The Best All Time Dragon Ball Games
The legendary manga artist and character designer, Akira Toriyama, has gifted the world with Dragon Ball. The series of manga and anime have become immensely popular due to its characters’ superhuman martial arts abilities and intense battles. Dragon Ball’s influence on anime culture and mainstream media is undeniable.
Dragon Ball’s expansive universe has spawned a plethora of video games, from Wal-Mart staples to hidden gems. We’ve rounded up the best Super Saiyan gaming experiences for fans of the series.
Check the list of the best Dragon Ball games of all time
Dragon Ball Z: Legacy of Goku II
The Gameboy Advance game Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II has proven to be a formidable rival to console games, despite its less advanced graphics. Adapting the plot of the anime, this sequel follows the events of its predecessor and covers the entire Future Trunks saga, Android Saga, Imperfect Cell Saga, Perfect Cell Saga and Cell Games Saga.
Dragon Ball Z: Legacy of Goku II is a classic 2D RPG game that will bring back nostalgia for fans of the series. With an easy-to-understand mechanic, it’s one of the best Dragon Ball games out there and a must-play for any DBZ fan.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
DBZ fans can now become part of the Dragon Ball universe with a new game that allows them to create their own characters. Players can choose from five races - Human, Saiyan, Namekian, Majin and Freeza Race - with three offering the option to select gender.
Dimps’ 2016 game, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, has sold more than seven million copies by 2020. The sequel to the 2015 game of the same name, it features similar gameplay and an original story incorporating events from the original manga and anime. Praised as one of the best Dragon Ball games available, it’s well worth playing.
Dragon Ball Z Explosion Limit
The Dragon Ball video game series has made its debut on Xbox 360, developed by Dimps and published by Atari in North America and Australia, and Bandai Namco in Europe and Japan. The 3D graphics of the game have been praised for their accessibility, leading to its success upon release.
Despite its initial hype, “Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot” has seen a decline in popularity due to its limited roster of 21 characters and story that only covers the Saiyan saga to the Cell saga. Additionally, criticism has been leveled at the game for its repetitive missions. While it may not be enough to satisfy hardcore fighting gamers, it remains a great way to pass some free time.
Dragon Ball Z Legendary Super Warrior
Nintendo’s Gameboy may not have the same high-end graphics as a Playstation 2, but it still provided gamers with an unforgettable experience. Flight-Plan, a Japanese video game development company, created Dragon Ball Z Legendary Super Warrior for the Gameboy Color in 2002. The game was released in Japan by Banpresto and in Europe by Bandai, and it surpassed even Playstation and GameCube games in terms of its gaming experience.
The classic Dragon Ball game, combining cards and turn-based strategy, has captivated players with its unique mechanics and narrative. Spanning from the Vegeta Saga to the Majin Buu Saga, this game is a must-play for any fan of the anime.
Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3
Budokai, a Dragon Ball fighting game developed by Dimps and released by Bandai Namco in 2002 for PlayStation 2 and GameCube, has become one of the most successful titles in the series. A remastered version of Budokai 3 was also released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012.
The Dragon Ball Z: Budokai series made history when it became the first game to feature dual audio, Japanese and English, in both America and Europe. Subsequent releases of the DBZ franchise outside of Japan have also included Japanese audio alongside English. This game covers all sagas from the Dragon Ball series, including characters from both the original Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball GT. Players can battle against either CPU or other players in World Tournament or Duel mode.
Dragon Ball Fusions
Fans of Dragon Ball Z were ecstatic when fusion was introduced, and Gotenks quickly became one of the most beloved characters. But the real excitement came when Goku and Vegeta merged into Vegito through potara earrings. Gogeta is another fusion option, created when Vegeta agrees to perform the Fusion Dance.
Dragon Ball Fusions, released in 2017 for Nintendo 3DS, brought fans the fusion characters they had been longing for. The game’s unique plot follows two characters who organize a martial arts tournament featuring characters from across the Dragon Ball Z timeline. This resulted in some unexpected mergers that have made the game a hit with fans. Not only are these fusions incredibly powerful, but their arrogance also adds to their charm.
Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3
Budokai Tenkaichi 3, released in 2007 by Bandai Namco for PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360, was a major success. Boasting the largest character roster of any fighting game at the time with 161 characters, it quickly became a fan favorite. Not to be confused with Budokai 3, this game was an instant hit.
This game, which has been popular for 13 years, combines the events of Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT in its story mode. It also features a unique What If saga not seen in the anime or manga. Players can’t manually control their characters but are still drawn to the game’s combined attack feature and 3D graphics.
Dragon Ball Advanced Adventure
The 2004 Gameboy Advance game “Dragon Ball” follows the story of protagonist Goku, from his initial meeting with Bulma to his battle with King Piccolo. Despite being a GBA game, it offered more than expected and was well-received by the public. The only arc not included in the game is the Junior Piccolo Arc.
The latest installment of the Dragon Ball series, developed by Dimps for Gameboy, boasts over 30 playable characters and five modes, including story mode, one-on-one mode, versus mode and Extra mode. The latter unlocks after completing story mode with Goku and is similar to a “Game Plus” feature with additional content and inventory. With its impressive features and engaging gameplay, this game is a must-play for any fan of the series.
Dragon Ball Fighter Z
Bandai Namco’s 2018 release of the Dragon Ball video game series from Arc System Works has been met with critical acclaim. Players can enjoy the game on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch platforms, with its impressive graphics and fluid mechanics praised by fans.
Dragon Ball Fighter Z is the best game in the series, offering a unique story mode and multiplayer mode that has made it a hit in sports tournaments. With characters from all Dragon Ball series up to Super, it’s worth playing for fans of the franchise.
Super Dragon Ball Z
Fans of Dragon Ball games like Budokai and Budokai Tenkaichi were delighted by the mechanics and art style. Super Dragon Ball Z, however, took a different approach, following the traditional fighting style of games like Tekken and Street Fighter II. Developed by Crafts & Meister and published by Bandai Namco in 2006 for Playstation 2, this game was led by Noritaka Funamizu - the same person behind Street Fighter II.
Players of the game can battle opponents one after another until they reach the final boss, Perfect Cell. They can also hone their skills in training mode and summon Shenron by collecting Dragon Balls during gameplay. Unlocking characters and moves requires granting wishes, but doing so will cause the balls to vanish, requiring players to collect them again. Additionally, they can customize their character.
Final note
Fans of the Dragon Ball franchise can rejoice: we’ve compiled a list of the best Dragon Ball games ever made. Share your love for these classic titles by sharing this article with friends, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.
