Yakuza

Yakuza, released in Japan under the title Ryū ga Gotoku, laid the foundation for one of the most distinctive modern game series by bringing the harsh world of Japanese organized crime to an open, richly rendered virtual depiction of Tokyo's Kabukicho district, renamed Kamurocho in the game, packed with bars, arcades, shops and side alleys to explore. The scale of this game space is deliberately small, but the density of detail, lit-up signage and random encounters makes it one of the most convincing urban environments of its generation.

The player takes on the role of Kazuma Kiryu, a former yakuza released after ten years in prison, who seeks to uncover the truth behind the betrayal that put him there while also protecting the daughter of his late friend, forming the core of a melodramatic yet emotionally powerful story about honor, loyalty and betrayal in the underworld. The combat system combined brutal beat-'em-up-style street brawling with the ability to improvise weapons picked up from the environment, from bicycle wheels to street signs, giving fights a raw, unpredictable edge. Battles triggered through random encounters right in the streets and culminated in flashy finishing moves. Alongside the main story, the game offered a rich selection of side activities, from karaoke to gambling to batting cages, which together painted a convincing picture of a living Japanese nightlife district.

Yakuza initially received only modest attention in the West, partly due to its unusual subject matter and English dub, but it gradually grew into a cult and later globally acclaimed series, one whose roots trace back to this very first title on the PlayStation 2. The success of this first entry laid the groundwork for a sprawling series that today numbers more than a dozen games and spin-offs, which have gradually earned worldwide recognition beyond Japan.