Like a Dragon, formerly titled Yakuza outside Japan, is a role playing video game series developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku and published by Sega. The series debuted in 2005 with the release of Yakuza on PlayStation 2. By 2022, the series sold over 19 million copies.

The majority games take place in the fictional red light district of Kamurocho, based on Kabukichō, Tokyo. Like a Dragon titles are usually released originally in Japan, before being released in the west a year later; the series is largely exclusive to the PlayStation series of consoles, and have made the transition to multiplatform releases in the eighth generation of video game consoles.

Related books, dramatizations and music albums have also been released.

Video games

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Main series

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Title Details

Original release date(s):
  • JP: December 8, 2005
  • NA: September 5, 2006
  • EU: September 15, 2006
Release years by system:
2005—PlayStation 2
Notes:
  • Worldwide sales: 1 million+[1][a]
  • Originally released as Ryū ga Gotoku (Japanese: 龍が如く, lit. "Like a Dragon") in Japan
  • Rereleased in the remastered compilation Yakuza 1 + 2 HD in 2012

Original release date(s):
  • JP: December 7, 2006
  • NA: September 9, 2008
  • EU: September 19, 2008
  • AU: September 25, 2008
Release years by system:
2006—PlayStation 2
Notes:
  • Worldwide sales: 870,000+[b]
  • Originally released as Ryū ga Gotoku 2 (Japanese: 龍が如く 2, lit. "Like a Dragon 2") in Japan
  • Rereleased in the remastered compilation Yakuza 1 + 2 HD in 2012

Original release date(s):
  • JP: February 26, 2009
  • NA: March 9, 2010
  • EU: March 12, 2010
  • AU: March 11, 2010
Release years by system:
2009—PlayStation 3
Notes:
  • Worldwide sales: 800,000[5]
  • Originally released as Ryū ga Gotoku 3 (Japanese: 龍が如く3, lit. "Like a Dragon 3") in Japan
  • Rereleased in the remastered compilation The Yakuza Remastered Collection in 2020

Original release date(s):
  • JP: March 18, 2010
  • NA: March 15, 2011
  • EU: March 18, 2011
Release years by system:
2010—PlayStation 3
Notes:
  • Worldwide sales: 500,000+[6]
  • Originally released as Ryū ga Gotoku 4: Densetsu wo Tsugumono (Japanese: 龍が如く4 伝説を継ぐもの, lit. "Like a Dragon 4: Successor of the Legend") in Japan
  • Rereleased in the remastered compilation The Yakuza Remastered Collection in 2020

Original release date(s):
  • JP: December 5, 2012
  • WW: December 18, 2015
Release years by system:
2012—PlayStation 3
Notes:
  • Worldwide sales: 700,000+[7]
  • Originally released as Ryū ga Gotoku 5: Yume, Kanaeshi Mono (Japanese: 龍が如く5 夢、叶えし者, lit. "Like a Dragon 5: Fulfiller of Dreams") in Japan
  • Rereleased in the remastered compilation The Yakuza Remastered Collection in 2020

Original release date(s):
  • JP: December 18, 2016
  • WW: April 17, 2018
Release years by system:
2016—PlayStation 4

2021—Microsoft Windows, Xbox One

Notes:
  • Worldwide sales: 1 million~[8]
  • Originally released as Ryū ga Gotoku 6: Inochi no Uta (Japanese: 龍が如く6 命の詩, Like a Dragon 6: Poem of Life) in Japan

Original release date(s):
  • JP: January 16, 2020
  • WW: November 10, 2020
Release years by system:
2020—PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

2021—PlayStation 5

Notes:
  • Worldwide sales: 3,500,000+[9]
  • Originally released as Ryū ga Gotoku 7: Hikari to Yami no Yukue (Japanese: 龍が如く7 光と闇の行方, Like a Dragon 7: Whereabouts of Light and Darkness)

Original release date(s):
  • WW: January 26, 2024
Release years by system:
PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Notes:

Worldwide sales: 1,000,000+

Remakes

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Title Details

Original release date(s):
  • JP: January 21, 2016
  • WW: August 29, 2017
Release years by system:
2016—PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4

2019—Microsoft Windows

2020—Xbox One

2022—Amazon Luna

2024—Nintendo Switch

Notes:
  • Worldwide sales: 1,500,000[c]
  • Originally released as Ryū ga Gotoku: Kiwami (Japanese: 龍が如く 極, lit. "Like a Dragon: Extreme") in Japan
  • Remake of the original game

Original release date(s):
  • JP: December 7, 2017
  • WW: August 28, 2018
Release years by system:
2017—PlayStation 4

2019—Microsoft Windows

2020—Xbox One

Notes:
  • Worldwide sales: 1,300,000[11]
  • Originally released as Ryū ga Gotoku: Kiwami 2 (Japanese: 龍が如く 極 2, Like a Dragon: Extreme 2) in Japan
  • Remake of Yakuza 2

Original release date(s):
  • NA: February 21, 2023
  • JP: February 22, 2023
Release years by system:
Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Notes:
  • Remake of the 2014 Japanese video game of the same name

Spin-offs

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Title Details

Original release date(s):
  • JP: March 6, 2008
Release years by system:
PlayStation 3
Notes:

Original release date(s):
  • JP: September 22, 2010
Release years by system:
PlayStation Portable
Notes:
  • Released in Japan only[15]
Ryū ga Gotoku Mobile for GREE

Original release date(s):
Release years by system:
February 23, 2011 - Phones

July 1, 2011 - iOS

July 12, 2011 - Android

Notes:
  • Released in Japan only

Original release date(s):
  • JP: June 9, 2011
  • NA: March 13, 2012
  • EU: March 16, 2012
Release years by system:
PlayStation 3
Notes:
  • Worldwide sales: 309,058[16]
CR Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan!

Original release date(s):
  • JP: October 18, 2011
Release years by system:
Notes:
  • A Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! themed slot machine game
  • Released in Japan only

Original release date(s):
  • JP: March 22, 2012
Release years by system:
PlayStation Portable
Notes:
  • Released in Japan only[17][18][19]
  • Direct sequel to Kurohyō: Ryū ga Gotoku Shinshō
Ryū ga Gotoku Kizuna

Original release date(s):
  • JP: March 26, 2012
Release years by system:
Android, iOS
Notes:
  • Released in Japan only

Original release date(s):
  • JP: February 22, 2014
Release years by system:
PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
Notes:
  • Japanese sales: ~400,000[20]
  • Released in Japan only[21]
  • Launch title for PlayStation 4 in Japan

Original release date(s):
  • JP: March 12, 2015
  • WW: January 24, 2017
Release years by system:
2015—PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4

2018—Microsoft Windows

2020—Xbox One

2021—Amazon Luna

Notes:
  • Worldwide sales: 2,000,000+[22]
  • Originally released as Ryū ga Gotoku Zero: Chikai no Basho (Japanese: 龍が如く0 誓いの場所, Like a Dragon 0: The Place of Oath) in Japan

Original release date(s):
  • JP: March 8, 2018
  • WW: October 2, 2018
Release years by system:
PlayStation 4
Notes:
  • Worldwide sales: 123,116[23][24]
  • Crossover title with the Fist of the North Star manga series on the Yakuza 5 engine
  • Originally released as Hokuto ga Gotoku (Japanese: 北斗が如く, Like the Big Dipper) in Japan.
Ryū ga Gotoku Online

Original release date(s):
  • JP: November 21, 2018
Release years by system:
Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS
Notes:
  • Released in Japan only

Original release date(s):
  • JP: December 13, 2018
  • WW: June 25, 2019
Release years by system:
2018—PlayStation 4

2021—Google Stadia, Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 5

2022—Microsoft Windows

Notes:
  • Worldwide sales: 1,000,000+[25]

Original release date(s):[26]
  • WW: October 17, 2020
Release years by system:
Microsoft Windows
Notes:

Original release date(s):
  • WW: September 24, 2021
Release years by system:
2021—Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

2022—Microsoft Windows

Notes:
  • Worldwide sales: 2,000,000+
  • Direct sequel to Judgment

Original release date(s):
  • WW: November 9, 2023
Release years by system:
Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Notes:
  • Side Story to Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Original release date(s):
  • WW: February 21, 2025
Release years by system:
Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Notes:
  • Sequel to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Remasters

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Title Details

Original release date(s):
  • JP: November 1, 2012
Release years by system:
2012—PlayStation 3

2013—Wii U

Notes:
  • Released only in Japan[27]
  • HD remasters of Yakuza and Yakuza 2
The Yakuza Remastered Collection

Original release date(s):
  • JP: August 9, 2018
Release years by system:
2018—PlayStation 4 (Yakuza 3)

2019–PlayStation 4 (Yakuza 4, Yakuza 5)

2021—Microsoft Windows, Xbox One (Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4, Yakuza 5)

Notes:
  • Compilation of Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4, and Yakuza 5 remastered titled The Yakuza Remastered Collection released physically for PlayStation 4 on February 11, 2020[28]

Other media

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Books

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Title Details
Kamutai Magazine Kamutai Magazine (カムタイマガジン)

Original release date(s):
December 2005
Release years by system:
2005—First issue released for Yakuza

2006—Second issue released for Yakuza 2

2008—Third issue released for Kenzan[29]

2009—Fourth issue released for Yakuza 3[30][31][32]

2010—Fifth issue released for Yakuza 4,[33] sixth issue released for Kurohyo[34][35]

2012—Seventh issue released for Kurohyo 2[36]

2015—Final issue released for Yakuza 0[37]

Notes:
  • Preorder bonus coinciding with the release of each respective game[38]
Kurohyou: Ryu Ga Gotoku Shinsho

Original release date(s):
December 2010
Release years by system:
2010
Notes:
  • This manga has 3 volumes.
  • The manga adaptation to the video game of the same name.

Dramatizations

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Title Details

Original release date(s):
  • JP: March 24, 2006
  • EU: August 15, 2006
Release years by system:
2006—DVD[39]
Notes:
  • A direct-to-video prequel to Yakuza

Original release date(s):
  • JP: March 3, 2007
  • NA: June 23, 2008
Release years by system:
2010—DVD[40]
Notes:
  • Based on Yakuza
  • Reboot currently in development[41]
Ryu Ga Gotoku Presents Kamuro-cho Radio Station (龍が如くPresents神室町RADIOSTATION)

Original release date(s):
  • JP: September 2008
Release years by system:
2008–Radio drama[42]
Notes:
  • Featuring several voice actors from the Like a Dragon series
Shin Kamuro-cho Radio Station (新・神室町RADIOSTATION)

Original release date(s):
Release years by system:
2009–Downloadable podcast[43]
Notes:
  • Second season of the radio drama
Kurohyo Ryu ga Gotoku Shinsho

Original release date(s):
  • JP: October 5, 2010
Release years by system:
2010–TBS television series[44]
Notes:
  • Based on the PlayStation Portable game of the same name
Kurohyo 2 Ryu ga Gotoku Ashura-hen

Original release date(s):
  • JP: April 8, 2012
Release years by system:
2012–TBS television series[45]
Notes:
  • Based on the PlayStation Portable game of the same name
Like a Dragon: Yakuza

Original release date(s):
  • WW: October 25, 2024
Release years by system:
2024–Amazon Prime Video television series[46]
Notes:
  • Based on Yakuza

Music albums

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Title Release date Length Label Source
Yakuza 0 (Side A) March 11, 2015 02:09:33 Laced Records [47]
Yakuza 0 (Side B) March 11, 2015 01:25:49 Laced Records [47]
Yakuza 1 & 2 January 25, 2007 02:20:35 SEGA [47]
Yakuza 3 February 26, 2009 01:15:05 Sega/Wave Master [47]
Yakuza 4 (Volume 1) March 24, 2010 01:52:32 SEGA [47]
Yakuza 4 (Volume 2) March 24, 2010 01:29:30 SEGA [47]
Yakuza 5 (Volume 1) December 5, 2012 01:49:14 (Original)
01:48:45 (-Revised-)
SEGA [47]
Yakuza 5 (Volume 2) December 5, 2012 02:34:24 SEGA [47]
Yakuza: Dead Souls (Volume 1) June 8. 2011 52:58 Sega [47]
Yakuza: Dead Souls (Volume 2) June 8. 2011 54:04 Sega [47]
Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (Volume 1) February 26, 2014 02:25:00 SEGA [47]
Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! (Volume 2) February 26, 2014 02:14:50 SEGA [47]
Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! March 5, 2008 1:13:26 Sega/Wave Master [47]
Yakuza Kiwami June 6, 2016 01:38:48 SEGA [47]
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life August 27, 2017 02:56:59 enterbrain [47]
Yakuza Kiwami & Yakuza Kiwami 2 December 7, 2017 02:39:02 (complete)
01:08:18 (original)
SEGA [47]
Yakuza: Like a Dragon February 14, 2022 02:44:04 SEGA MUSIC
Kurohyou: Ryu Ga Gotoku Shinsho October 6, 2010 57:09 SEGA
Kurohyou 2: Ryu Ga Gotoku Ashura-hen May 2, 2012 35:31 Wave Master Entertainment
Judgment December 13, 2018 03:08:12 enterbrain
Lost Judgment September 24, 2021 03:57:26 ebten records, SEGA MUSIC
Like a Dragon: Ishin! Complete Karaoke Songs February 22, 2023 28:25
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK December 06, 2023 02:38:01 Sega/Wave Master
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK March 06, 2024 05:55:20 WAVE MASTER ENTERTAINMENT

Notes

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  1. ^ Sales figures may include remastered version
  2. ^
    • 830,000 units sold in Japan.[2][3]
    • 40,000 units sold in North America[4]
  3. ^
    • 103,256 sold for PlayStation 4 in Japan.
    • 60,427 sold for PlayStation 3 in Japan.[10]

References

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  1. ^ 仗桐安 (2009-02-27). "「龍が如く3」レビュー:伝説の極道が、PS3で大暴れ!――東京と沖縄でリアルな街を駆け抜けろ (1/3)". ITmedia website. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
  2. ^ "GrID S565 - PS2 2006 Releases". garaph.info. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  3. ^ "GID 2690 - Yakuza 2 (PlayStation 2 The Best) - PS2". garaph.info. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  4. ^ "Yakuza 3 won't go west, says SEGA News". Eurogamer. 2009-07-30. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  5. ^ "yakuza 3 in a sentence". Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Yakuza 4 For PS3 Debuts With 384,000 Sold In Japan". 25 March 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  7. ^ Purchese, Robert (May 10, 2013). "Aliens: Colonial Marines managed 1.31 million sales". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  8. ^ "Yakuza 6 Sales Nears 1 Million Mark Worldwide". PlayStation LifeStyle. June 5, 2018.
  9. ^ "Business Report FY 2020 Summer" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  10. ^ コンシューマソフト週間販売ランキングTop20 (集計期間:2016年1月18日~1月24日) [Consumer software weekly sales ranking Top20 (January 18 to January 24, 2016)]. 4Gamer (in Japanese). January 27, 2016. Archived from the original on February 10, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  11. ^ Sato (2017-12-13). "This Week In Sales: Yakuza Kiwami 2 And Earth Defense Force 5 Bring Out The Big Guns". Siliconera. Curse, Inc. Archived from the original on 2017-12-23. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  12. ^ Weekly Famitsu, issue 1020
  13. ^ "Sony PS3 Japanese Ranking". Japan Game Charts. 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  14. ^ Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! @ GameSpot
  15. ^ "クロヒョウ 龍が如く新章". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  16. ^ "コンシューマソフト週間販売ランキングTop20" (in Japanese). 2011-06-15.
  17. ^ Anoop Gantayat (August 31, 2011). "Yakuza 5 in Development, Black Panther Sequel Due for PSP". Andriasang. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
  18. ^ "KUROHYOU 2: RYU GA GOTOKU ASHURA HEN". Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  19. ^ "『クロヒョウ2 龍が如く 阿修羅編』トレイラームービーTGS .ver". YouTube. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  20. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (9 May 2014). "How are Sega's video games selling?". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  21. ^ Handrahan, Matthew (27 February 2014). "Knack beats Yakuza to Japanese number one". GamesIndustry.biz. Gamer Network. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  22. ^ Romano, Sal (12 June 2015). "Yakuza 0 shipments top 500,000". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  23. ^ Giuseppe Nelva (March 14, 2018). "Hokuto Ga Gotoku Finally Dethrones Monster Hunter World in Japan According to Media Create". DualShockers. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  24. ^ "Monster Hunter World Falls to Fist of the North Star After Seven Consecutive Weeks on Top". GameRevolution. 2018-03-14. Archived from the original on 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  25. ^ Romano, Sal (December 19, 2018). "Media Create Sales: 12/10/18 – 12/16/18". Gematsu. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  26. ^ a b Romano, Sal (14 October 2020). "Streets of Kamurocho, a mashup of Streets of Rage 2 and Yakuza, coming to PC on October 17 for a limited time". Gematsu. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  27. ^ 龍が如く1&2 HD EDITION PlayStation®3 the Best, PlayStation official website - Japan Archived 2015-05-08 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ "The Yakuza Remastered Collection is Available Today". 11 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  29. ^ "PS3 Ryu Ga Gotoku Kenzan! - New Import, In Stock". National Console Support, Inc. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008.
  30. ^ "あの「伝説の予約特典」が帰ってきた!『龍が如く3』予約購入すると「Kamutai magazine」をプレゼント! 2009年2月26日に発売決定!!" [That 'legendary reservation bonus' is back! Pre-order 'Yakuza 3' and get 'Kamutai magazine' as a gift! It will be released on February 26, 2009!!] (Press release) (in Japanese). Sega Co., Ltd. November 28, 2008. Archived from the original on April 23, 2015.
  31. ^ Nguyen, Hung (December 2, 2008). "Yakuza 3 aura son bundle collector" [Yakuza 3 collector's bundle]. Jeux Actu (in French). Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  32. ^ "Yakuza 3 Finished In February". Siliconera. November 28, 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  33. ^ "Ryu Ga Gotoku 4 Kamutai Magazine March 2010". National Console Support, Inc. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  34. ^ Warmoth, Brian (May 12, 2010). "New 'Yakuza' Game Named (in Japanese) and Dated for PSP". MTV News. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  35. ^ "Kurohyou Ryu ga Gotoku Shinshou Premium Box". National Console Support, Inc. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  36. ^ "Kurohyou 2 Ryu ga Gotoku Ashura Hen". National Console Support, Inc. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  37. ^ "Ryu Ga Gotoku 0: Chikai no Basho [PS3/JPN]". National Console Support, Inc. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  38. ^ "「龍が如く」予約特典は舞台となる"神室町"を徹底解剖した「神室町夜遊び探検隊 Kamutai magazine」" ['Ryu ga Gotoku' preorder bonus is 'Kamutai magazine', a thorough guide to 'Kamurocho']. +D Games (in Japanese). November 11, 2005. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  39. ^ セガ、PS2「龍が如く」のプレストーリーを描く実写版DVD「龍が如く ~序章~」を発売
  40. ^ 龍が如く 劇場版デラックスBOX【初回限定生産】 [DVD]
  41. ^ Dave McNary (24 September 2020). "Sega Developing Live-Action Adaptation Based on 'Yakuza' Video Game With 1212, Wild Sheep (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  42. ^ "神室町RADIOSTATION archives". Ryu-ga-gotoku.com. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
  43. ^ "新・神室町RADIOSTATION, official website". Ryu-ga-gotoku.com. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
  44. ^ http://kurohyotv.jp/
  45. ^ "クロヒョウ2 龍が如く阿修羅編". kurohyo2tv.jp. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  46. ^ Frater, Patrick; Ramachandran, Naman (2024-06-04). "'Like a Dragon: Yakuza' Live-Action Series Adaptation of Hit Sega Game Heading to Prime Video (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  47. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Listen to Yakuza Soundtracks on Spotify and Dance the Night Away with Kiryu". 9 January 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.