chapter 7 – A fading star (a continuation of a substory from yakuza Kiwami 2 and 3)

Chapter 9 – Whispers of the underworld (see an old enemy from Yakuza kiwami and 3)

Chapter 9 – Michio Minefield/Fauxno Michio (see a mascot from Yakuza 6)

Chapter 10 - Ringleader Roundup: Bear Blues/Tiger Takeover/ Chimp Calamity (A funny string of substories that introduce a character who reappears in Yakuza 8)

Judgment

There are a variety of Sidecases/Substories that are important to the main plot but most of them come up in the main story and so haven't been included here. I have only mentioned the ones I would count as missable.

Substories (also known as sidecases in this game) have a reputation as well as a chapter requirement to unlock them so that has been included as well.


Chapter 2 - Reputation any - There's a panty thief on the loose! - The Twisted Professor (Part of a chain of quests that introduces some characters that reappear in Lost Judgment)

Chapter 2 - Reputation 5 - There's a groper on the loose! - The Twisted Groper (Continues a chain of quests that introduces some characters that reappear in Lost Judgment)

Chapter 2 - Reputation 15 - Let's Chat about a Pervert - The Twisted Judge (Continues a chain of quests that introduces some characters that reappear in Lost Judgment)

Lost Judment

There are a variety of Sidecases/Substories that are important to the main plot but most of them come up in the main story and so haven't been included here. I have only mentioned the ones I would count as missable.

Chapter 3 - DLC - Why I Don the Costume (Introduces a character that reappears in Yakuza 8)

Chapter 3 - DLC - The Filthy Four (Concludes the story of a Character from Judgment)

Chapter 10 - Takayuki Yagami: Evil Yagami? (Reintroduces some characters from Judgment as well as continuing a long-running joke from Yakuza 2/4/5)
(This sidecase requires all of the School Stories to be completed but they are worth doing anyway as that is where the real meat of the side content lies anyway)

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

Substories have a reputation requirement to unlock them so that has been included as well.

No Rank - Investigation Request (Continues a substory from Yakuza 0/2/5)

Gold Rank - End the Destruction (Meet up with a couple of characters from the Judgment/Lost Judment series)

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Yakuza 8)

Chapter 3 - Coming out of her Shell (Continues the story of a character from Yakuza 7 (LAD)

Chapter 4 - Let it Snow (Continues the story of a character from Yakuza 2/7

Chapter 4 - Litterbugged (Continues the story of a character from Yakuza 7 (LAD)

Chapter 9 - Relics from the Past (Continues the story of a character from Yakuza 7 (LAD)

The main story orientated side-content is Kiryu's bucketlist which unlocks in Chapter 8 do as many of them as you can, if not all of them. They are short little story vignettes that link back to every single game in the series and are without a doubt the high point of the entire game.

[Bruhssarian]

I may have missed one or two, but I'm fairly certain most/all will be included in this list as most of the substories that have cutscenes are generally important to the main story.

[Aestus]

I notice from RGG3 onwards some of the substories have voice-acted nicely directed cutscenes. Does your guide include all of those? For example Hometown girl and Date’s pride in RGG3. Or did you leave some of those out?

[Bruhssarian]

That should be updated for everyone now
I've included Judment/Lost Judment/ Gaiden and 8 in the guide now.

Please let me know if I've missed anything!

[-_*F4nta_Z3r0*-_]

Please do! Im following it to play the entire franchise but sticking to important substories, sadly I dont have time to fully complete the games, so I really appreciate the work you did with this guide

[Bruhssarian]

Thanks!

As far as I can remember there are no important substories in Judgment/Lost Judgment that could be classified as missable (im fairly sure most important ones come up naturally in the main story),

As far as Gaiden: Man who erased his name the only substory that sticks out is one called 'End the Destruction' which allows Kiryu to meet up with some of the characters from the Judgment series.

In Infinite Wealth there are a couple:
'Let it snow' in Chapter 4 links back to both Kiwami 2 and Yakuza LAD and is well worth playing on its own (its probably one of the best substories in infinite wealth)
Theres also a couple that naturally link back to Yakuza 7/LAD
and of course all of Kiryu's bucket list in Infinite Wealth which ties the whole series together and is great.

I hadn't planned on updating the guide, but if I get the chance i'll update it to include Judgment/Lost Judgment/Gaiden and Infinite Wealth.

[-_*F4nta_Z3r0*-_]

Great guide! I have been using it since Yakuza Kiwami, now that Infinite Wealth came out and Judgement/Lost Judgement, are there any substories that are important? (Protagonist backstory or similar substories from a previous game, like the fake versions of the protagonists)

[jarpkor]

Thank you so much!!

[Wasterr السلام عليكم]

thanks bud

[Fepafa]

great guide, thank you!

[gothichellokitty]

youre a fucking g. thanks a ton