Ranking the Yakuza Games

he Yakuza series, now officially rebranded as Like a Dragon, has captivated a global audience with its unique blend of heartfelt crime drama, over-the-top action, and bizarrely hilarious side activities. For decades, players have followed the journey of Kazuma Kiryu and, more recently, Ichiban Kasuga through the neon-drenched streets of Kamurocho and beyond. With an expansive library of mainline entries, it's a monumental task to rank them, as each game offers a distinct and memorable experience.

This article, however, will attempt the impossible, offering a definitive ranking from worst to best based on a combination of narrative impact, gameplay mechanics, and overall polish. We will be using the modern Kiwami versions for the first two entries to provide a more accurate reflection of the series as it exists today.

Yakuza 3 holds the unenviable position at the bottom of our list, not because it's a bad game, but because it feels like a significant step back in several key areas. After the bombastic events of the first two games, Kiryu's new life running an orphanage in Okinawa provides a much-needed change of pace, but the story's initial slowness can be a tough sell. The game's narrative eventually ramps up, tying into a complex web of government conspiracies and old rivalries, but it takes its time getting there.

The biggest strike against Yakuza 3 is its gameplay. The combat, while functional, feels sluggish and unresponsive compared to its predecessors and successors. Enemies are infamously fond of blocking, leading to frustratingly long fights where you feel less like a legendary gangster and more like a glorified brawler swatting at a brick wall. The game's overall visual fidelity and city design, a product of its PlayStation 3 origins, also feel dated. While the introduction of the orphanage storyline is a highlight, the overall package is the least refined of the modern entries.

Yakuza 4 shakes things up in a big way by letting you step into the shoes of not just one, but four different protagonists—a first for the series. You get to play as the legendary Kazuma Kiryu, the charismatic loan shark Shun Akiyama, the brooding ex-con Taiga Saejima, and the determined detective Masayoshi Tanimura. Each of these characters brings their own fighting style and story to the table. As you work your way through their individual journeys, the threads start to come together into a bigger story about murder, buried secrets, and the constant power struggle inside the Tojo Clan. It’s an ambitious move that really opens up new perspectives on Kamurocho’s underworld, and it adds a lot of depth to the Yakuza universe.

That said, the whole multi-protagonist idea doesn’t always land perfectly. Akiyama’s introduction is a real highlight, and Saejima’s backstory packs a punch, but Tanimura’s detective work just never grabbed me, and his fighting style feels like the odd one out. Sometimes the different storylines feel like they’re running on separate tracks, and it can make the game feel a bit disjointed before everything finally comes together. Still, the combat is a big step up from Yakuza 3, and there are some truly memorable characters and plot twists along the way. It’s not a flawless entry, but it’s got enough heart and ambition to make it worth playing.

Yakuza 5 is an ambitious, sprawling epic that, for many, is a classic entry. So why does it land so low on this list? Simply put, its sheer ambition is both its greatest strength and its most significant weakness. The game's grand scope introduces five playable characters, each with their own distinct storyline and location. Kiryu, Taiga Saejima, Shun Akiyama, Tatsuo Shinada, and even Haruka Sawamura all get a piece of the action.

The issue is that not all of these stories are equally compelling. While Kiryu's life as a taxi driver and Saejima's prison escape are compelling, Shinada's story about a disgraced baseball player feels out of place and largely disconnected from the main narrative. The constant jumping between characters and cities, while impressive, can make the overarching plot feel disjointed and unfocused. The combat, however, is a high point, offering a fluid and satisfying experience that improves upon Yakuza 4's multi-protagonist structure. The game's scale is a testament to the series' creative team, but its execution feels a little too grand for its own good, resulting in an uneven experience that doesn't quite live up to its full potential.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a beautiful remake of the PlayStation 2 original, built on the Dragon Engine, which makes its rendition of Kamurocho and Sotenbori feel more alive than ever before. The story is a tense and dramatic affair, pitting Kiryu against Ryuji Goda, the "Dragon of Kansai," a villain who serves as a perfect foil to Kiryu's own legend. The narrative is a masterclass in rivalries, escalating from a personal grudge to a full-blown clan war.

The combat, however, is where Kiwami 2 shows its cracks. The Dragon Engine's fighting system in this early iteration feels floaty and less impactful than the previous brawling engine used in Yakuza 0 and Kiwami. While the engine's physics and heat actions are impressive, the core combat lacks the satisfying weight and variety of its predecessors. The new Majima Saga, while a welcome addition to fill in some story gaps, is a short and underwhelming side story. Despite its beautiful presentation and stellar narrative, the combat system and some pacing issues hold it back from true greatness.

Yakuza 6 serves as a poignant, emotionally resonant conclusion to Kazuma Kiryu's saga. The story sees Kiryu released from prison to a shocking revelation: his beloved daughter figure, Haruka, is in a coma, and she has a son. This triggers a search for the boy's father and a final journey for Kiryu to protect his family. The narrative is deeply personal and reflective, focusing on the themes of family and legacy.

This game was the first to be built entirely on the Dragon Engine, and its advancements are undeniable. The seamless transitions into battles, the incredible detail of the cities, and the beautiful facial animations were all groundbreaking for the series. However, the combat, while more refined than Kiwami 2, still feels a bit simplistic with its single fighting style. The smaller scale of the game, with fewer side activities and a more streamlined plot, is also a double-edged sword. It allows for a laser-focused narrative but can feel a little light on content compared to the sprawling epics that came before it. Yakuza 6 is a beautiful and fitting farewell, but its design choices keep it from the top tier.

Yakuza Kiwami is a spectacular remake of the very first Yakuza game. It takes the original's compelling, grounded crime story and elevates it with modern graphics, gameplay, and a wealth of new content. The story of Kiryu's return to Kamurocho after a decade in prison, only to find himself embroiled in a power struggle over 10 billion yen, is a classic for a reason. The introduction of Goro Majima's "Majima Everywhere" system, where he pops up to fight you in various disguises, is a genius addition that not only provides an excellent way to level up but also adds a hilarious, chaotic energy to the entire game.

The gameplay, built on the solid foundation of Yakuza 0's engine, features multiple fighting styles that are a joy to master. The game feels snappy, responsive, and incredibly satisfying to play. While the main story remains largely unchanged, the new cutscenes and side quests flesh out the narrative and provide a more complete experience. Yakuza Kiwami is the perfect entry point for new players and a fantastic nostalgia trip for old fans, proving that a great remake can improve upon a beloved original.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a landmark title in the series, serving as a masterful crossover between Kiryu's legacy and Ichiban's new era. The game is a colossal undertaking, with two sprawling stories that eventually merge in the sunny streets of Hawaii. The introduction of a full-fledged international location is a breath of fresh air, and the sheer amount of content is staggering, from the ridiculous "Dondoko Island" life sim to the intricate side quests.

The turn-based combat, a staple since Yakuza: Like a Dragon, is refined and expanded upon here. The new "Sujimon" and "Dondoko Island" mechanics provide hours of side content, and the game's emotional core is incredibly strong, especially in Kiryu's final, heart-wrenching storyline. The only thing that prevents Infinite Wealth from the top spot is its sheer size and length; the game can feel overwhelming at times, with a pacing that drags in the middle. However, the emotional payoff and satisfying conclusion to both protagonists' journeys make it one of the most rewarding experiences in the series.

The game that changed everything. Yakuza: Like a Dragon was a massive gamble, completely overhauling the series' core gameplay from brawling to turn-based RPG combat. The risk paid off spectacularly. The new protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga, is a loveable, eccentric idealist who stands in stark contrast to the stoic Kiryu. His story, a "hero's journey" inspired by Dragon Quest, is a refreshing and captivating tale of friendship, loyalty, and redemption.

The new combat system, where Ichiban and his party fight enemies that appear as monsters from his imagination, is a stroke of genius. It's a surprisingly deep and strategic system, full of clever job classes and ridiculous special moves. The game is packed with hilarious side quests, a brilliant main story, and a new city in Yokohama that feels as vibrant and alive as Kamurocho. Yakuza: Like a Dragon is not just a great Yakuza game; it's an incredible JRPG that successfully rebooted the series for a new generation.

It's fitting that the game that served as a prequel would take the top spot. Yakuza 0 is, quite simply, the magnum opus of the series. It has a masterful story that weaves together the origins of two of the series' most iconic characters, Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. Set in the decadent, neon-soaked streets of 1980s Kamurocho and Sotenbori, the game’s atmosphere is a character in itself, perfectly capturing the "bubble economy" era with its flashy suits, disco music, and high-stakes real estate deals.

The gameplay is the pinnacle of the classic brawling style, with four distinct fighting styles for both Kiryu and Majima. The combat is fast, fluid, and incredibly satisfying. The story, centered on a seemingly insignificant plot of land known as the "Empty Lot," is a taut, emotional, and expertly written crime thriller that constantly keeps you on the edge of your seat. Yakuza 0 has everything that makes the series great: a compelling narrative, an unforgettable cast of characters, an incredible soundtrack, and an endless stream of side content, from managing a cabaret club to running a real estate business. It is the perfect Yakuza experience and the gold standard to which all other entries are measured.