The Persona games, while all existing in the same universe and sharing many play mechanics are largely standalone. You can pick up and play any of them and not miss anything storywise by not playing the others. That said each subsequent game adds certain QoL features which, once gotten used to you’d be hard-pressed to play without. I’ve played 3, 4, and 5, in that order and I would recommend the same to anyone looking to get into the series.

The Yakuza series on the other hand all follow a set timeline, and though each game has its own plot they all exist in an evolving overall world. They should be played in order, at least 1-6. Zero is a prequel though it was made around the same time as 5. As such it has several references to future events which are not really spoilery, but without playing the other games you won’t necessarily get them. But they are not vital to the plot and the game can be enjoyed first. That’s what I did and never felt like I was missing out on anything. 7 is a new start for the series and while taking place in the same world and featuring guest stars from other games it is not closely tied to the other games in the series. Personally, 7 is my favorite of the bunch with Zero a close second.

You’re in luck because 7 just happens to be a reboot (of sorts) with an entirely new protagonist, cast of secondary characters as well as gameplay. Even its setting and crime organizations steer away (mostly) from the previous conflicts of the Kamurocho red light district.

Yakuza also has the an advantage (IMO) that its “how anime bullshit is this anime?” is fairly low. The characters are actual adults, dealing with (mostly) relatable to real life issues, and even the stories that are far out there (such as fighting a giant roomba) are not very egregious.

I certainly prefer the series as a whole than Persona, which I admit is an unpopular take. If you’re ever curious about doing a deep dive, 0 is also very welcoming and its the (now canon) beginning of the previous series.

I think persona 5 (if you can get the “royale” version) is the best to start playing persona, you don’t need to play the previous one to enjoy that game

Like a Dragon (Yakuza 7) is the only Yakuza game, to date, that’s a JRPG. At least in the way most people think of JRPG (turn based combat).

They’re all great games, just wanted to point out that only the one, so far, is a turn-based JRPG.

I think it would probably make for a great first JRPG experience. Persona 5 is pretty accessible, but it’s very anime and tropey. That said, I’m not a fan of anime and absolutely loved the game. Either would be a great starting point.

This is a great entrypoint to the series. The main cast is all new (though there are of course several references throughout the story for long-time fans). The gameplay is new (turn-based instead of brawler). I believe this is also the first Yakuza since the original Y1 to have a full English dub if that’s you’re thing.

LaD is a fantastic game that I recommend to anybody. Just know that it is much goofier than persona (especially the side content). Happy to answer any questions you might have.