Dragon Ball games you should play as a tribute to Akira Toriyama
If you’re anything like us, the tragic passing of Akira Toriyama at the age of 68 sparked the nostalgia sensors in your cerebral cortex.
The renowned Japanese manga artist’s magical Dragon Ball Z show was a staple for legions of British tweens and young adults at the turn of the millennium. Kids would rush home from school, shed their Umbro backpacks and loosely knotted ties, and sit glued to Cartoon Network in time for the anime series. The next day, stories would be shared in playgrounds about the daring exploits of Goku and Vegeta, the show’s god-like heroes.
Toriyama’s magnum opus, which spanned a 519-chaptered Manga and multiple, interconnected series, landed at just the right time for the video game craze. Dragon Ball was originally published in 1984 in a Japanese manga anthology magazine. It peaked at the tail-end of that decade, thanks to the release of the beloved anime. This was back when game developers were racing to adapt every cartoon in sight for Nintendo and Sega’s voracious consoles.
While Brits dealt with a wave of suspect cash-grabs based on The Simpsons, Turtles, DuckTales, and Tiny Toons, the Japanese feasted on a platter of Dragon Ball games. Thankfully, the floodgates have opened since and allowed us to gorge on some of the best adaptations of Toriyama’s tome.
In no particular order, these are the Dragon Ball games worth playing in between binge-watches of the show on Crunchyroll.
Dragon Ball FighterZ (2018)
Dragon Ball FighterZ (Bandai Namco)
What is it?
Street Fighter for Dragon Ball fans.
Why you should play it
A not-quite 3D fighting game, Dragon Ball FighterZ is a chaotic triple-tag-team battle from the developer behind the classic Guilty Gear series. The combos are easy to pull off and the homing attacks add a bit of flair to proceedings. It all makes for a great entry point to the Dragon Ball gaming universe for long-time fans and newcomers alike.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (2020)
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (Bandai Namco)
What is it?
The tale of Dragon Ball Z as told through a free-roaming RPG.
Why you should play it
With the show filled with bruising battles and flights of fancy, it’s no wonder that so many Dragon Ball games focused on those elements. So it goes for Kakarot, which shines during its aerial skirmishes, but falls flat when it tries to be a true RPG. Still, there’s enough reverence here for the source material to please most acolytes. A PS5 upgrade also means it’s the best-looking game of the lot.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (2016)
Dragon Ball Z Xenoverse 2 (Bandai Namco)
What is it?
Make a custom character and help mould the Dragon Ball timeline in this action RPG.
Why you should play it
Another rough-around-the edges entry that still holds plenty of charm for fans. Xenoverse 2 offers a single-player campaign that whips through most of the Dragon Ball Z story; plentiful side quests that could see you fighting alongside Frieza, and training sessions with heroes and villains. If that wasn’t enough, there are also local and online multiplayer fights against your mates or randoms. Yet, for many, nothing will top the ability to create your own character from one of the game’s five races: Human, Saiyan, Namekian, Frieza’s race, and Majin.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 (2004)
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 (Bandai Namco)
What is it?
Originally released on the PS2, this is the third entry in a series of Dragon Ball Z fighting games.
Why you should play it
Seen through the eyes of the modern gamer, Budokai 3 probably looks a bit naff. The murky environments and button-mashing attacks don’t do it any favours either. Still, it was leaps and bounds better than its predecessors. At the time of its release, Budokai 3 was hailed as the best Dragon Ball game ever. Why not take a look and see what all the fuss was about?
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 (2005)
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 (Bandai Namco)
What is it?
A fighter that let you choose from 161 playable characters.
Why you should play it
Between Bleach DS and Naruto: Clash of Ninja, anime brawlers were all the rage back in the early aughts. Of course, Dragon Ball had been kicking about for far longer, but it was starting to show its age by the time Budokai Tenkaichi 3 entered the ring. After you’ve played the other fighters on this list, it may seem like more of the same. Then again, with so many characters to choose from, your curiosity may get the better of you. If you do bite, you can expect rich backstories for all the fighters and a fun, but albeit dated, arcade experience. Just keep your expectations low going in.
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero
What is it?
An upcoming release built from the ground up for current consoles and PC.
Why you should play it
Okay, so Dragon Ball Sparking Zero isn’t out yet, but it should definitely be on your radar. The latest entry in the long-running Budokai Tenkaichi series promises another packed roster of playable characters. You’ll battle against them in massive 3D battle arenas that you can lay waste to in your Super Saiyan form. We’ve already glimpsed a bunch of fighters, including series mainstays Goku and Vegeta, Broly, Trunks (and Dragon Ball Super Future Trunks), Frieza, Majin Buu, Cell, Android 17, Android 18, Krillin, Piccolo, Yamcha, Tien, Jiren, Hercule, and Bergamo.
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