When Sega’s Yakuza games first appeared in the west, they were not as successful as they had been in native Japan. But over time, and with new additions to the series, the Yakuza franchise soon became one of the most beloved action-adventure game series around. The games combine genres like beat ‘em up, open-world, turn-based strategy, and RPG, and the crime drama storylines are inspired by the old Japanese yakuza movies.
Top 3 Best Games of the Yakuza Series
All of the Yakuza games are great fun to play, but here is our pick of the top three.
1. Yakuza Kiwami
As you probably know, the real-life yakuza are members of an organized crime syndicate that originated in Japan. The Mafia-like group members are known for their strict codes of conduct, sharp suits, and heavily tattooed bodies. Yakuza also operate many illegal mahjong parlors and casinos in Japan. But thankfully, Japanese people do not need to get involved with the yakuza to play casino games.
They have the better option of playing play safe, legal, and exciting games like mahjong online at sites like Dunder オンラインカジノ casino. And if you are fascinated by the legendary yakuza, you can always play one of the Yakuza video games instead of trying to meet members of the crime syndicate in real life! Out of the eight games in the main series, Yakuza Kiwami is one of the best.
The action-adventure game, which was released in 2016, is a remake of the first game in the Yakuza series that came out in 2005. The story follows the yakuza Kazuma Kiryu, who is demoted from his clan after being held responsible for his boss’s murder. After spending a decade in prison, Kiryu finds his friends have gone missing and it is up to him to find them.
2. Yakuza 5
For the first time in the Yakuza series, Yakuza 5 features five settings across Japan and five different playable characters. Released in Japan in 2012 and in the west in 2015, Yakuza 5 provides players with more freedom than ever before.
For instance, depending on the character you play, you could take a job as a down-and-out taxi driver to explore the urban underbelly of Japan, become famous, or fight a bear! The cities of Yakuza 5 are also notable. They are significantly larger than in previous games, allowing you to explore the world in much more detail than ever before.
The game is divided into two components: the Adventure Mode and the Combat Mode. With the former, you can explore different areas and play mini retro games like Virtua Fighter 2. In Combat Mode, you get to show off your fighting skills.
3. Yakuza 0
Many fans consider Yakuza 0 to be the best game in the series. It is also a good place to start if you are completely new to the franchise because its story is a prequel to the events of the rest of the games in the series. Yakuza 0 was also responsible for the game series’ rise in popularity in the west. Before the game came out in 2015, the Yakuza series was pretty obscure outside of Japan.
There are two playable protagonists in Yakuza 0: the twenty-year-old Kazuma Kiryu and the twenty-four-year-old Goro Majima. The two are trying to make names for themselves in the criminal underworld of Japan, but both are stuck in situations that they do not enjoy.
Kiryu’s job is to collect money from lowlifes while Majima is forced to obey his corrupt superiors’ orders. In addition to plenty of action, Yakuza 0 contains some truly heart-wrenching interactions between the protagonists and the vagabonds of the city, as well as some very funny moments in which 1980s icons like Miracle Jonson are sent up.
