Sega’s Yakuza is one of the most distinctive and charming story-driven action-adventure franchises out there. The series is modest at first and mostly resembles a straightforward action-crime drama. However, every game betrays this first impression, with a masterful mix of beat ’em up combat, intriguing twists and turns, memorable characters, absurdist humor and a living world to explore.
Yakuza stems from the mind of Toshihiro Nagoshi, who wanted to create a game that tells a story based on Japanese crime syndicates. While the project struggled to get the green light due to perceived limited appeal, it was finally released on the PlayStation 2 in 2005 with its debut.
While the series has long enjoyed cult following, it achieved Western success in 2017 with Yakuza 0, an inviting new prequel to the start of the series’ timeline. Years later, thanks to Sega’s continued localization, the help of memes, and the love of the established cult audience, Yakuza has earned popularity and become one of Sega’s most successful IPs.
With multiple games in the series coming to PlayStation Plus*, now is the best time to become a Yakuza fan. Join us as we highlight each game and how it developed the series.
Yakuza
Yakuza | US edition: 2006 | Playstation 2
Yakuza Kiwami | US edition: 2016 | Playstation 4
Yakuza debuted on the PlayStation 2 and introduced us to the series’ longest-running protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu, a yakuza lieutenant who makes it his mission to protect an orphan targeted by a criminal organization called the Tojo Clan. . The story that unfolds is gripping, emotional and exciting, setting the stage for the franchise’s decades-long crime series.
As expected, the first game laid the early foundations for what makes the series’ gameplay now so memorable and iconic. It takes place in a fictionalized version of Tokyo’s Kabukicho neighborhood, known in the game as Kamurocho. At the time, critics praised Yakuza for his authentic portrayal of Japanese culture in his environment. While Kamurocho is a relatively small space to explore, it’s packed with side missions and activities that provide experience points upon completion, which ties into the game’s role-playing mechanics. Everything in the world fuels Kazuma Kiryu’s growth, allowing you to unlock more perks for the hero.
Yakuza marked an exciting start for the then fledgling series, and has undoubtedly left a mark on those lucky enough to play it. The game left enough of a lasting legacy to receive a full-fledged PS4 remake called Yakuza Kiwami in 2016. Not only did it modernize the visuals and add more story, but it fixed the original’s clunkier combat system, bringing it more in line with Yakuza 0’s (more on that game later).
Yakuza 2
Yakuza 2 | US edition: 2008 | Playstation 2
Yakuza Kiwami 2 | US edition: 2018 | Playstation 4
After two years, the Yakuza series returned to PlayStation 2 exclusively with Yakuza 2. The sequel tried to address the negative qualities of its predecessor while improving the well-received parts. There’s more at stake with a yakuza clan war on the horizon and two cities to explore. In addition, the combat was further improved.
Kazuma Kiryu returns as the protagonist and has some new tricks up his sleeve. Brawling is the star of the show here, with greater combat depth compared to the former. Combat is more engaging thanks to AI partners, NPCs that share weapons, more combo variety, off-the-ground grabs, and more powerful attacks.
Like its predecessor, Yakuza 2 also received a remake in 2018 in the form of Yakuza Kiwami 2. It both adds story content and removes it from Yakuza 2, completely changes Kiryu’s movements, and is built from the ground up in the modern Dragon Engine of the series. . These changes garnered mixed reactions from fans, but the game is still well regarded overall.
Yakuza 3
Yakuza 3 | US edition: 2010 | Playstation 3
Yakuza 3 Remastered | US edition: 2020 | Playstation 4
Yakuza 3 was expected to receive a significant visual upgrade, not only because of the more powerful PS3 hardware it was released on, but also because of Cyberware head and face scanning. In addition to debuting as the most graphically impressive game in the series to date, it has also cemented the sandbox structure that the series uses to this day.
Other new features, such as seamless in-game transitions to combat, Revelations’ hilarious photography-focused side activities, and a first-person view mode made this next-gen experience feel fresh. Yakuza 3 was also the first time DLC was made available, making a feature-rich game even bigger.
Yakuza 4
Yakuza 4 | US edition: 2011 | Playstation 3
Yakuza 4 Remastered | US release: 2019 | Playstation 4
Yakuza 4 introduced yet another shake-up for the formula. For the first time, you could now take control of a cast of characters to explore Kamurocho. These four characters – Masayoshi Tanimura, Shun Akiyama, Taiga Saejima and Kazuma Kiryu – can traverse this newly expanded neighborhood, including rooftops and underground areas, all while embarking on separate quests that make up a single complex story. Each character plays differently with their own unique combat styles and objectives to achieve. And because it would become a series tradition, Yakuza 4 also gave its cast special karaoke and dating mini-games.
Yakuza 5
Yakuza 5 | US edition: 2015 | Playstation 3
Yakuza 5 Remastered | US edition: 2020 | Playstation 4
Yakuza 5 continued the multi-character tradition by adding a fifth face to the game. It is also the first in the series to use an all-new graphics engine, earning it the internal nickname “New Yakuza”. No longer limited to Tokyo, five new cities could also be explored, including Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Sapporo. Arcade classics such as Virtua Fighter 2 and Taiko no Tasujin were also added to the arcade, along with a host of upgrades to the core battle system.
And for those of you who are familiar with the Baka Mitai or “Dame dane” memes, Yakuza 5 is the source!
Yakuza 0
US edition: 2017 | Playstation 4
If you’ve ever asked a Yakuza fan for a recommended starting point in the franchise, they probably said Yakuza 0. This game was meant to be a starting point for all-new fans to jump into the series. Judging by the franchise’s precipitous rise in popularity upon its release in 2017, their plan clearly worked.
Yakuza 0 is a prequel set during the economic boom of the 1980s in Japan and marks a new beginning that brings the story back to basics. You control the stoic and reliable Kazuma Kiryu and his ever-unpredictable counterpart, Goro Majima, who are both embroiled in a conflict between rival factions to conquer a swath of land known as the “Void Plot”.
Most excited about Yakuza 0’s innovation is the revamped combat system. Now Kiryu and Majima have multiple attack styles that they can switch between. This creative and fluid combat system captured the hearts of fans and newcomers alike.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
US edition: 2018 | Playstation 4
Yakuza 6 brought another major visual upgrade to the franchise. While the recent entries at the time, Yakuza 0 and Kiwami, launched on modern hardware, both games were tethered to previous generation engines. Yakuza 6 is the first game built from the ground up on the PlayStation 4 and uses the Dragon Engine, giving the action a much-needed facelift thanks to improved visuals and more dynamic physics.
With Yakuza 6 as the finale to Kiryu’s saga, it brings things back to basics, with him being the only playable character. As Kiryu, you explore Kamurocho and now the extra city of Onomichi. Although he lost the ability to switch between multiple fighting styles, the old dog comes up with some new tricks. Extreme Heat mode makes its debut here, giving your attacks increased recoil resistance, while ferocious Heat combo-enders deal heavy damage to enemies. These new mechanics and more of the series’ signature stories brought Kiryu’s final chapter to a close with a bang.
Yakuza: like a dragon
US edition: 2020 | Playstation 4 & Playstation 5
The sixth official entry in the franchise, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, flips the script with an all-new protagonist and gameplay style. The Dragon Quest-obsessed hero, Ichiban Kasuga, took the blame for a murder he didn’t commit to prove his loyalty to his clan – only to be evicted after being released from prison 18 years later. Ichiban teams up with a group of other outcasts to solve the mystery of his betrayal and become a “hero” to others.
In keeping with our protagonist’s love for Dragon Quest, Like a Dragon uses turn-based JRPG combat for the first time in the series. This idea actually came from an April Fools joke from 2019, funnily enough, but it works to make this title feel incredibly unique. Such a radical departure makes this a great gateway to the Yakuza world, and it’s now hailed as one of the best in the franchise.
Whether you’re a newcomer curious about Sega’s captivating crime saga, or a fan eager to get back to the streets of Kamurocho, now’s a great time to get in on the blockbuster Yakuza titles coming to PlayStation Plus in 2022. come.
Game library varies over time, region/country and plan. See https://www.playstation.com/Plus for details and updates on PS Plus offers. PlayStation Plus is an ongoing subscription for which a recurring subscription fee will be automatically charged (at the then-current PS Store price) at the frequency you choose at purchase until cancellation. Terms apply: play.st/psplus-usageterms
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