Every game in the Yakuza series, in release order

gamepur.com:

The critically acclaimed series centered on the Japanese mafia has now been gracing our consoles for over a decade. Though most of us have become familiar with the Yakuza franchise name, the Japanese releases were launched under the title Ryū ga Gotoku, which in English, translates to Like a Dragon.

Thanks to the popularity of the most recent release, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the series as a whole is finally being given the mainstream attention it deserves. In order to see just how far the franchise has come, here’s a comprehensive list of every game launched in the Yakuza series in release order.

The first game that kick-started the lauded franchise, simply entitled Yakuza, was launched internationally in 2006 for the PS2. The story follows Kazuma Kiryu, an influential member of the Japanese mafia whose steadfast attitude constantly earns him the respect of his peers and subordinates.

Yakuza’s release in Japan in 2005 and its subsequent worldwide distribution in 2006 were mostly met with critical acclaim. Many praised it for its gripping storyline, character development, and combat system but there was also slight criticism for some of its in-game mechanics.

Yakuza 2, a direct sequel to the first installment, was released for the PS2 in Japan in 2006 but had a much later international launch in 2008. Players again take the role of the stoic Kazuma Kiryu as he is plunged once more into the Japanese criminal underworld. Main improvements to the game included adding romantic themes into the story and refining the combat system. Localizations of Yakuza 2 also kept the original Japanese voice acting instead of the heavily criticized English dubs of the