5. Dragon Ball: The Breakers
In a series that focuses almost exclusively on fighting, it’s refreshing to see a game that tries something different.
Dragon Ball: The Breakersis a 7v1 survival game that barely features Goku or his friends. In fact, Oolong the shape-changing pig has more screen time than the iconic Saiyan warrior.
Players take one of two roles: that of a normal human who’s hiding from some of the franchise’s most iconic villains, or that of a villain who’s hunting down the survivors out of spite.
While some of the mechanics are a little counter-intuitive and the lack of crossplay means it will probably have a shorter lifespan than it deserves, it makes this list simply for being so unique in the franchise.
Despite its flaws,Dragon Ball: The Breakersis a lot of fun to play—as both the survivors and the villain.
4. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
There have been many attempts to make aDragon BallRPG, butDragon Ball Z: Kakarotis the best implementation of that formula.
This game allows players to take control of Goku and his allies, starting from the Saiyan Saga all the way up through the defeat of Buu, mastering transformations, energy blasts, and power-ups along the way.
The biggest flaw inDragon Ball Z: Kakarotis how it requires so much grinding, which unnecessarily pads out the playtime. However, it has enough main content—including some of the most adorable filler the franchise has ever seen—that it doesn’t get tired.
If you loveDragon Balland you want a solid RPG experience within the franchise, this is easily your best option.
Related:The Best Anime Games on Xbox Game Pass, Ranked
3. Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3
TheDragon Ball Z Budokaifighting games hold a special place in theDragon Ballgaming franchise, primarily for being the first games in the long-running series that were properly fun to play.
Before this series,Dragon Ballgames were awkward shooters or stiff fighting games that were reskinned editions of other fighting games. ThenDragon Ball Z Budokaicame along, infusing the series with enough depth to make it feel distinctlyDragon Ballbut still fun to play.
Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3remains the best of these games, with a massive roster to play through, countless skills and power-ups to equip, and a surprisingly complex and fun story mode that rewarded players for adhering to the anime plot but still allowed for some silly moments as well.
If you ever wanted to see Mr. Satan take on Kid Buu and win, this game is your chance to make it happen. For years, this was considered the best fighting game in the franchise, and it still ranks highly among fans—even more than 15 years after its initial release.
Related:The Best PS2 Fighting Games (Even Better With an Arcade Stick)
2. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
The originalDragon Ball Xenoverseallowed players to find out the answer to all their most silly franchise questions. What if Nappa and Vegeta both went Great Ape on Earth? What if Captain Ginyu had stolen Vegeta’s body instead of Goku’s? And so much more.
It elevated what could’ve been shallow gameplay into something wildly entertaining for fans of the series.Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2then provided even more of these scenarios while improving on gameplay in every way.
It’s been several years since it first launched, yetDragon Ball Xenoverse 2is still going strong—and still getting regular content updates. This new content allows players to tackle new enemies with their custom characters fighting alongside their favorite characters.
1. Dragon Ball FighterZ
Dragon Ball FighterZisn’t just a greatDragon Ballvideo game—it’s one of the best fighting games of all time.
The continually growing roster of characters, each with drastically different playstyles, means that you can easily create some of your favorite team-ups from the show. It’s a game that’s perfectly balanced, meaning any character can succeed if you put in the time to master their unique mechanics.
Most importantly, no otherDragon Ballgame has gone so far to recreate the franchise’s distinctive art style using beautifully stylish 3D models. Each character looks and feels exactly like they do in the anime, making every fight a beauty to watch unfold.
Read next:The Best Dragon Ball Story Arcs, Ranked (Across Every Anime Series)
