I played through the entire fucking series including the PS2 games and below are my top 5 in no particular order.

1. Yakuza 2 (PS2) & Kiwami 2
>They're a package deal. Y2 was the game that really cemented the franchise for me. First game was still great.

2. Judgement
>Lost Judgement can eat a dick. Sure it had better combat, but god damn was the story a letdown. I love how this game got me to engage with Kamurocho to the point where it felt like home moreso than any other title.

3. Yakuza 0
>I hate how much I enjoy this game. It's not perfect by any stretch and has a PLETHORA of issues, but it's still worth playing.

4. Yakuza 4
>Favorite version of Kamurocho. After coming off of Yakuza 3, this game felt next gen.

5. Like a Dragon
>I don't want to recommend this, but truth be told I had a good time. I think the RPG setting really suited Ijincho more than Lost Judgement. And the story was its own thing yet rewarded those that stuck with the entire franchise.

>>715194287
I am someone that is plaything the entire mainline Yakuza series from the PS2 original to currently working on Pirate. Below are thoughts. 1-10 scale with 5 being meh. 6 is good and 7 and beyond is great.

>Yakuza 1 (PS2)
Start of a franchise. Oozes style. 7/10 but is half nostalgia

>Yakuza 2 (PS2)
Perfection on the original. 10/10

>Yakuza 3
HD step up and a transition for Kiryu's character. 6/10.

>Yakuza 4
Four times the heroes. 40/10.

>Black Panther
Def Jam/10. Lotta bullshit though.

>Yakuza 5
A deeply enjoyable yet massively bloated capstone to the franchise. A worthy finale. 7/10

>Yakuza 0
It's had its dick sucked straight off its pelvis by fandom, but it's still a rock solid game. I hate how much I enjoy it. 8/10

>Yakuza Kiwami
The story was a step up from original with Nishki stuff, but the game was worse to play. 5/10.

>Yakuza 6
Massively understated and better on second playthrough, but also rock start to Dragon Engine. 7/10

>Kiwami 2
Right up with original. 9-10/10

>Judgement
Fucking perfection. Seriously, peak of franchise. 12/10

>Like a Dragon
Ichi was great. Very fun game with the most broken pacing of any game. Final grind was excruciating. 8/10

>Lost Judgement
Inferior story but superior gameplay to Judgement. 7/10

>Kaito Files
Better than Lost Judgement by a country mile. 8/10

>Man Who Erased His Name
7/10 on first playthrough, but I think a 10/10 if paired with Yakuza 6. The ultimate one two punch.

>Infinite Wealth
Superior gameplay to 7 but inferior story. 7/10 but still had a damn good time.