There have been numerous games over the years that have been designed for Japanese audiences and subsequently been exclusive to the country due to fears they'll struggle to sell elsewhere. The Yakuza franchise is a prime example of why more IPs should test the water out west, as the Japanese-centric series has been a huge success around the world. The franchise didn't always perform well commercially outside of Japan, but the consistent quality of the games, along with the vast majority of the series coming to Game Pass, has finally given Sega's series its due recognition.
The most recent entry in the series, Yakuza: Like A Dragon, is getting some of the series' highest praise yet, causing many gamers to look into the series and where to get started with it. For such people, here is every Yakuza game in order of release and the systems that they can be played on.
12 Yakuza - PS2, PS3, Wii U
The game that started it all was initially released in Japan at the end of 2005, before releasing internationally just under a year later. The original game shows its age today, though everything people love about the series, from the action-pact combat to the melodramatic story, weird and wonderful side quests, and enjoyable mini-games, can all be found here.
Playable On: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 (Japan only), Wii U (Japan only)
11 Yakuza 2 - PS2, PS3, Wii U
The commercial success of the original Yakuza release unsurprisingly meant that another game was just around the corner. Sega wasted little time releasing the sequel, as it hit stores in Japan almost exactly one year after its predecessor's release. Yakuza 2 didn't try to re-invent the wheel and kept the core gameplay similar to that of Yakuza.
Playable On:Â PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 (Japan only), Wii U (Japan only)
10 Yakuza 3 - PS3, PC, Xbox One, PS4
Sega decided to leave a bigger gap between entries with Yakuza 3, as the game was released in Japan just over two years after Yakuza 2. Yakuza 3 was the first game in the series to be remastered, following two remakes which will feature later in this list. The game's newly implemented features included an optional first-person perspective and Chase Battles, which, as the name suggests, sees players involved in a foot-race where they must avoid obstacles and people in their way.
The original is playable on: PlayStation 3
The remaster is playable on: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
9 Yakuza 4 - PS3, PC, Xbox One, PS4
Yakuza 4 hit stores in Japan back in 2010 before releasing in Europe and North America the following year. The game is fondly remembered for its mini-games, with fishing, table tennis, golf, and bowling being among the best. The game also brings back the popular karaoke from Yakuza 3 and lets players perform duets with NPCs.
The original is playable on:Â PlayStation 3
The remaster is playable on: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
8 Yakuza: Dead Souls - Playstation 3
For some reason, the world had a fascination with zombies in the years surrounding 2010. Subsequently, numerous books, films, and video games were released featuring the undead corpses; The Walking Dead TV show, The Last of Us, Zombieland, and Left 4 Dead were just some of the notable releases. Sega decided to get in on the hype in 2011 with the release of Yakuza: Dead Souls, a non-canon horror game that leans into the franchise's bizarre side by having players slay hordes of zombies.
Playable On: PlayStation 3
7 Yakuza 5 - PS3, PC, Xbox One, PS4
Following the strange detour into the world of zombies, the Yakuza series got back on track with Yakuza 5. The game tried to improve upon its predecessors by simply expanding upon its pre-existing features, most notably through the larger cities and inclusion of five main protagonists, which was the series' highest before the release of Yakuza: Like A Dragon.Â
The original is playable on:Â PlayStation 3
The remaster is playable on:Â PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
6 Yakuza 0 - PC, Xbox One, PS3, PS4
As the title suggests, Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the original game. Yakuza 0 is a fantastic entry point into the series for people looking to give it a try, not only because it makes chronological sense but also because it's considered by many to be the best entry in the series. Along with the excellent main plot, Yakuza 0 is beloved for its memorable side quests, many of which are among the most bizarre in the entire series, which is really saying something.
Playable On: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
5 Yakuza Kiwami - PC, Xbox One, PS3, PS4
Yakuza Kiwami is a remake of the first game in the series. The success of Yakuza 0 gave Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio an ideal starting point to build the game upon, so subsequently, much of the gameplay was similar to the prequel, particularly the combat mechanics. Yakuza Kiwami was well received by critics, scoring between 80 and 81 on Metacritic across its three worldwide releases.
Playable On: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 (Japan only)
4 Yakuza 6: The Song of Life - PC, Xbox One, PS4
As things stand, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is the final game in the Yakuza franchise (chronologically) to feature Kiryu as the leading protagonist. The game gave players one of the best selections of arcade titles to play, with Virtua Fighter 5, Fantasy Zone, Out Run, and Space Harrier all featuring. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life was nominated for PlayStation game of the Year by the Golden Joystick Awards, though it lost out to Santa Monica Studio's God of War.Â
Playable On:Â PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
3 Yakuza Kiwami 2 - PC, Xbox One, PS4
Following the success of Yakuza Kiwami, Sega released Yakuza Kiwami 2, a remake of Yakuza 2. The game received even more praise from critics than the previous remake, this time scoring between 81 and 88 on Metacritic across its three releases. Yakuza Kiwami 2 is far superior to the original game to play today, not just because of the updated graphics and improved gameplay mechanics but also because it includes a handful of new plot elements to improve its flow and connection with the other games.
Playable On: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
2 The Yakuza Remastered Collection - PC, Xbox One, PS4
The Yakuza Remastered Collection offered a great value for money deal to fans of the series by putting the remastered versions of Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4, and Yakuza 5 under one price tag. Better yet, the three games have recently joined the numerous other entries in the series in Microsoft's value for money Game Pass service.
Playable On: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
1 Yakuza: Like a Dragon - PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5
Despite the success of the previous entries on this list, Sega finally decided that it was time for a change of direction for the Yakuza franchise with the release of Yakuza: Like a Dragon in 2020. The game introduced two key changes: a new main protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga, and a new turn-based combat system similar to that of Dragon Quest's, a game that is frequently mentioned throughout the adventure.
Playable On: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5