The Yakuza/Like a Dragon series has a lengthy history that stretches back to 2005 but only found its footing outside Japan in recent years. With the latest mainline entry, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth coming out in January as a simultaneous worldwide release, it’s a good time to look back and see how various previous entries hold up.
To streamline this list, I’m pairing remakes with the originals since I’m considering the story’s strength as much as the gameplay. There are also almost no bad games on here, so even most lower entries come with a recommendation.
13. Yakuza: Dead Souls
It hurts to put Yakuza: Dead Souls last because I love this game, and it was the first entry I owned. The premise of the series’ core cast dealing with a zombie outbreak is ridiculous, and the story delivers on its goofy concept.
What kills this game is how clunky its gameplay is. Aiming is pretty terrible, and in a game where you primarily shoot things, that leaves it dead in the water. Not helping things is how repetitive it is with the lacking zombie enemies and how linear it becomes in the end. It’s still a shame Sega refuses to port it outside the PS3, excluding it from The Yakuza Remastered Collection.
12. Yakuza 4
Another one that hurts to put so low because of my nostalgia toward the series’ PS3 games. It is a massive step up from Dead Souls since combat isn’t garbage.
Although Yakuza 4‘s combat sees improvements over its predecessor, the story has twists that are goofy even by series standards. Shun Akiyama and Taiga Saejima may have been introduced here, but the rubber bullets remain a meme for good reason.
11. Yakuza 5
This is the entry I’m probably most split on in the entire series. While the narrative is an improvement over Yakuza 4, and the gameplay is the best in the PS3 generation, it never escapes feeling bloated.
With five playable characters and five different locales, Yakuza 5 is a bit much and feels like more was added for the sake of it. The encounter rate is also a nightmare, even if combat can be cheesed. It’s still a great time overall, and it’s super cool playing as Haruka.
10. Yakuza 3
What saves Yakuza 3 is its story because its gameplay is rough. It’s not bad, but revisiting it after growing accustomed to the series’ future entries gave me whiplash.
I wouldn’t say it’s as clunky as the community makes it out to be, but it’s startling how long even the most basic encounters last. Thankfully Okinawa is great to explore, and it has a great story that shows how great an adoptive dad Kiryu is.
9. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Kiryu’s first send-off is a wonderful demonstration of the then-new Dragon Engine. Yakuza hadn’t ever looked so good before or played so smoothly.
Unfortunately, The Song of Life is clearly RGG’s first game on it, as combat is stripped back compared to earlier entries. As funny as ragdoll physics can be, there’s only so much done before repetition sets in. The story’s thankfully great and its ending made me sob on my first playthrough.
8. Yakuza/Yakuza Kiwami
The game that started it all is a curiosity to go back to. While a compelling crime story in its own right, it never reaches the same emotional heights future entries do. It’s still narratively significant, given how it serves as the starting point for several series mainstays.
Both the original and remake have points in their favor, but the latter is the best way to experience Yakuza. This is mostly from the content expanding 2005 Kamurocho and including gameplay improvements from Yakuza 0 which feel fantastic.
7. Yakuza 2/Yakuza Kiwami 2
Yakuza Kiwami 2 plays like how Yakuza 6 should have played. It keeps the graphical and physics improvements from the previous title but adds back several removed elements. I never realized how much I missed weapon collection until I got to do it again in Yakuza Kiwami 2.
The story is also gripping, showing a firmer understanding of what defines who Kiryu and Haruka are while adding several amazing characters. Ryuji and Karou especially leave such a strong impression as an antagonist and leading lady, respectively. Enough so that I still feel their absence in future games. Karou is appearing in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, so hopefully, it’ll do her justice.
6. Lost Judgment
It’s hard to determine whether I liked Judgment or Lost Judgment more. Both entries in this duology set in the Yakuza universe are an absolute blast and are worth playing. Lost Judgment also does a great job of expanding on the original’s gameplay.
Where it’s a little weaker than the original is the story. It’s solid, but the hook isn’t as compelling as the original. The payoff is at least solid, with a fantastic villain driving the story.
5. Judgment
The first spin-off following PI Takayuki Yagami is a compelling departure from the main series narrative. Yagami’s quest to redeem himself, paired with a conspiracy surrounding a miracle drug, is wonderful to see unfold.
Even if its sequel is an improvement, the first Judgment‘s faster-paced combat is still amazingly fluid. The detective portions are somewhat underwhelming, but they’re a small blemish on a fantastic package.
4. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
Feels weird putting the newest entry so high, but Like a Dragon Gaiden is a surprisingly effective return to its series’ former leading man. While its plot tangibly ties into Yakuza: Like a Dragon, it stands as a wonderfully reflective tale for Kazuma Kiryu. The ending also shows him in such an emotionally raw state I cried almost as hard as I did in Yakuza 6‘s ending.
The gameplay is solid also, mixing Kiryu’s standard fighting style with another as a high-tech agent. Even if I can’t equip fantastical weapons again, charging into enemies with my rocket boots never gets old.
3. Like a Dragon: Ishin!
My most biased inclusion here, and I own up to that. Ryu Ga Gotoku: Ishin! was my favorite entry for the longest time, and I love its remake just as much. The latter, unfortunately, feels a bit dated to play by current series standards, but that matters little. There’s nothing better than slashing through ruffians while dual-wielding a sword and gun.
Even if I couldn’t understand the story when first playing it, now in a language I understand, I love it! Fusing the Bakumatsu era’s bloody conflicts with Yakuza melodrama makes for an amazing story with great character drama.
2. Yakuza: Like a Dragon
I have to give props to RGG Studio for creating a fun turn-based combat system on its first attempt. It’s a little simple when compared to others like it, but the wonderfully over-the-top animations and job variety make it a blast.
What places Yakuza: Like a Dragon so close to the top is its story because I argue it’s the series’ best one. It’s incredibly funny and has wonderful characters while tackling some sensitive subject material with empathy. Also, this is the third entry in the series whose story made me cry, so points for that.
1. Yakuza 0
Yakuza 0 honestly stands in my mind as the series’ “perfect” entry. Several future games improved combat, and I got far more of an emotional reaction out of other titles, but this one is still “perfect” to me.
The story’s heartfelt, the several combat styles for Kiryu and Majima give combat fantastic depth, and the money system is unique and amazingly satisfying. Kamurocho and Sotenbori from 1988 also have some of the best atmosphere I’ve ever seen in a game. Other games may have improved on one element or another from Yakuza 0, but none have aped the entire experience.
Published: Dec 17, 2023 11:00 am