1. Yakuza 0 - Almost a perfect game. In terms of the overall engine, system mechanics, combat, this is the series at its best. In fact, Kiwami 1 gets bumped up in the list for using this sytem. Conversely, 2 gets bumped down for using 6's egregiously subpar combat. This is THE place to start for anyone looking to get into this series. If you don't like this game, you know for sure you don't like the series. But you'll like it. Amazing memorable characters, awesome 80s boom economy atmosphere, one of the best stories in the series (LAD is the only one that can compete with it imo, but 1 isn't too far behind). Yakuza at it's best.

2. Yakuza: LIke A Dragon - This is the second best place to start, and probably the best place to start for JRPG fans who aren't interested in action combat. This game has a lot of flaws with its turn-based combat, but it almost gave me an old school feel. Like, ok, this is not a well-designed system, late game bosses are damage sponges, so it's time to fight dirty. No respect, no honor. Find the broken strats and cheese that shit. Coming into it with that mindset, I think it's actually pretty satisfying (Hint: poison is your friend). Despite somewhat serious flaws with combat, this game is still #2. One of the best plots, arguably better than 0 but they're so close it comes down to taste. It also has some of the best minigames in the series, which if you don't know, is about a quarter of the appeal of the Yakuza series. Make time to try Yakuza Cart. The real glue that holds this game together is how well JRPG mechanics work with the core gameplay of the series. Here's one example: In Yakuza 0, you do a subquest and it's fun, and it's funny, and you laugh, and you have a good time, and that's why you do it. You get a reward, maybe like Chunk of Iron or something, and you just forget about it. You can craft or upgrade some items but it's more of a frivolous aside than a genuine strategy. In Yakuza 7, you get all the same benefits of the subquests, but this time the reward is actually useful. What weapon or armor your party members have equipped will directly determine their damage or defense. Suddenly, weapon crafting is interesting and important. When you help some eccentric weirdo on the street and then unlock them as a summon in combat, its an awesome feeling. While this game can be rough around the edges, it makes me really excited to see how they'll improve on JRPG mechanics in future titles.

3. Yakuza Kiwami - This one has a great story, simple but executed well. It was reworked to be played directly after 0, so don't make the mistake of starting with K1 and playing 0 later. They almost fit together like one game, using essentially the exact same combat and system mechanics. Yakuza Kiwami is great for all the reasons that 0 is great; 0 just has more going for it.

4. Yakuza 5 - This game being in 4th place surprised even me. Coming off of 3 and 4, my spirit was broken. I was beaten down. I was playing 5 out of a sense of obligation, sunk cost fallacy. 3 and 4 really did a number on me- we'll get to that. Playing Kiryu's introductory section, I was thinking "okay, I actually like this. I'm having fun with the taxi subquests and races. But it's got to get worse right?" There's definitely a lull when you first move to Saejima, but once you finish trudging through the poor pacing cutscene swamp, Saejima's a lot of fun. He was my favorite character to use in Y4, not that combat was in any way enjoyable; he was just most bearable. Playing him in Y5, I started to realize "oh, they fixed this combat system." Saejima has Tekken combos now. Groundbouncing, juggling, canceling into throws. Hell yeah. I ended up preferring 5's combat even to the system of 2 and 6, which is high praise considering how abysmal it felt in 3 and 4. Yakuza 5 goes on for too long, BUT it does feel like an epic. It has a grandiosity to it, it could've been a really great finale to the series if the devs weren't cowards. It really fumbles with a boring and forgettable climax and ending. I don't really even remember who the last boss is. Despite all the flaws, this game has so much heart, and so much interesting things to do. It's like the reward for sticking with the series for so long. The Yakuza game for Yakuza fans who have made peace with the series' many flaws and love it anyway.

5. Yakuza 6 - I'm gonna be real with you. This got bumped up because I love Beat Takeshi, and he's amazing in this. He treats the role with so much respect, giving a performance as good as his movies. God, what a guy. What a great character he plays. I think this game's plot gets a bad rap and is better than most in the series. Issues with the plot aside, it has some of the most interesting and grounded characters in the series. Try not to grow fond of your little brothers in the Hirose family. It's such a cozy vibe hanging out in low stakes Onimichi, fishing, drinking with locals, admiring the sunset. An immersive retirement simulator, sometimes interrupted by you having to Tiger Drop some punks. If you love the warm human element of the series, that unique charm it has, this game is a must-play. It is held back by the subpar combat and XP system shared with K2. Play this one for the story, characters, and atmosphere.

6. Yakuza Kiwami 2 - If you're an old fan of the series, you're probably really angry with me right now. A lot of people consider 2 to be their favorite. Ryuji Goda is one of the best and most iconic villains of the series- I won't dispute that. However, I think most of this game's plot is just fucking stupid. Lol. Just really dumb. The steep downgrade in combat from Y0/K1 to Y6/K2 adds insult to the injury. I cannot overstate how much worse it is. I think a lot of the fondness comes from how great the original 2 must've been on the PS2. Competing with the likes of 0 and 7, I just don't think it holds up. It's a new era of Yakuza and this one keeps too much baggage from the PS2 era.

7. Yakuza 4 - Speaking of baggage, let's get to the two actively bad Yakuza games. These are arguably not worth playing. The combat is extremely frustrating and not grounded in any real test of skill or strategy. Fights will be unpredictable, punishing, and tedious so just play on Easy and use whatever cheap strategies you can to win. There are a few moments in 4 where combat can be fun, mostly with Saejima. 3's is an irredeemable clown fiesta though. Akiyama and Saejima are pretty decent memorable characters that I do think the series benefits from having in the canon. Other than that, nothing about the plot is memorable. Can't remember any other characters. I think Saejima might've had a sister? Akiyama has a fat secretary who's kind of sweet. That's all I got.

8. Yakuza 3 - Everything wrong with 4, but with way less points in its favor. There's a pretty cool character who looks like Adam Sandler, everyone likes him. Okinawa has a charming little town to explore. The 3/4/5 block does have some pretty good subquests, but it also has a lot more that aren't worth doing. If you bother to play them, it might be worth looking up some gamefaqs list of sidequests worth doing. There are some I wouldn't want to miss, but most I regret wasting time with. 3 and 4 are games I would only recommend to people who are itching for more Yakuza and have nothing left to play. A lot of context from these two are necessary for 5 to hit right, but watching a youtube recap would be much better than playing these if you don't have the patience and spiritual fortitude. Despite the severe drawbacks, they do both have a lot of that Yakuza charm that you love this series for (if you are still reading this), so in the end, I suppose I did find it worth it myself. It's kind of like a woman who you love very much, but now smells like shit and keeps trying to bite you. You still love her but goddamn its a struggle.