Despite critical acclaim and a passionate cult following, Sega's Yakuza franchise remained relatively obscure outside of Japan for quite a long time. However, in recent years, a number of big successes and remasters have helped new fans engross themselves in the story of Kazuma Kiryu as he navigates the difficulties caused by his early years in Japan's criminal underworld. While newcomers to the franchise can easily start with the unconnected Judgment spinoff or Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Kiryu's story is still absolutely worth playing, but knowing just where to start can be difficult.
There are essentially two schools of thought on where to begin with Yakuza. The first proposes that players should start with Yakuza Kiwami, the enhanced remake of the original game. The other claims it's better to play Yakuza 0 first. The answer to just which players should choose depends a lot on what they're looking to get out of the experience, but Yakuza 0 will be the right choice for more people.
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Why Yakuza Kiwami Is a Great Choice
An enhanced remake of the first game in the franchise, Yakuza Kiwami follows Kiryu shortly after he gets out of jail for a murder he didn't commit. When he gets out, he returns to his old stopping grounds of Kamurocho, the franchise's take on Tokyo's red-light district. However, Kiryu soon finds himself embroiled in a plot involving 10 billion yen that's gone missing. Along the way, there are a ton of twists and turns, and he finds some of the people he loves most in the world are no longer on his side.
There are a lot of benefits to playing Yakuza Kiwami first. It's got a solid story and introduces a number of key franchise characters. The franchise's trademark sense of humor is on display pretty much everywhere in the side quests, and the new additions to Yakuza Kiwami that weren't in the PlayStation 2 version are definitely welcome. Additionally, combat is also pretty straightforward, as players only really have to manage Kiryu.
The biggest drawback to Yakuza Kiwami is that, while it's good, it's definitely not the best game in the franchise. Even with the remake's improvements, the storytelling hasn't quite advanced to the heights it reaches in later titles. New fans can definitely start with Yakuza Kiwami and enjoy the experience, but it's not necessarily the ideal way to get the story.
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Why Yakuza 0 Is the Best Choice
Yakuza 0 takes place more than a decade before the events of Yakuza Kiwami and explores Kiryu's early days as a criminal. However, while Yakuza Kiwami only lets players control Kiryu, they also take control of franchise frenemy Goro Majima in the prequel. The story sees the two caught up in a struggle between Yakuza factions over control of a place called the "Empty Lot." The plot features a ton of twists and fantastic character moments. In terms of gameplay, Yakuza 0 is definitely more complicated than Yakuza Kiwami. Both Majima and Kiryu have their own unique fighting styles that take some getting used to.
The biggest drawback to playing Yakuza 0 is that, chronologically, it's the sixth entry in the franchise. As such, there are a lot of references players might not realize are important without having gone through other games in the series. A number of key details can get lost. The gameplay is also (marginally) more complex.
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However, the storytelling in Yakuza 0 is sublime, with many considering it the franchise's most well-written game. There's a ton of compelling drama, and Yakuza 0 does a great job of establishing the backstories of various major players in the franchise. Those backstories then influence the events of Yakuza Kiwami.
Yakuza 0 was actually released before Yakuza Kiwami, and a number of the changes made in that remake directly correspond to what's set up in the prequel. In a lot of ways, the Kiwami games were altered to better fit the overall arc of Yakuza, and that progression starts with Yakuza 0. Having a sense of Yakuza Kiwami characters like Majima and Akira Nishikiyama in advance also greatly enhances the experience of the game
In the end, the exact right choice comes down to preference. Those who are afraid of missing details in Yakuza 0 should absolutely start with Yakuza Kiwami. That remake is also a good choice for those who are a bit less familiar with the action game genre, as it's a bit easier to learn. However, those wondering if the franchise is for them should start withYakuza 0. The writing is the franchise at its best, and if one doesn't likeYakuza 0, they're probably not going to like the rest of the series.
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