DexertoCha-la head-cha-la! Did someone summon Shenron and wish to know what the best Dragon Ball Z games are?
They must have done so because why else would I be writing about Goku and his friends? It’s not like I spend my days wondering which Dragon Ball villain is best or ranking the Dragon Ball Z sagas in my head… that would be saaaaad.
Anyway, now I’m done not talking about myself, let’s get to it. What are the best Dragon Ball games? Well, that may seem like an easy question to answer. Surely it’s the latest one: Sparking Zero? Well, dear reader, it’s not as simple as that. They’ve been making Dragon Ball games for 40 years or so, and there are a lot of games (less than 9,000!) to consider in a surprising array of genres (they’re not all fighting games some are RPGs!).
So, as it’s the tenth anniversary of Dragon Ball Xenoverse this year, I’ve taken it upon myself to jump in Trunks’s time machine (okay, I just looked through my collection of games featuring the Z Fighters) to bring you a list of the best games in the franchise.
10. Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit
Namco Bandai- Release date: June 10, 2008
- Genre: Fighting
A slightly underrated title, Burst Limit might not win any prizes for innovative gameplay, but it looks great, and more importantly, it’s fun. Undoubtedly, though, what sets this game apart is the Drama Pieces – basically there are equippable in-game cut scenes that can affect the outcome of a fight.
These (as the name would suggest) add a certain degree of drama to every battle, as you never know when an opponent’s going to be given a Senzu bean or get their attack boosted by a friend. Sadly, a subpar campaign mode and a shallow pool of playable characters mean we can’t put this game any higher.
9. Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans
Namco Bandai Games- Release date: November 10, 2009
- Genre: Action-RPG
A turn-based RPG, Attack of the Saiyans is a slightly more tactical game than other entries on this list. You’ve basically got to build your rage meter up to unlock your most powerful abilities, which is done by punching enemies and getting punched yourself until you get angry enough to enter Sparking Mode.
I’ll be honest: I always found this game surprisingly hard, which made it all the more satisfying when I did beat an enemy. The game also looks brilliant; the character sprites are detailed, the backgrounds lush, and the animations bursting with character.
8. Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors
Atari- Genre: Fighting
- Release date: June 22, 2004
Supersonic Warriors is a fast-paced, exciting fighting game that perfectly captures the frenetic, high-energy battles of Dragon Ball Z. A large part of this game’s dynamic spirit is the surprisingly energetic camera work (something I wouldn’t have expected from a Gameboy Advanced game) that zooms around as your characters blast, punch, and kick the stuffing out of each other.
Beyond its hyperactive camera work, the game looks gorgeous, and a lot of work has very clearly gone into making it look as close to the show as possible.
7. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Bandai Namco Entertainment- Genre: Action RPG / Fighting
- Release date: January 16, 2020
Kakarot was met with a lot of excitement after its initial reveal – an action RPG with visuals that looked like they’d been taken straight out of the anime. The final product isn’t the most life-changing Dragon Ball game but it’s an immersive way to experience Goku’s story.
Yes, the main story is just another retelling of the one we know and love, but it’s a pretty fantastic way to experience iconic moments from Z Sagas — whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer. The open zones are compelling to explore but quite barren overall (though you can fish, and who doesn’t like a fishing minigame?). Side missions and the overall RPG elements unfortunately leave a lot to be desired. Having to grind by defeating lower-level enemies before those bigger boss battles can also be a bit of a pain.
Ultimately, Kakarot didn’t quite live up to the hype but it’s still worth picking up (if mostly for the joy of flying through the iconic environments.) There’s also a lot of DLC to check out from the History of Trunks and an upcoming Daima expansion. Though I’m still hoping for some more Kid Goku content outside of his World Tournament fight with King Piccolo.
Written by Tyler Constable
6. Dragon Ball Sparking Zero
Bandai Namco- Release date: October 11, 2024
- Genre: Fighting
Boasting an incredible bench of fighters, glossy graphics, and an updated version of the Tenkaichi gameplay loop, Sparking Zero is an easy game to love. While it may lack the RPG elements of other games on this list, it makes up for that with an engaging story mode and some incredible what-if scenarios – like Gohan Black and Frieza leading the charge during the Tournament of Power saga.
Sadly, while it’s a great game (read our Sparking Zero review for more of that), it failed to break the top five as the single-player content is a little limited compared to other games in the series.
5. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
Bandai Namco- Release date: October 25, 2016
- Genre: Action RPG
Someone must have made a wish on the Dragon Balls when the Xenoverse series was conceived because this is a wish come true for fans of the series.
The ability to make your own fully customizable Saiyan, Majin, Human, or Frieza (one of these things is not like the other) fighter is something those of us who grew up watching Goku beat the stuffing out of his enemies had wanted from a Dragon Ball game for years.
To make things even better your character can learn all of the iconic techniques from the anime, befriend the Z-fighters (and their enemies), and the story is surprisingly engaging… even if it is basically just an excuse to once again punch the same old faces.
4. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3
Dimps- Release date: November 16, 2004
- Genre: Fighting
Budokai 3 was a Rubicon moment for the Dragon Ball franchise. This was the game that finally nailed the intense speed that made the anime’s fights so exciting. The implementation of a fast dodge technique allowing you to weave between your opponent’s blows with the frantic tap of a button was a game changer, and it’s probably why, even now, it still holds up.
Beyond its slick gameplay, there’s a decent character roster, and the cell-shaded graphics look gorgeous. Arguably, though, its second biggest selling point (beyond that dodge button) was its story mode which allowed you to soar over the Earth as whichever Z-Fighter took your fancy, exploring the world and taking the story in sometimes bizarre directions.
3. Dragon Ball FighterZ
Bandai Namco- Release date: January 26, 2018
- Genre: Fighting
In terms of pure gameplay, Dragon Ball FighterZ is probably the best fighting game in the Dragon Ball franchise. The combat is deep enough to interest fighting game veterans, yet the controls are easier than other titles in the genre, allowing even inexperienced players to feel like powerful warriors.
Speaking of powerful warriors, while the character roster is smaller than other games on this list, all your favorites are here, and there are a few quirky choices (Sorry, Super Baby fans) to keep the more hardcore fans engaged.
Arguably, though, the reason you need to play this game is for the visuals. FighterZ looks gorgeous, the character animations are fluid, the ultimate attacks are awe-inspiring, and the stages are dynamic. All in all, it plays and looks like an anime episode that you can control. So why didn’t it get the top spot? Well, that small roster of fighters is a bit of a deal breaker… for me at least.
2. Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku 2
Atari- Release date: July 17, 2003
- Genre: Action RPG
While the first Legacy of Goku was a solid GBA RPG, Legacy 2 took the formula and made some big improvements which has led to it remaining a fan favorite all these years later.
Despite its namesake, characters other than Goku get most of the limelight. Putting fans into the shoes of a young Gohan kicks things off compellingly. Piccolo, Vegeta, Trunks, and Goku are gradually unlocked as the story progresses which always keeps gameplay fresh.
Transformations were a big addition to the sequel, giving characters a power boost at the cost of a draining energy bar. This meant players needed to think carefully about the best times to unleash their stronger forms in battle. It was also notable for being the first Dragon Ball game to feature Bruce Faulconer’s music in America which made for a fantastic soundtrack right out of the anime.
Overall, Legacy 2 successfully condensed a lot of anime episodes into a tight 15-hour RPG that’s well worth revisiting in 2025.
Written by Tyler Constable
1. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
- Release date: November 13, 2007
- Genre: Fighting
Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is still regarded by a large slice of the fandom as the pinnacle of the Dragon Ball gaming world, and it’s easy to see why. The game represents the ultimate evolution of the Tenkaichi games, balancing large open arenas with Dragon Balls’ trademark lightning-fast combat.
Realistically, though, the reason this game is so beloved is because of its mind-boggling roster of fighters; the game had almost every Dragon Ball character ever ranging from smaller fan favorites like Nuova Shenron and General Blue to truly bizarre picks like Fasha (be honest you don’t know who that is) and even Arale.
There was also a range of truly odd what-if scenarios, including Devil Man defeating Frieza… yeah really. Basically, what I’m saying is fans love this game because it did fan service better than any other title in the franchise.
And that’s it for the best Dragon Ball Z games. if you think we got this wrong, why not read out the list of the best games of all time and see if we got that right – or you could check out the best anime movies of all time if reading this has put you in the mood to enjoy some amazing animation.
