If someone collected everyDragon Ballgame ever made and stacked the fighting games next to the non-fighting games, there wouldn’t be a contest. The fighting games would tower above them like Shenron.Dragon Ballgames have hit almost every console since the days of the NES. In the early days, there weren’t many fighting games but now that is almost exclusively what fans get.
While an endless amount ofDragon Ballfighting games isn’t a bad thing (as there have been a lot of great ones likeDragon Ball FighterZ). Not every video game playerloves the fighting game genre, so here are some good recommendations forDragon Ballgames that extend past the common fighting genre.
These will all be ranked based on the quality of the game and the level of fan service within.
Fans enjoy playing games based on theDragon Ballarcsthat they are familiar with. It’s also nice to get something original sometimes like inDragon Ball Fusions. Players can create their character in this game from a wide range of choices and adventures with familiar faces.
It’s a tactical RPG in which characters can move anywhere within a given movement ring. Combos can be dealt with if partners are next to each other, and there are many ways to fuse characters together, which is the big gimmick of the game. Sadly, it’s a bit hard to track down now since it was a late 3DS game that seemingly got passed up, but it’s worth the effort.
Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku 2is the best ranked, in terms of reviews, of this trilogy on the GBA. This entry in particular is a top-down action RPG thatbegins with Trunksand goes all the way through the Android and Cell sagas. Other characters become playable as the game progresses including Gohan, Piccolo, and Vegeta just to name a few.
Characters can physically attack enemies or use skills acquired through leveling up. One of the coolest parts of the game is the world map which lets characters fly around. There’s an interesting fact about the release of this GBA trilogy too as Japan only gotDragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku 2after a new version was made.Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of GokuandDragon Ball Z: Buu’s Furynever made it over there which is odd considering how huge Dragon Ball is in Japan there.
4Dragon Ball: Origins 2
A Top-Down Adventure That Takes Place Through Familiar Arcs
Dragon Ball: Originswas a DS game that began where the original anime kicked off with young Goku leaving his cozy home and going on an adventure. It goes through the Emperor Pilaf arc and while an impressive game on the DS, it had setbacks. Nearly everything was controlled using the touchscreen which made it a bit awkward for some.
That’s why many fans prefer the sequel,Dragon Ball: Origins 2, which gives players the option of touch controls or buttons. It continued where the last one left off and went into theRed Ribbon Army arcwhich is a highlight for the originalDragon Ball. Both games are worth checking out for those who like their top-down action-adventure games with 100% more Goku.
Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventureis also based on the originalDragon Ballstories but this game is a 2D action platformer. It picks highlights from Goku’s many early adventures including tangoing with Yamcha, the Red Ribbon Army, taking down King Piccolo, and more. There are a lot of great things to highlight about this game but the pixel art is near the top.
These are some of the most expressive sprites on the GBA. It was handled by Dimps who also made a similarOne Piecegame and more notably theSonic Advanceseries on the GBA. Besides the graphics, the world map is a highlight which is designed likeSuper Mario World. While Goku is the main attraction, players can unlock more playable characters too including the aforementioned Yamcha and Tien. It’s not just a goodDragon Ballgame, it’sa top-tier GBA game.
Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyansis a traditional turn-based entry that does not feature cards. Characters can attack or use special abilities that fans will recognize from the anime like the all-too-powerful Kamehameha Wave. The majority of the game followsthe Saiyan arcbut there are some new plot devices formed for the game too. It starts before Raditz around the time skip in the originalDragon Ballcomic which is a piece of lore not covered often in games.
It looks great with the pixel art and it still plays great too which is not surprising since the developer was all-star get: Monolith Soft. They are best known for their various “Xeno” projects like theXenosagatrilogy on the PS2 and the plethora ofXenoblade Chroniclesgames on the Switch. Monolith Soft andDragon Ballfans will want to track this DS game down which may be hard to do now given its increased rarity.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarotspans almost the entire series of the anime starting with Raditz and the other Saiyans showing up to Earth. It has massively open-world areas to explore and combat plays out kind of like the fighting games. Players can pummel their enemies or shoot blasts of Ki energy and other skills. It wasdeveloped by CyberConnect2who proved themselves worthy of this beloved franchise with the variousNarutogames over the years.
There was an enhanced version released later for consoles like the Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S which added more content. Overall, this is the ultimate action RPG fans ofDragon Ball Zcould ever want in one package. Now, if only CyberConnect2 would adapt all ofDragon Ballinto one game with an adorable young Goku at the helm.
