Out of the billion Dragon Ball game out there, only a handful can truly be described as “good”. Don't get me wrong, I can play Raging Blast 2, Battle of Z, Infinite worldand Burst limit for days and have fun, but they are all deeply flawed in one way or another. While an argument can be made that perfect DBZ game have yet to be produced, some titles managed to reach legendary Super Saiyan status, and they have stood the test of time.
Depending on whether someone is in the mood for an arena brawler, a tech fighter, or even an RPG, they can turn to that masterpiece that can fulfill their Dragon Ball desire. As a die-hard fan who has played through DBZ saga far too many times over the past two decades, these are the games that came absolutely closest to warranting a 10/10 score. In fact, they deserved it.
“10/10” doesn't mean flawless, but that the game achieved almost everything it set out to do.
Dragon Ball Z: Legacy of Goku II & Buu's Fury
The Best DBZ RPGs of All Time (And They're Still Perfect)
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Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II
System
- Released
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June 17, 2003
- ESRB
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E For All // Violence
- Developer
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Webfoot Technologies
- Publisher
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Infogram, Atari
- Engine
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game engine
- Multiplayer
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Local multiplayer
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Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury
System
- Released
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September 14, 2004
- ESRB
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E For all // Cartoon violence
- Developer
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Webfoot Technologies
- Publisher
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Infogram, Atari
The first one The legacy of Goku The game is, frankly, not very good, and its disappointing and frustrating quality may deter people from trying the rest of the series. Well, that would be a mistake, since the sequels are so much better than their predecessors; they hardly feel like they belong in the same trilogy. More importantly, Dragon Ball Z: Legacy of Goku 2 and Buu's Rage combine to tell one of the most complete and best adaptations of manga and anime, at least for the Cell and Buu sagas.
The best RPGs on the Game Boy Advance, ranked
The Game Boy Advance had some of the best RPG games of its time in its library. These are the best you can play on the console.
These two projects are real, full-scale RPGs that feature leveling, ability management, exploration, quests, and unlockable transformations. Unlike so many DBZ games with story modes that are just a series of fights, these GBA classics provide a more holistic experience that showcases the characters and the world better than most of their bigger siblings. Legacy of Goku 2 and Buu's Rage features multiple playable characters that are well-defined and unique, encouraging players to experiment with fighting styles. The games even feature pseudo-open worlds that cover many familiar and iconic locations from the series, many of which feature hidden areas and optional missions. They're just great handheld RPGs, among the best on the Game Boy Advance (which is saying something).
DBZ: Kakarot is like a modern version of Legacy of Goku 2 and Buu's Ragebut the latter are undoubtedly better.
OK, technically these count as two games, but I felt it was unnecessary to create separate entries for them.
Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimension
The Best SNES DBZ Fighting Game (Still Worth Playing in 2026)
Long before Dragon Ball FighterZ or even Super Dragon Ball Z on PS2 there was Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimensionwhich built on the ideas of Super Butoden to reach new heights for the franchise. An SNES classic that could satisfy die-hard fans, rather than mere mortals DBZ, Hyper dimension raised the bar significantly in terms of combat speed, animations, hit detection, and balanced gameplay. This may sound like strange praise, but this is a genuine, real fighting game. Despite about 95% of DBZ projects that fall within the genre, most of them beat 'em up arena brawlers that barely cater to a casual multiplayer scene (let alone a competitive one).
Like so many SNES masterpieces, Hyper dimension has aged shockingly well, to the point that I'd recommend it to fans only familiar with post-Budokai era. Pixelsprites will always be gorgeous, and they're top notch by the standards of the era and not just compared to other licensed games. Combat is surprisingly fluid and captures the elegant, over-the-top magic of the source material. The game is also technical, rewarding skilled players who master combo chains, interrupting moves, and ki management.
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Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3
A DBZ Arena Fighter with surprisingly deep combat and a great story mode
Although overshadowed by Budokai Tenkaichi series, Budokai is a different beast than its successor series. While the former is preoccupied with fan service (which isn't a bad thing), the latter is defined by skill-based gameplay that's more in-depth than the franchise's reputation might suggest. Sure, it's not on the level of, say, Dead or alivebut Budokai 3s combat rewards precise timing, combo sequence mastery, strategic transformation timing, and intelligent ki usage. These mechanics combine to create battles that allow for constant momentum shifts, which is a constant fixture in the Dragon Ball franchise. Although not intended to be a competitive fighter, Budokai 3 is much more nuanced and complex than most anime arena brawlers.
Dragon Ball game with the most complete stories
There have been dozens of video games in the Dragon Ball franchise, but for gamers who enjoy a good story, these are the best ones to check out.
One or two original scenarios aside, the vast majority Dragon Ball Home console games have rushed story modes that condense large arcs into a few cutscenes and a handful of battles. Budokai 3Dragon Universe Mode isn't all that different from the norm, but its more open nature helps set it apart. You can fly around the world map looking for battles, and there are “what if” scenarios that play out over repeated playthroughs. Several characters (including unlockables like Broly and Uub) have their own campaigns, and you even level them up. This mode offers quality and quantity, when most DBZ games tend to prioritize one or the other. Similar to previous Budokai game, you can even customize characters, and the build variety is decent.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
The most Dragon Ball game ever Dragon Ball
Even more than Sparkling! Zero, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is the definitive arena fighter, and I'm not just talking about DBZ. Replaces Budokais technical games for pure bombastic action, BT3 is an incurable spectacle from start to finish. Combat mimics the aesthetic and feel of anime battles, allowing players to perform moves that are as impressive and absurd as the source material. BT3 deals with excess; it may not be the best at anything, but it has most of everything (at least when it came out).
The roster was absurdly large for the PS2, with over 150 characters and transformations. It covered the original series, DBZ, Dragon Ball GTand the movies, including really deep cuts like Devilman, Fasha, General Blue, and King Vegeta. The sheer size of the roster meant that most fighters ruled the same, but it's just fun to play out some fights with obscure characters that only die-hard fans know exist. Budokai Tenkaichis move to free 3D movement sacrificed precision for dynamic, chaotic combat, where the focus is on positioning and movement rather than combos.
Dragon Ball FighterZ
The most perfect fighting game with Dragon Ball characters
Ending on a slightly strange note, Dragon Ball FighterZ is probably the franchise's best game, at least when we're talking about actual mechanics. Arc System is the master of 2.5D anime fighters, and the developer's expertise is on full display FighterZ. The most polished and competitive DBZ all-time fighter, this game is way ahead in both of those areas, and the minute-by-minute gameplay captures the look, speed, and spectacle of the anime. The presentation is also fantastic, with the images often looking even better than the source material. With a much smaller list than Budokai game, FighterZ has the most balanced roster, and the 3v3 structure allows for an element of team customization. Some of the DLC characters are a bit overpowered, but Arc has been constantly shaking up the meta to try and keep things balanced (and interesting).
The “strange” remark is mostly about what FighterZ missing Aside from Golden Frieza, characters can't transform in battle (except for the occasional special), which is disappointing considering it's a staple in DBZ. In theory, it makes sense, as this aspect would have made balancing characters even more difficult. Conversely, the characters move like they do in anime, more so than in games like Budokai. The dramatic camera angles, cinematic finishers and top-notch animations combine to create moments that are 100% unfiltered Dragon Ball Z goodness.
I will say that the single player content is extensive but not particularly amazing. Don't get me wrong, the Android 21 saga has its entertaining moments, and the production value is high; however, it is repetitive, drawn out, and waits too long to take off the training wheels. That said, given how many multiplayer-first fighting games launch with barely any solo content, FighterZ is generous in this area.
The best Dragon Ball games of all time, ranked
From Budokai to FighterZ, here are the best Dragon Ball games ever made, ranked by fun, depth and how well they capture the spirit of the anime.
