Where Does Yakuza Zero Fit In?
For many players, Yakuza Zero was their first introduction to the series, as well as Kazuma Kiryu. That’s perfectly fine, however, as Zero is probably the best place to start out of all the games, functioning like a prequel to the entire series. Yakuza Zero takes place in 1988, years before the original game and Yakuza Kiwami take place. This makes Kiwami another great point for anyone new to the series, and even better for anyone coming hot off of Yakuza Zero.
The new scenes and events added into the game have direct ties to Zero, and the story add-ons for Nishiki are sure to pull at the heartstrings for anyone that played the prequel. At the same time you’ll see references and familiar faces pop up here and there, like Majima and Kiryu talking about events from Zero, or the Pocket Circuit Racer kids being all grown up. Combat has also been changed to match the style of Zero, meaning you’ll instantly be familiar with how to play the game. In all honesty, Yakuza Zero is the best place to start, and a pretty great game on its own. However, if you want to just hop in with Kiwami and see where the series started, that’s perfectly fine as well.
