Putting aside the debate of where to start withYakuza, whether it’s 0, Kiwami, or Like a Dragon, there’s a much bigger hurdle newcomers have to overcome - the sheer number of games the series has to offer.
It now spans nine main titles, two canon spin-offs, and several alternate stories like Dead Souls and Ishin. Finding a starting point is just the beginning because you’re strapping into an enormous commitment of several 50 plus hour RPGs.
Even before Ichiban Kasuga stepped onto the scene with his frizzy afro, when there were seven main games, I was tepid about getting into the series. For one, it meant throwing money at something I had no idea I’d like, and two, I feared that if I did like it, I’d be inclined to throw even more money at all the sequels.
So, I downloaded Yakuza 0 (the best place to start) to see what all the fuss was about. 50 hours later, it consumed me and left me a shallow husk hungering for more, clawing at Nishiki’s ankles for another taste. Jump ahead six weeks, and I was starting Like a Dragon.
Yakuza should be a completely impenetrable series. Imagine if you had to play 15 otherFinal Fantasygames to understand everything about 16 - we’re not far off that reality with Infinite Wealth. But with the entire series being on Game Pass, it’s more approachable than ever. You can fill the quiet lulls of the year with some quality Kiryu time and make your way through the series without fearing that you’ve splashed out on something you won’t finish.
Being on Game Pass doesn’t just make the series easier to get into, but it puts it in front of more eyes. There are a lot of people who would never think to buy one of the games, let alone worry about which one to start with, but having all of them on the service gave them a long-overdue boost. Infinite Wealth and Like a Dragon were huge releases, propelling the series into the mainstream like never before, and that was because of the success of 0 and the earlier games releasing on Microsoft’s service.
Speaking toTwinfinitein 2022, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio director Masayoshi Yokoyama himself said that he believes subscription services like Game Pass “contributed largely to the increase in audience” in the West. And with that growing audience, the series has only become more approachable withEnglish dubsand remasters of old games. You don’t have to go scrounging for expensive old PS2 copies to see where Kiryu’s journey began.
Ryu Ga Gotoku is clearly aware of how much influence these subscription services have, as the Yakuza series has since launched on PS Plus, expanding its reach even further. Over the past few years alone, it’s grown from being a cult hit into a worldwide phenomenon, a true testament to how powerful the ‘Why not?’ mindset is. With the games only a download button away, so many more were willing to take the leap. And as they’d quickly realise, some of the best storytelling in the medium had been right under their noses this whole time.
Like a Dragon Week
Like a Dragon Week is TheGamer’s celebration of all things Yakuza/Like a Dragon, with features, interviews, and opinions on Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s massively popular series of action-adventue brawlers.
