Yakuza: Every Game Ranked From Worst To Best

This one dropped in the West at a time when the PS3 was greatly lacking in exclusives. Shame then it took such an unconventional route compared to the gangster drama of the first two, since it could have lead to an early breakthrough internationally.

The third iteration is a polarising entry due to its early chunk of gameplay; our hero Kazuma has left the criminal life behind, instead, running a kindly orphanage in the quaint seaside of Okinawa. The earlier part has the former gangster running around doing minor and sweet-natured chores for his occupation.

If you know your Japanese cinema, the change wasn’t as jarring - the setting and tone are a direct homage to yakuza classic Sonatine (1993) - but for most it was make-or-break. Eventually, things kick into gear and it's back to conniving backstabbing and gangster smash-ups, even if overall it's played out in a more low-key way.

It was a ballsy move by the developers, but one that hampers the pacing - it's the shortest Yakuza game, but it feels the longest. Also, losing famed novelist, Hase Seishu, as the key writer is felt as the nuanced arcs of the first two are replaced with overblown melodrama and a less interesting story, even though it's told with plenty of heart.