Looking for the best Yakuza game to start with? You've come to the right place! Even though the Yakuza series is quite an old one, it recently gained a major surge in popularity. And yes, I'm calling 15 years old because it is in video game years. After all, Yakuza series dates all the way back to the Playstation 2 era. But maybe you didn't own a PS2 back then and now you're looking to get introduced to the series in its PC days. If that's the case, you're probably wondering which is the best Yakuza game to start the series with. That's a good question, and today we're going to find an answer to that. We're also going to talk about which order to play Yakuza games in, just to cover all bases. So let's get started!

The best Yakuza game about

Unfortunately, the Yakuza series didn't take off in the west like it did in Japan until quite recently. Naturally, you might not even know what it is about. So before we talk about what is the best Yakuza game to start with we should talk a bit about what Yakuza games are about.

Games in the Yakuza series are a heavily story-driven games with a lot of action and humour you can't get anywhere else. It is quite safe to say they're very unique in the terms of experience they provide. If I had to decide for a Yakuza games genre, I'd say they're an action RPG set in a semi-open world. But if we disregard the usual genre labels, Yakuza series is a crime soap opera. That's hands-down the best description you can get.

The Yakuza games feature a lot of dialogue, cutscenes, plot twists, violence, minigames, and bear punching. No, I'm not kidding about that last one. The Yakuza minigames are actually a big part of its appeal, but we'll talk more about those later. But the answer to the question of „what are Yakuza games about?“ is the story. Yakuza games heavily focus on the story and the plot that moves really fast. Seriously, don't try to go to the bathroom during one of the cutscenes,  you'll probably end up completely lost to the story. So that's the basis of what the Yakuza games are about, now let's talk a bit about what is the best Yakuza game to start with.

Best Yakuza game to start with

When talking about the best Yakuza game to start with there are actually two answers. Of course, it depends on your preferences. If you're like me you probably like to experience games in the chronological order of the story they tell. In that case, the best game to start Yakuza with is none other than Yakuza 0.

So why start the series with Yakuza 0? Well, as I said before, it's the first game in chronological order. Even though it was released much later, it serves as a prequel to the original games. Not to mention it is one of the best games in the series.

But what if you want to play the Yakuza games in order of release? Well, the good news is that you can do it. All of the Yakuza game stories stand on their own. Meaning that you don't have to be familiar with the previous ones in order to play the next one. In that case, the best Yakuza game to start with is Yakuza Kiwami. Yakuza Kiwami is a remake of the original Yakuza game, and it brings so many improvements to it. Additionally, after finishing Yakuza Kiwami go ahead and play Yakuza Kiwami 2. As you might have guessed, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a remake of the original Yakuza 2 game and the sequel to Yakuza Kiwami.

In conclusion, depending on your preferences, both Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami are great choices when deciding where to start with the Yakuza games. However, I would personally recommend starting with Yakuza 0 above Yakuza Kiwami, and not just because it's the first game from a narrative perspective. Naturally, you'll want to know a bit more about it before starting. After all, I'm just a guy on the internet throwing recommendations around. So let's talk about it a little bit more before you rush off to buy it. Or buy it and then come back, it's not like this article is going anywhere.

Best Yakuza game to start with – Yakuza 0

So what makes Yakuza 0 the best Yakuza game to start with? I'll give you three reasons: the story, the minigames, and the type of humour you can't get anywhere else. Let me elaborate.

The story of Yakuza 0 and why it's the best Yakuza game to start with

Yakuza 0 story follows Kazuma Kiryu, a low level  Yakuza member, and Goro Majima. The Yakuza 0 story takes place in 1988. Both Kazuma and Goro get involved into a massive conspiracy concerning the Empty Lot after they've been accused of murders they had nothing to do with. The Empty Lot is the centerpiece of a power struggle between criminal powers of Japan. It has the power to cause a major shift in power between all the organisations.

Yakuza 0 has a total of 17 story chapters, not counting the epilogue. Now here is the thing about Yakuza 0 story – it's action packed and full of twists and turns. Twists that I would most likely give away spoilers for if I tried to talk more about it in-depth. But I can safely explain why the Yakuza 0 story is so good instead.

Yakuza 0 story has brilliantly written characters and dialogue, not to mention amazing highly memorable cutscenes. Playing through it feels like watching an intense crime drama series. Once you get started the Yakuza 0 story will get you hooked and never let go. And that's just the main story. Yakuza 0 side-quests have the same effort put into them, making sure they don't feel like just a filler to pass the time. If you're a fan of a good, and more importantly fast-paced story, you will absolutely love this game.

Yakuza 0 minigames – that's what we're here for

You might have heard the Yakuza game series being praised for its minigames. That's not surprising given how many of them there are. Each game series has something that makes it stand out, and in this case it's the Yakuza minigames.

There are more than 25 Yakuza 0 minigames that are available to you in between missions. Yes, that number is real. And unlike minigames in some other games, these are not just quickly pieced together things that will keep you occupied for 30 seconds before you forget about them. They're fully fleshed out minigames which can give you just as much fun as the main game.

Yakuza 0 minigames range from arcade games to gambling and everything in between. Meaning you can play a round of poker or baccarat, relax with a bit of fishing after it, and then choose one of many nightlife activities to end your day such as karaoke, gambling, or disco. Not to mention you can go see a catfight or have fun at the batting center.

Yakuza 0 humour – you can't get it anywhere else

Yakuza 0 humour is truly something to behold, and it is definitely best to experience on your own. But let me paint you a picture here. In Yakuza 0 you'll find scenes such as ridiculous karaoke outfits while singing your heart out. After that, you can go and take part in a coliseum fights that pit you against different fighters in order to win prize money. Unfortunately for you, one of them has the right to bear arms. Literally. So I hope you're prepared to punch a bear.

There are many other hilarious scenes in the main story and side quests, which I won't spoil for you. But if you enjoy the over-the-top ridiculous situations interspersed with characters being put in situations you couldn't have dream of, you're going to laugh your ass off. Not to mention that Yakuza 0 humour often parodies tropes found in Japanese film and animation.

All of that put together makes for a rich tapestry that is the Yakuza 0 humour. And one that you shouldn't miss when looking for a best Yakuza game to start the series with.

Yakuza 0 – truly the best Yakuza game to start with

If you were wondering what is the best Yakuza game to start with you're probably convinced by now. It's definitely Yakuza 0. It has everything from a great story which sets everything up for the events of the future games, brilliant gameplay, and tons of things to do for hours on end that will make you laugh.

The Yakuza series is definitely one that deserves more attention than it's currently getting. A real hidden gem, so to speak. Well, at least in the west. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead, grab Yakuza 0, and when you're done with it and want more (and believe me, you will), go ahead and treat yourself to Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2.

So go ahead and have some fun, but please don't try to punch bears in real life, and I'll see you next time!