Every Yakuza Game Ranked From Worst To Best

The original Yakuza, though severely dated by today's standards, sees players wander around Kamurocho as Kazama Kiryu, encountering some of the deadliest foes in the Japanese underworld.

The game features an explorable world with numerous combat encounters. Completing this will give Kiryu points to upgrade his abilities as well as his health. Aside from the primary gameplay loop, there are several side activities such as baseball and hanging out with hostesses.

A big positive of Yakuza is its authentic portrayal of Tokyo. Despite the dated presentation, every store and building felt like it came to life, and despite the small size compared to other open-world games, the map felt busy and lived-in. This design philosophy would propel the series forward with content-heavy sequels, despite their mid budget.

Though combat may feel too clunky as the series was in its infancy, Yakuza would set the standard for every subsequent entry in the series in presentation and gameplay. And despite the infamous English localization and dated graphics, the original still deserves a look for franchise completionists.