Dragon Ball video games have been embraced by Nintendo ever since its earliest consoles, becoming a fan-favorite from DS to Switch. The best Dragon Ball games have straddled the line between the RPG and the fighting genre for years now, sometimes offering a little of both. While the early games of the franchise were dominated by RPGs, Dragon Ball slowly began to embrace combat features as the fighting genre evolved.
Dragon Ball and PlayStation were almost synonymous once, but the series’ most foundational games can be found on Nintendo consoles. Brimming with creativity, blending genres, and genuinely just serving as good games, there's no shortage of Dragon Ball games on Nintendo’s many systems.
Updated on April 30, 2024, by Arthur Goyaz: Every Nintendo console features at least one remarkable Dragon Ball game. The classic series works as great source material for both RPG-oriented and fighting gameplays. This list was updated to add new Dragon Ball games and to meet CBR's most current standards in formatting.
10 Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimension Is A Great-Looking SNES Fighting Game
SNES/Super Famicom
The Super Nintendo has more than a few Dragon Ball fighting games, but Hyper Dimension might be the best retro Dragon Ball game the console has to offer. Where the Super Butoden sub-series dominates in quantity — both in terms of number of games & in regards to roster size — Hyper Dimension plays up its refined mechanics and strong visuals.
Atmospherically, Hyper Dimension is one of the best looking on the SNES to begin with. Gameplay-wise, the fact Ki and Health share a state — which can be charged up during battle — adds a layer of strategy to using special attacks in critical moments. On the other hand, this feature might strike players as a bit one-dimensional, blending two crucial pieces of information into one. The story is a fractured adaptation of the Frieza, Cell, and Buu arcs, but the difficulty & post-game make a playthrough worthwhile.
9 Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors Has A High Difficulty Curve
Game Boy Color
Dragon Ball has a rich history with the card-based RPG genre, with many titles on the Famicom adapting the anime in the format. Come the Game Boy Color, Dragon Ball once again embraced card-based RPG gameplay, but this time with conscious deckbuilding in mind. The new layer of complexity added to the game makes each victory all the more rewarding, prompting players to think strategically.
Some of Dragon Ball’s hardest fights are featured in Legendary Super Warriors, making it a much more dense game than its predecessors. With a high difficulty curve and plenty of room for customization, Legendary Super Warriors is a one-of-a-kind way of experiencing Dragon Ball Z: it's a perfect game for players who like an intense challenge, but those looking for something easier to get through might not enjoy it.
8 Dragon Ball Z: Attack Of The Saiyans Makes The Most Of Its Limited Story
Nintendo DS
A turn-based RPG developed by Monolith Soft (Xenoblade) for the Nintendo DS, Attack of the Saiyans covers limited, yet special moments of the series. The story adapts the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai and the Saiyan arc. It also adds surprisingly welcoming amounts of filler that allow for character development the manga & anime don’t get around to.
Attack of the Saiyans is a great Dragon Ball DS game. Each party member has customizable stats and learnable skills. Their sprites actively change with the course of the story, reflecting what they wore at different periods in Dragon Ball — a nice touch that shows appreciation towards the source material. Because Attack of the Saiyans concludes with the Saiyan Saga, the limited roster of characters can be a major downside, but the game sure knows how to take advantage of its finite resources.
7 Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Pays Off As An Immersive Experience
Nintendo Switch
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot stands out as a divisive entry among Dragon Ball fans, but there's little to dislike about what the game proposes to deliver. There are many Dragon Ball games retelling DBZ's main story, but none come close to the level of representation of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot.
The semi-open world experience is a huge plus, giving players the chance to explore and find new opponents on their own. In addition, there's a good balance between trouble-free and intensely difficult bosses. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot's cinematic appeal is just as good as its gameplay, delivering awe-inspiring cutscenes that perfectly capture the impact of DBZ's most emotionally charged moments.
6 Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure Is A Faithful Adaptation Of Classic Dragon Ball
Game Boy Advance
In terms of video games, Dragon Ball Z far outweighs Dragon Ball in adaptations. They’re two sides to the same story, but DBZ exploded with popularity in the United States whereas the original Dragon Ball didn’t. The main difference between DBZ and Dragon Ball is that DBZ is much more combat-oriented, while classic Dragon Ball is focused on exploration and isolated adventures.
Fighting games were thriving, but this didn’t stop classic Dragon Ball from getting its own games during DBZ’s renaissance. A great Dragon Ball game made for Game Boy Advance, Advanced Adventure does justice to the adventurous, carefree atmosphere of the original series. Although it isn't as action-packed as other Dragon Ball games, Advanced Adventure offers a great level of design and thrilling boss fights. The game follows Goku's journey from the early stages to Demon King Piccolo’s defeat.
5 Dragon Ball Origins Pays Homage To The Series' Early Days
Nintendo DS
A level-based, action-adventure game that’s surprisingly reminiscent of the DS Zelda games, Origins adapts the very beginning of Dragon Ball up to the 21st Tenkaichi Budokai in as much detail as possible. Origins is a rare Dragon Ball game that embraces the genuine feel of the original story.
Origins takes its sweet time getting through the first two story arcs, playing up the adventure at the heart of early Dragon Ball. Similar to other games focused on classic Dragon Ball, what the gameplay doesn't deliver in action it makes up with a cozy, immersive atmosphere. The decisive factor in Origins is its 3D visuals, offering a welcoming new look to the characters and their surroundings. Origins' design and presentation is a deliberate nod to Akira Toriyama's source material.
4 Dragon Ball: Revenge Of King Piccolo Has Some Of The Best Action On The Wii
Wii
The Origins sub-series tragically did not continue on either the DS or 3DS, but the Nintendo Wii did see something of a successor in Revenge of King Piccolo. Gameplay-wise, RoKP has more in common with Advanced Adventure than it does Origins, covering the most action-packed moments of classic Dragon Ball, from the Red Ribbon Army to Demon King Piccolo arcs.
Revenge of King Piccolo is still one of the best action side scrollers on the Wii, implementing a captivating arcade-style beat 'em-up gameplay. The multiplayer isn't the game's strongest asset, but the single-player levels are consistently thrilling throughout. The game works as a strong product of its time, released when players were eager to see more action than exploration in Dragon Ball games. Revenge of King Piccolo has a little of everything.
3 Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy Of Goku II Does The Cell Arc Justice
Game Boy Advance
While the first Legacy of Goku failed to properly adapt either the Saiyan or Frieza arcs, The Legacy of Goku II was a shocking improvement that did the Cell arc the justice it deserved. A proper action RPG with multiplayer playable characters, detailed storytelling, and even side quests, The Legacy of Goku II is a superb sequel on all fronts.
It’s worth pointing out that The Legacy of Goku II is the only Dragon Ball game to be developed in the West and receive a Japanese localization – it really is that good. The game is guaranteed to leave fans wishing for more once it's completed. Hopefully, its sequel Buu's Fury is equally good, even though it requires a lot more grinding.
2 Dragon Ball Fusions Shows Off An Original Story
Nintendo 3DS
For better or worse, most Dragon Ball games tend to be adaptations of the actual story. While the best Dragon Ball games make good use of their plot, most entries in the franchise are content-recapping plot points with little emotion. It’s rare for a Dragon Ball game to have an original story, let alone an entire concept, but that’s what makes Fusions so noteworthy.
Taking on monster-catching elements, Fusions allows players to recruit heroes from Dragon Ball history to fuse together into new fighters. All the while, there’s a fresh storyline starring a player-created avatar that pays tribute to the series’ most absurd characteristics. Fusions excels in creativity and originality, changing the formula of Dragon Ball games for the better.
1 Dragon Ball FighterZ Is The Quintessential Dragon Ball Fighting Game Experience
Nintendo Switch
At this point, Dragon Ball FighterZ is pretty much a universal answer when it comes to the best Dragon Ball game ever released. Dragon Ball FighterZ takes advantage of DBZ's vast roster of powerful characters and all the unique abilities they bring to the table. The game is flawlessly crafted, delivering a range of combat techniques and animations, all in the best possible visual quality: Dragon Ball FighterZ combines classic 2D fighting visuals with advanced 3D character models.
Although Dragon Ball FighterZ is a fairly recent installment in Dragon Ball's game franchise, it works as both a good entry door for new players and the perfect opportunity for veterans to try their shot in a competitive scene. The hardest boss fights of any Dragon Ball game can be found here, each one more rewarding than the other. Dragon Ball FighterZ's reputation precedes the game, which remains as popular as ever 6 years after its initial release.
