10 Best Video Game Prequels

Yakuza has an incredibly dedicated fanbase so it says a lot that many of them would agree that the series’ 2015 prequel is one of the best the franchise has to offer.

Setting a game 17 years before the original allowed for Yakuza’s writing team to really explore mainstay hero Kazuma Kiryu’s character in new and bold ways.

Instead of the man the established fanbase knew, Yakuza 0 introduces a younger and more hot-headed take on the character. It also brings long-time fan favourite Goro Majima closer to the forefront and makes him a main playable character for the first time.

In order to shake up the formula, Yakuza 0 innovates by introducing multiple fighting styles for its protagonists to switch between. More than that though, the game is just the perfect example of everything that the series has to offer. A dramatic, emotional story threaded through a world of insane hijinks, numerous side games and hours upon hours of content.

Yakuza 0, being a prequel, actually offers a great jumping on point for new players and as such was just what the series needed to establish itself better in the west. Reports that Sega had sold more than expected, or that they had even been understocked in some markets, show just how keen new players were to jump into the series.