The Best Dragon Ball Z Video Games Of All Time (2024)

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball Z influenced the anime and manga industries in a major way, but its impact on the gaming world often gets overlooked. There are more than 50 Dragon Ball video games that have been telling stories and entertaining audiences almost as long as the manga. Dragon Ball Z video games have helped keep the franchise relevant and popular during the manga and anime’s dark periods. There are also many ideas and characters that originated in Dragon Ball video games that have gone on to appear in its anime and feature films.

Dragon Ball video games have come a long way since their humble origins. Modern titles do a remarkable job of simulating the series’ fast-paced energy and making audiences feel like they’re truly controlling the anime. The large number of Dragon Ball Z video games can occasionally feel overwhelming and intimidating, especially when curious newcomers don’t know which games are worth their time. Fortunately, there are some excellent Dragon Ball Z video games that go above and beyond and have proven themselves to be the best of the bunch.

Updated on August 12, 2024, by Antonio Samson: There have been plenty of Dragon Ball Z games released over the years. From fighting games to RPGs, there is a game for every Dragon Ball fan. This article was updated to include more games and to meet CBR's editorial and formatting standards.

15 Dragon Ball Z: Super Butoden Trilogy Introduces The Franchise To Competitive Fighting

Pioneering Entry That Defined Dragon Ball's Fighting Game Legacy

The Dragon Ball Z: Super Butoden trilogy holds a special place in the history of Dragon Ball gaming as the series' first foray into the fighting genre on home consoles. Released during the early 1990s, these games introduced players to one-on-one combat with a diverse roster of characters that spanned the Dragon Ball Z series until then.

The unique split-screen mechanic allowed players to fight on the ground and in the air, a feature that became a staple in later Dragon Ball games. Although the controls may feel clunky by modern standards, the Super Butoden trilogy was revolutionary and laid the groundwork for many of the series' subsequent fighting games, which places it at the bottom of our ranking.

14 Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai – Another Road Explores Alternate Timelines

Unique Storyline That Expands The Future Trunks Saga

Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai – Another Road is an often-overlooked gem on the PlayStation Portable that expands on the popular Budokai series. This game takes the fighting formula of the Budokai games. It incorporates an original storyline that explores an alternate timeline where Future Trunks must face new threats after the defeat of Majin Buu.

The game features fast-paced combat, a solid roster of characters, and an engaging story mode that adds depth to the Future Trunks saga. Shin Budokai – Another Road is a must-play for fans who enjoy exploring "what if" scenarios within the Dragon Ball universe.

13 Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2 Brings High-Flying Combat To Handheld Consoles

Portable Powerhouse That Delivers Frenetic Aerial Batt

Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2 continues the legacy of the original Game Boy Advance title with an impressive adaptation on the Nintendo DS. This game is notable for its high-speed aerial combat that allows players to recreate the frantic battles of the anime on a portable device.

Supersonic Warriors 2 also features an extensive story mode with multiple branching paths and "what if" scenarios that provide unique takes on the Dragon Ball Z narrative. The game's dual-screen functionality and strategic team battles make it a standout title for handheld gaming.

12 Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy Of Goku II Expands On Its Predecessor With New Features

Enhanced RPG Experience That Perfects The Dragon Ball Formula

Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II is a significant improvement over the first game in the series, offering a richer RPG experience covering events from the Trunks Saga to the Cell Games. This Game Boy Advance title allows players to control multiple characters, including Gohan, Piccolo, Vegeta, and Trunks, each with unique abilities and storylines.

The game also introduces more detailed graphics, better combat mechanics, and side quests that add depth to the main story. The Legacy of Goku II is often regarded as one of the best Dragon Ball RPGs on a handheld console.

11 Dragon Ball Z: Sagas Offers A Unique Action-Adventure Experience

Open-World Journey Through The Iconic Saiyan And Cell Sagas

Dragon Ball Z: Sagas stands out in the Dragon Ball gaming library as one of the few action-adventure titles rather than a traditional fighter or RPG. Covering the story from the Saiyan Saga through the Cell Games, Sagasallows players to explore various locations from the anime in an open-world format while completing missions and fighting enemies.

The game features cooperative gameplay, where two players can team up to tackle the story together, adding fun not typically found in Dragon Ball Z games. Although Sagas received mixed reviews due to its repetitive gameplay and simplistic combat mechanics, its unique entry provides a different perspective on the Dragon Ball Z universe.

10 Dragon Ball Z: Attack Of The Saiyans Is A Turn-Based RPG That Celebrates The Series’ Earliest Chapters

Nostalgic Dive Into Dragon Ball's Roots With A Strategic Twist

There's a growing trend for Dragon Ball Z video games to cover as much story as possible. However, there's something to be said for Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans' more focused approach that narrows in on Dragon Ball Z's introductory Saiyan Saga, with some of the original Dragon Ball's Piccolo Jr. Saga included for good measure. The turn-based RPG allows the player to control Goku, Piccolo, Gohan, Krillin, Yamcha, and Tien, which is a relatively unique line-up for a Dragon Ball Z game. Attack of the Saiyans is rich in nostalgia, right down to its visuals, but without ever feeling old-fashioned.

Attack of the Saiyans does take some liberties with how it remixes the anime's narrative and some of the characters that it slots in as enemies. The battle system, which indulges in a Rage Meter, is also not without its flaws. There's still such a unique quality to Attack of the Saiyans that makes it well worth the audience's time, whether they're fans of classic RPGs or Dragon Ball. The game even incorporates Broly as an anachronistic secret boss, placing it at the number 10 spot on our listt.

9 Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit Pushes The Fighting Game Formula To New Heights

Visual Feast That Streamlines Combat For Modern Consoles

Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit is a standout fighting game that's very much an evolution of the Budokai franchise, right down to how it's also developed by Dimps. Burst Limit attempts to simplify the Dragon Ball Z fighting experience after the heightened spectacle of Budokai 3. There's a stripped-down roster that features under two-dozen characters, yet still fits in some more obscure choices like a Saibaman, Recoome, and Super Saiyan Third Grade Future Trunks. Burst Limit also only covers up to Dragon Ball Z's Cell Games Saga, rather than tackling the entire series. Some appreciate this focus, but to some it feels like a step backward in lieu of the excess and freedom of the Budokai games.

Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit prides itself in being marketed not as a fighting game, but as a "Dragon Ball Z game." The Z Chronicles story mode is a satisfying narrative that also indulges in some hypothetical "What If?..." scenarios that involve Bardock and Broly. The addition of "Drama Pieces," which are in-battle cutscenes that get triggered when certain conditions are met, are also a fun development. Burst Limit also takes advantage of its PS3 and Xbox 360 hardware with gorgeous cel-shaded aesthetics that effectively evoke the anime's visual style. In a vacuum, Burst Limit would be a totemic Dragon Ball Z title, but it doesn't offer as much as some of the other more comprehensive releases.

8 Dragon Ball: Raging Blast & Raging Blast 2 Prioritize Destruction & Deep Cut Characters

Explosive Battles With A Diverse Roster Of Fan-Favorite Fighters

Spike Chunsoft's Dragon Ball: Raging Blast and its sequel are fun Dragon Ball Z fighters that helped close out the 2000s with class. The Raging Blast games trade comprehensive story modes for an added emphasis on more detailed combat, with destructive environments and combo attacks being some of the series' bigger selling points. The Raging Blast games also attempt to explore power scaling in unique ways, whether it's characters who are given a natural advantage or certain battle set-ups where some individuals are compromised in order to reflect certain events from the series. Fighting genre fans will also appreciate the games' 16-player Budokai Tournament mode, which goes beyond the standard fighting game experience.

The Raging Blast titles also attempt to take some risks with their rosters, which include some rarer characters like Chiaotzu, Videl, Cell Jr., Cui, and Nail. There's also some fun to be had with "What If?..." character transformations that were never explored in the anime, like Super Saiyan 3 Broly and Vegeta. Raging Blast 2 is also notable for not only touching on the events of the Dragon Ball Z Side Story: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans OVA, but also including a remake of the niche Dragon Ball story. The Raging Blast games get a lot right, but lackluster AI and repetitive controls and combat hold back these titles from being as revered as other Dragon Ball Z fighters.

7 Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Is A Comprehensive Open World Anime Experience

Definitive RPG That Immerses Players In The Entire Dragon Ball Z Saga

There had been dozens of substantial Dragon Ball Z games by the time of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot’s release, but none had truly immersed audiences in Akira Toriyama’s world and let them explore it to such a degree. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot set out to combine open-world action RPG elements with the fighting genre to create a definitive Dragon Ball Z experience. Not only does the game cover the entirety of Dragon Ball Z, as well as several filler episodes, but subsequent DLC releases have covered Dragon Ball Super's introductory sagas and even the original Dragon Ball's concluding 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. These expansions have helped Kakarot stay relevant for years after its original release.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a truly impressive accomplishment that shows just how far Dragon Ball games have come. That being said, it's not without its shortcomings. Unnecessary quests and collection-a-thons can trivialize the experience and prolong it in perfunctory ways. Additionally, there's surprisingly little Goku material in the game once characters like Gohan, Vegeta, Future Trunks, and Gotenks enter the picture. An expanded roster usually isn't a bad thing, but it's odd to have Goku often feel like an afterthought in his own game.

6 Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Trilogy Translate Arcade Fighter Perfection To Dragon Ball

Classic Fighting Series That Captures The Spirit Of The Anime

Dimps' Dragon Ball Z: Budokai trilogy were fundamental titles for many Dragon Ball fans during the early 2000s. New Budokai games were released each year, yet somehow these titles didn’t feel rushed or incomplete. There are still fervent debates about which fighting series is superior between the Budokai and Budokai Tenkaichi games, but the answer really comes down to which type of fighting games the audience prefers. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai is a more traditional 2D arcade fighter experience that's akin to something like Tekken.

There's an emphasis on the genre's fundamentals and comprehensive movesets, while the Budokai Tenkaichi games embrace 3D environments and push the fighting genre to more complicated places. By the third Budokai game, the series has not just incorporated characters and concepts from Dragon Ball Z movies, but also the original series and Dragon Ball GT, which was a rarity at the time. There are also some particularly playful original characters that indulge in fusion's endless possibilities, like the Tien and Yamcha union, Tiencha, and Goku and Hercule's fused form, Gokule.

5 Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi Trilogy Is A Truly Overwhelming & Excessive Fighting Experience

Colossal Roster And 3D Combat Redefine Dragon Ball Battles

Dimp's Budokai trilogy finally gave Dragon Ball fans an exceptional fighting experience, but Spike Chunsoft's Budokai Tenkaichi games followed in Budokai's wake and quickly resonated with modern gamers who weren't precious about traditional arcade fighter fundamentals. The Budokai Tenkaichi games are more interested in a grandiose action spectacle that's more representative of Dragon Ball's heightened battles. 3D battles that seamlessly switch from ground to aerial combat as energy blast power struggles ensue were unprecedented at the time.

One of the Budokai Tenkaichi trilogy's biggest selling points was its comprehensive roster that spans the entirety of the Dragon Ball franchise and even brings in Dr. Slump's Arale for good measure. The original Budokai Tenkaichi has a roster of 60 characters, which expands to 90 once their respective transformations are considered. However, Budokai Tenkaichi 3 balloons this total to 162 characters, which remains the biggest roster for a Dragon Ball game, placing it at the number 5 spot on our list.

4 Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors Transforms The Anime’s Action Into Card-Based Combat

Retro Gem That Offers Strategic Depth And Replayability

It's easy to dismiss any retro Dragon Ball game that's several decades old, but doing so cuts audiences off of some surprisingly solid releases, such as Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors for the Game Boy Color. Legendary Super Warriors lacks the aesthetic polish and features of modern Dragon Ball games, but it beautifully distills the entire Dragon Ball Z franchise — as well as two bonus Future Trunks stories — into a turn-based strategy title that utilizes a card fighting system.Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors has 125 unique cards that provide a detailed combat experience that truly rewards audiences who repeatedly play through the game. Legendary Super Warriors features unlockable villains and other engaging perks that make the game’s subsequent playthroughs feel distinct.

Legendary Super Warriors is a satisfying single-player experience, but its incorporation of the Game Boy Color’s Link Cable also means that players can trade cards and battle friends. Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors is a relic of the past, but it's a Dragon Ball Z game that's incredibly deserving of a modern port or update so new generations can experience its tight and entertaining gameplay. Card-based fighters have slowly made a comeback and Legendary Super Warriors is a great example of how to do the genre right.

3 Dragon Ball Z: Legacy Of Goku Trilogy Is A Robust Retro Throwback

Iconic Handheld RPG Series That Still Resonates With Fans

The Game Boy Advance’s Legacy of Goku trilogy – Legacy of Goku, Legacy of Goku II, and Buu’s Fury – are more than two decades old, yet they’re still often cited as Dragon Ball gaming highlights. Webfoot Technologies’ Legacy of Goku games made waves as the first North American-developed Dragon Ball Z games, rather than Japanese productions that were later localized to other regions. These handheld RPGs break down each of Dragon Ball Z’s major story sagas in a loving manner that’s as playful as it is passionate.

Tight gameplay, enjoyable collectibles and extra content, and attractive 32-bit sprites fill these games with a charming personality that’s often absent in the more mature Dragon Ball fighters. Legacy of Goku II and Buu’s Fury even include Bruce Faulconer’s score from the Dragon Ball Z English dub, which makes them the ultimate burst of nostalgia. The first Legacy of Goku is a successful RPG, but it’s Legacy of Goku II and Buu’s Fury that truly stand out with their expanded character rosters and additional story material that features popular movie villains like Cooler, Broly, and Janemba.

2 Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Is An Extreme Fighting Game That’s Still Going Strong Nearly A Decade Later

Continually Evolving Title With Extensive DLC And Fan Engagement

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 combines online fighting frenzies with an elaborate story mode that pulls from every corner of the Dragon Ball universe. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 hit consoles in 2016, but it continues to release new DLC material nearly a decade after its release and has an incredibly active player base. Xenoverse 2 is still so popular with fans and draws in new players every day, which is why many audiences believe there may never be a Xenoverse 3.

Xenoverse 2 is also one of the few Dragon Ball console games that includes characters from Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, such as Gohan Beast and Orange Piccolo. This alone is a solid reason to give Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 a try. Even now, there are still new DLC storylines and characters that are on the way that add to the game’s already impressive roster of 125 characters.

1 Dragon Ball FighterZ Achieves Sublime Anime Action In A Perfectly Polished Package

Visually Stunning Fighter That Balances Depth And Accessibility

Dragon Ball FighterZ may not have the same bloated roster as Xenoverse 2 or Budokai Tenkaichi 3, but it’s a strong reminder of how less can often be more. Arc System Works has an impressive history with modern fighting games and Dragon Ball FighterZ is such a glorious adaptation of the anime. FighterZ’s incorporation of ki charging, Dragon Rush attacks, and its clever Shenron System all facilitate fast-paced gameplay with beautiful graphics.

Dragon Ball FighterZ’s ongoing DLC releases have more than doubled the game’s initial roster to 44 characters, which celebrate each Dragon Ball series, but also introduces original characters like Android 21. There’s also a surprising amount of Dragon Ball GT love on display. Dragon Ball FighterZ remains a top title more than six years after its release, and it should be genuinely interesting to see if Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is able to replace it as peak Dragon Ball gaming, putting it at the top of our ranking.