The Best Dragon Ball Games of All Time

With there being well over 9000 video games based on Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball manga and subsequent anime, narrowing down the list to the best titles of all time is far from an easy feat. Admittedly, this is less about being spoiled for choice and more a case of there just being a ton of mediocre Dragon Ball games that barely try to stick out from the crowd. However, the greatest DBZ games are borderline timeless.

In 1986, Epoch published Dragon Ball: Dragon Daihikyō for the Super Cassette Vision, marking the iconic series’ first foray into gaming. While the West needed around another decade to truly catch Goku fever, nowadays, a year can barely pass without a Saiyan-themed fighting game or RPG hitting the shelves.

With so many projects associated with the series, picking out the best Dragon Ball games can be quite difficult. Let’s highlight DBZ‘s crowning achievements, covering the usual suspects and a couple of underrated gems.

Updated November 26, 2025, by Mark Sammut: As there are no new Dragon Ball games to mention, we have added sections that discuss whether a title is worth revisiting. We have only done this for games that require it, so the very best titles are not included.

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Special Mention: Dragon Ball Online

An MMORPG That Technically Shut Down In 2013, But Private Servers Are Still Available

Dragon Ball Online

Systems

Released

February 4, 2010

Developer(s)

NTL Inc., Shueisha Games

Publisher(s)

Namco Bandai, Shanda Games, CJ Internet Corporation, Cayenne Tech

Dragon Ball Online is a difficult game to rank for several reasons. On the one hand, its influence on projects like Xenoverse and Fusions is readily apparent, as the MMORPG basically set the foundation for time travel that would be explored in subsequent releases. It also allowed players to create original characters, a craving that traditional DB games had largely ignored up to that point. Similar to Xenoverse, DBO allowed you to pick from a variety of classes, all of whom had unique transformations. The story was pretty ambitious as well, twisting popular story beats from the manga while establishing original characters and a future setting.

Conversely, Dragon Ball Online is not really all that different from most other old-school MMOs. The combat was simple, progression was slow, and you spent most of your time grinding against forgettable enemies. Even in the early 2010s, DBO felt like an outdated product that should have materialized in the previous decade. Finally, the proper game was never released outside of Asia, greatly limiting its potential since it did not tap into DBZ‘s global popularity. The real version was shut down in 2013, although you can still play DBO through private servers.

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Dragon Ball: Gekishin Squadra

A MOBA That Is Both Accessible And Obtuse

As of the time of writing, Dragon Ball: Gekishin Squadra is the most recent game in the franchise, debuting in September 2025 to a decidedly mixed reception. Despite being one of the IP’s only free-to-play projects, the release did not make that huge of a splash, perhaps due to its genre: MOBA. Yeah, MOBAs are not for everyone and rarely produce new contenders that stick around for the long run, as most players are committed to the genre’s heavyweights like Dota 2. Gekishin Squadra is not an especially fantastic example of this type of game, but the Dragon Ball license might attract people who generally avoid MOBAs. As such, it can work as an introductory course into an overwhelming genre that can seem impenetrable to newcomers.

However, is the game actually good? Honestly, I cannot really say. I’ve played a few rounds, and Gekishin Squadra is just not for me. The Steam player count has dropped pretty heavily during the first 30 days, although there are still more than enough players to ensure matches are filled quickly and easily. Basically, if you are into Dragon Ball and MOBAs, check this out while it is still relatively active. Maybe it will become a staple of the genre, but that is a long shot.

Should You Play Dragon Ball: Gekishin Squadra Nowadays?

Well, it is the most recent Dragon Ball game, so the answer should really be “yes,” especially since it is multiplayer. However, unless you are also into MOBAs and don’t mind a rough package, then I would not recommend this.

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Dragon Ball Z: Super Saiya Densetsu

An Early Attempt At A Dragon Ball RPG (And The Best Entry In A Forgotten Series)

Dragon Ball might be primarily associated with fighting games, but the franchise’s earliest efforts predate that genre’s birth and explosion in popularity. Consequently, Goku’s first gaming adventures leaned into platforming or RPG territory, avenues that the series would rarely revisit after the success of titles like Hyper Dimension and Budokai​​​​​​.

Although not having much of a presence in Western nations, the Gokuden series was arguably Dragon Ball‘s first gaming success story. TOSE Software and Bandai released seven entries within this series, with most of them landing on the Famicom. Honestly, the NES Dragon Ball games are hard to recommend nowadays as they show their ages way too much, but they can take die-hard fans on fascinating trips through gaming history. That said, if somebody wants to try out this series, they should go with Dragon Ball Z: Super Saiya Densetsu, a SNES remake of two earlier entries. The RPG covers the Saiyan and Namek Sagas, featuring a pretty decent card-based combat system that would be revisited in later games like Legendary Super Warriors.

While primarily a historical piece at this point, Super Saiya Densetsu is relatively fun to play nowadays, and it still feels surprisingly fresh due to the lack of Dragon Ball RPGs.

Should You Play Dragon Ball Z: Super Saiya Densetsu Nowadays?

The gameplay is still unique for the franchise, so it is kind of worth playing from that perspective. While far from the most timeless SNES game ever, Super Saiya Densetsu has its charm.

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Dragon Ball GT: Transformation

The Best Dragon Ball GT Game

Dragon Ball GT is generally seen as a low point in the franchise’s history, especially since the series was meant to follow up DBZ. Unfortunately, the anime struggled to find its footing as it attempted to balance Dragon Ball‘s sense of adventure with DBZ‘s action. The result was a story that did not shine as either an adventure or action anime, instead existing in a middle-ground that was not that satisfying. That said, the show still has its positives and is worth a watch for die-hard fans.

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Now, Dragon Ball GT has not been ignored by the gaming industry, with its transformations, villains, and arcs being included in quite a few projects. However, the series has only been asked to carry two standalone games: Final Bout and Transformation. The former is a prime contender for the worst Dragon Ball game of all time, and it has very few redeeming factors. Comparatively speaking, Transformation is a masterpiece next to Final Bout; removed from that context, the GBA exclusive is just an average beat ’em up.

The campaign runs through the first two arcs, ending with the Baby saga. Players get to visit a few different planets that echo the source material, and Transformation focuses on a team of three. The story mode mostly consists of Goku, Pan, and Trunks, but the game has a few more playable characters. While nothing special, Transformation looks fine and has perfectly decent combat.

Should You Play Dragon Ball GT: Transformation Nowadays?

There are many, many better beat ’em ups, even if we are just talking about the Game Boy Advance. However, there are no better Dragon Ball GT games…HOWEVER, if you just want to play as Super Saiyan 4 Goku or Baby, just go with the numerous fighting games that feature DBGT characters.

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Dragon Ball Z: Attack Of The Saiyans

Decent Entry-Level Turn-Based RPG

Nintendo’s handheld systems seem to inspire Dragon Ball to try something slightly different, at least for the franchise. Dragon Ball Z: Attack Of The Saiyans is a turn-based RPG with a limited roster of characters and some exploration. As the campaign does not simply jump from one fight to the next, it only covers a fraction of Dragon Ball Z‘s storyline, concluding with the Saiyan Saga.

Attack Of The Saiyans does very little to separate itself from other turn-based RPGs, but it is a serviceable one that should please fans of the franchise and the genre. While derivative in the grand scheme of things, this Nintendo DS title is relatively unique in the Dragon Ball world.

Should You Play Dragon Ball Z: Attack Of The Saiyans Nowadays?

For a basic turn-based RPG with a Dragon Ball coat of paint, Attack of the Saiyans gets the job done. Unless you are really interested in this rare combo, then skip this one.

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Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo

Reliving Goku’s Formative Years

Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo

Systems

Released

October 20, 2009

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Cartoon Violence, Mild Language, Tobacco Reference

Developer(s)

Media.Vision

Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo seems to have been wiped from existence, barely existing as a footnote in the franchise’s gaming history. Along with being a Wii exclusive, it is not quite as good as the Origins games on the Nintendo DS, despite delivering a similar overall experience. Still, Revenge of King Piccolo deserves recognition for being a home console release that moves away from DBZ, instead focusing on Akira Toriyama’s first few manga arcs and their anime adaptation. This simple creative decision instantly sets the game apart from nearly every other post-2000s Dragon Ball release, justifying a recommendation in the process.

So, what does Revenge of King Piccolo play like? Well, it is essentially a straightforward beat ’em up with some lite platforming. For the most part, players will rush through linear levels while frequently stopping to bash out encounters with enemies. Although simple, the combat is more than flashy and fast-paced enough to keep things interesting throughout the relatively short campaign.

Should You Play Revenge of King Piccolo Nowadays?

Ultimately, Revenge of King Piccolo is just a middle package that has nothing to offer non-fans but could hit the mark with diehards.

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Dragon Ball Z: Buyuu Retsuden

Mega Drive Alternative To Dragon Ball Z Super Butoden

While the SNES/Super Famicom received the Super Butoden trilogy (at least, in Japan and Europe), the Mega Drive/Genesis had to make do with Buyuu Retsuden, a fighting game that was cut from largely the same cloth. In terms of quality, this 1994 release was closer to the original Super Butoden than its sequels, albeit with vibrant visuals that helped the detailed character models pop off the screen.

Like so many early fighting games that are not the genre’s heavyweights, Buyuu Retsuden can be difficult to revisit in this day and age, especially since the European version is rarer than the Japanese one. Still, if someone is fond of the SNES trilogy, they should check out this alternative, as it is like discovering a fourth entry. While stiff and repetitive, the combat is mostly fine, even if it is let down by battles that regularly overstay their welcome. The story mode gives each character a unique campaign, which mostly consists of battles introduced by text.

Should You Play Dragon Ball Z: Buyuu Retsuden Nowadays?

This is mostly just a historical artifact at this point. The sprites still look decent, and the gameplay is passable, but there are just too many better DBZ fighters to recommend Buyuu Retsuden​​​​​​.

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Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle

Something A Bit Different

Like with any popular anime property, Dragon Ball has spawned more than a few mobile games. The main two are Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle and Dragon Ball Legends, both of which have been around for a few years and feature original storylines. Trepidation towards mobile titles is to be expected, particularly free-to-play ones, but these two titles are better than average.

Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle has quite a unique twist on gameplay. The anime game incorporates puzzle elements, forcing players to think their way through battles. Dokkan Battle cannot compare to the franchise’s best Dragon Ball Z games on consoles. However, in the world of mobile gaming, it is a respectable entry.

Should You Play Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle Nowadays?

A pretty fun mobile game with a unique twist on the fighting formula. If you are generally into free-to-play mobile games, you can do much worse than Dokkan Battle.

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Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team

A Solid PSP Dragon Ball Z Game

On the surface, Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team was just another 3D arena brawler that cycles through the same old arcs while using a tired combat system that was in desperate need of evolution, more so than the introduction of 2v2 battles could provide. Out of all the Tenkaichi and Budokai Tenkaichi games that were released over roughly a decade, Tenkaichi Tag Team was the most forgettable and, arguably, the worst (not counting Ultimate Tenkachi, which was something else entirely); yet, this 2010 release had one major thing in its favor: portability. Unlike every other entry, this title was designed specifically for the PSP, and it was the franchise’s last effort for that console.

While arguably not the best DBZ game on Sony’s handheld system, Tenkaichi Tag Team deserves praise for impressively translating the home console entries’ gameplay for the PSP. Despite having far fewer inputs to work with, Spike managed to mostly retain Budokai Tenkaichi‘s controls, resulting in a spin-off that should scratch a fan’s itch to take this particular subseries on the go. Tenkaichi Tag Team delivers high-octane and accessible action, along with very good visuals for the device.

That said, the game is quite by-the-numbers in most areas. The Dragon Walker story mode has a cute overworld presentation, but it is otherwise just another retread of the same arcs that the franchise has been revisiting for decades. The secondary modes are mainly time-wasters that can be fun distractions, which is fine for a portable game like this.

Should You Play Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team Nowadays?

If you are dusting off a PSP and want a DBZ game, then yes, Tenkaichi Tag Team is great! If you plan to play it using other means, just go with the PS2 releases.

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Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors

A Well-Done GBA Dragon Ball Game With A Good Story Mode

The Game Boy Advance has a surprisingly good selection of Dragon Ball games, and they cover a wide spectrum of genres. Supersonic Warriors exists to fill the console’s fighting game quota for the franchise, and while its mechanics are rough around the edges and do not hold up particularly well, there is still a lot to love about the overall package.

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The story mode is the main reason to revisit this project since the developers really went for broke to make this as enjoyable an experience as possible for fans. Along with chapters that follow DBZ‘s main sagas, each playable character has their own what-if scenario, most of which are a lot of fun to see unfold. Supersonic Warriors‘ gameplay is also not terrible and does not detract too much from the game’s strengths.

Should You Play Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors Nowadays?

Hmm, this one is a bit difficult. Supersonic Warriors is a more than respectable GBA fighting game, and I imagine most DBZ fans will get a kick out of it. However, I would only really recommend it to people who are specifically looking for a game they can play on that handheld. Everyone else will be better served going with other options, including Supersonic Warriors 2.