Did you start with the original Yakuza? Kiwami has a couple things that would feel odd to a newcomer if they don’t play 0, and the only reason you’re skipping Majima Saga here until later is because you moved 0. If you start with 0 then all the context needed for Kiwami 1’s additions and Majima Saga are available.
Plus, to be fair, we have had a massive number of newcomers credit to 0. It’s probably the favorite in the series now.
I started with 0 and dropped it within an hour because it was moving so slow and the plot was written in a way which wasn’t very interesting because I didn’t really know the characters yet.
Didn’t touch the series for another year before playing Kiwami 1 which hooked me in all the way in the order that I mentioned earlier.
0 is really good but I don’t think I would find it to be as good and hard hitting as I experienced it without having played at least Kiwami 1 first.