My favorite Yakuza games, ranked
This is a list of my favorite Yakuza games. I'll be updating this list every time I finish a Yakuza game with its position on the ranking. Being the last place doesn't mean it's the worst game of the series, after all, I love each iteration of this saga to death!
17 Games
Played on PC.
This is my favorite Yakuza game ever. And probably my favorite game ever. I love Ichiban, I love the gameplay mechanics, I love the visuals, everything in this game is actually perfect to me! This game helped me so much through bad times, and I'll never forget how much it cheered me up.
This is my favorite Yakuza game ever. And probably my favorite game ever. I love Ichiban, I love the gameplay mechanics, I love the visuals, everything in this game is actually perfect to me! This game helped me so much through bad times, and I'll never forget how much it cheered me up.
1
Played on PS5.
The pinnacle of brawler gameplay. It has some of the best music of the franchise, and the school setting is great. The villain is great and the bullying themes of the story hit me deeply.
The pinnacle of brawler gameplay. It has some of the best music of the franchise, and the school setting is great. The villain is great and the bullying themes of the story hit me deeply.
2
Played on PSP emulator.
This might be the best early spin-off of the franchise. I love this game a lot. It's a different kind of gameplay from the base Yakuza games, and it shows. I wish it had a remaster so that more people could experience this amazing title.
This might be the best early spin-off of the franchise. I love this game a lot. It's a different kind of gameplay from the base Yakuza games, and it shows. I wish it had a remaster so that more people could experience this amazing title.
3
Played on PS4.
The OG Ishin is a great title. I love every face model used here, and it's a big homage to the previous 5 games' actors.
The combat is great and the soundtrack is lovely.
The OG Ishin is a great title. I love every face model used here, and it's a big homage to the previous 5 games' actors.
The combat is great and the soundtrack is lovely.
4
Played on PS4.
This is peak Yakuza. The best PS3 era game of the series, and full of good characters, both playable and non playable.
This is peak Yakuza. The best PS3 era game of the series, and full of good characters, both playable and non playable.
5
Played on PC.
Gaiden improves over LJ's combat with more balanced juggle combos, but doesn't strike the same itch that Lost Judgment manages to. Storywise, it's Kiryu's "goodbye" title made better than Yakuza 6.
Gaiden improves over LJ's combat with more balanced juggle combos, but doesn't strike the same itch that Lost Judgment manages to. Storywise, it's Kiryu's "goodbye" title made better than Yakuza 6.
6
Played the OG PS4 version on PS5.
Judgment is one of those games I'd like to revisit: the combat is a little slower if you play LJ after it. However, I think the story here is better than Lost Judgment. I miss a few of the characters that appear here too. It's a great introduction title to Yagami, however!
Judgment is one of those games I'd like to revisit: the combat is a little slower if you play LJ after it. However, I think the story here is better than Lost Judgment. I miss a few of the characters that appear here too. It's a great introduction title to Yagami, however!
7
Played on PS4.
Yakuza 6 has my favorite soundtrack of the franchise. But I wish Takeshi Kitano had a better, more active role in the story, which I don't find really that great. This was supposed to be the final Kiryu game, but other than its heart wrenching ending, this title does not give justice to the OG characters that appeared in the previous games.
Yakuza 6 has my favorite soundtrack of the franchise. But I wish Takeshi Kitano had a better, more active role in the story, which I don't find really that great. This was supposed to be the final Kiryu game, but other than its heart wrenching ending, this title does not give justice to the OG characters that appeared in the previous games.
8
Played on PS3 emulator.
This has become a personal favorite of mine. The OG Yakuza has a great soundtrack and the origins of the brawler combat are well conceived.
This has become a personal favorite of mine. The OG Yakuza has a great soundtrack and the origins of the brawler combat are well conceived.
9
Played on PC.
I'll be honest: I originally rushed through 0 because I was hyped to play the Dragon Engine games. it still is the best Yakuza game objectively, but not my personal favorite. I still plan to revisit it someday and maybe even platinum it. If I learn mahjong, of course.
I'll be honest: I originally rushed through 0 because I was hyped to play the Dragon Engine games. it still is the best Yakuza game objectively, but not my personal favorite. I still plan to revisit it someday and maybe even platinum it. If I learn mahjong, of course.
10
Played on PS5.
This is Majima saga done better. Unlike the bonus content from Kiwami 2, this has a deep combat with movesets that are reminiscent of Yakuza 0's brawler and beast style. The story is also great, and I love that they used Fog from 83key more often in this one.
This is Majima saga done better. Unlike the bonus content from Kiwami 2, this has a deep combat with movesets that are reminiscent of Yakuza 0's brawler and beast style. The story is also great, and I love that they used Fog from 83key more often in this one.
11
Played on PC.
Known in Japan as Ishin Kiwami, this is an Unreal Engine remaster of OG Ishin. The key changes are on the mechanics of combat and actors used. RGG Studio decided to use newer actors from the 0 through 7 games this time, so we get a few changes, which I didn't really like. Shibusawa being the main villain did remove a bit of the uniqueness that Ishin had, and the card mechanics aren't that good. I wish they just ported the original game, honestly.
Known in Japan as Ishin Kiwami, this is an Unreal Engine remaster of OG Ishin. The key changes are on the mechanics of combat and actors used. RGG Studio decided to use newer actors from the 0 through 7 games this time, so we get a few changes, which I didn't really like. Shibusawa being the main villain did remove a bit of the uniqueness that Ishin had, and the card mechanics aren't that good. I wish they just ported the original game, honestly.
12
Played on PC.
This is a GREAT game, it was my favorite Yakuza for a few years before I played 7. However, some of the changes in this game aren't for the better. While I didn't play the OG Yakuza 2 yet, the lack of key songs like Evil Itself and North Menace are really disappointing to see nowadays.
This is a GREAT game, it was my favorite Yakuza for a few years before I played 7. However, some of the changes in this game aren't for the better. While I didn't play the OG Yakuza 2 yet, the lack of key songs like Evil Itself and North Menace are really disappointing to see nowadays.
13
Played on PS4.
Yakuza 3 is AMAZING. This is a title I really love and seeing Kiryu happy taking care of the kids in the orphanage is great. I plan to revisit this title eventually to do all substories.
Yakuza 3 is AMAZING. This is a title I really love and seeing Kiryu happy taking care of the kids in the orphanage is great. I plan to revisit this title eventually to do all substories.
14
Played on PS4.
This is my first Yakuza game. I was sold when I first heard the trailer with "Virtical Point". It's a great remake, even with all the Majima stuff I didn't really care about. It adds a lot to Nishikiyama's character and makes his battle even more impactful.
This is my first Yakuza game. I was sold when I first heard the trailer with "Virtical Point". It's a great remake, even with all the Majima stuff I didn't really care about. It adds a lot to Nishikiyama's character and makes his battle even more impactful.
15
Played on PS4.
This is good too. Not one of the best Yakuza games, but still good nonetheless. It has a few weird scenes, and the rubber bullets plot is a major miss. I absolutely love Akiyama's introduction and gameplay, however.
This is good too. Not one of the best Yakuza games, but still good nonetheless. It has a few weird scenes, and the rubber bullets plot is a major miss. I absolutely love Akiyama's introduction and gameplay, however.
16
Played on PS4.
I really love this game! This introduced me to Hokuto no Ken, and I still want to watch the anime. The open world isn't really that good but damn, Receive You -North Star- is epic. The battles in this game are really great too.
I really love this game! This introduced me to Hokuto no Ken, and I still want to watch the anime. The open world isn't really that good but damn, Receive You -North Star- is epic. The battles in this game are really great too.
17