Discover our top 10 of the best Dragon Ball video games, Sparking Zero is not first!

#1 – Dragon Ball FighterZ

• Release date: January 26, 2018
• Developer: Arc System Works
• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch

Unlike the vast majority of titles in this ranking, Dragon Ball FighterZ is a 2D fighting game, something surprising for a modern DBZ experience. However, we find Arc System Works in development, a studio known for the Guilty Gear saga. As a result, we are treated to visually impressive versus fighting thanks to its mastery of cel-shading, but also technical thanks to its mechanics worthy of the big names in 3v3 tag teams of the genre like Marvel vs Capcom. As much for the fidelity of its moves compared to the anime as for its balancing which means that all the fighters are (roughly) at the same level, unlike other Dragon Ball games, FighterZ quickly established itself as the best game DBZ combat, quite simply.

#2 – Dragon Ball Z : Budokai Tenkaichi 3

• Release date: November 9, 2017
• Developer: Spike Chunsoft
• Platforms: PS2, Wii

With its third episode, the Budokai Tenkaichi saga had reached its climax. After the Budokai, the Budokai Tenkaichi introduced the possibility of moving freely in 3D arenas to give the impression of playing fights worthy of the anime. Additionally, with its generous cast of almost 100 characters, it was, in its time, the Ultimate Dragon Ball game. The icing on the cake, the title benefited from more technical gameplay than it seems for a licensed game, which ended up making it a cult title over the years. Add to this many varied modes and Budokai Tenkaichi 3 has become one of the must-have PS2 experiences for any DBZ fan.

#3 – Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3

• Release date: November 26, 2004
• Developer: Dimps
• Platforms: PS2, PS3 et Xbox 360 en version HD

Before the Budokai Tenkaichi series became popular, there was another great saga of Dragon Ball games: the Budokai. Unlike its little sister, this series offered fights in two dimensions but in 3D graphics, that is to say with clashes on the same plane. If we do not find the freedom of movement of the Budokai Tenkaichi, the Budokai remain memorable for the richness of their gameplay and the possibilities offered controller in hand. With the addition of careful staging and an atmosphere that perfectly transcribes that of Akira Toriyama’s manga, Budokai 3 was a reference in its time which offers an alternative to arena fighters like Budokai Tenkaichi and its heirs.

#4 – Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero

• Release date: October 11, 2024
• Developer: Spike Chunsoft
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series

Seventeen years after the launch of Budokai Tenkaichi 3, Sparking! ZERO marks the big return of the saga. With its cast of nearly 200 characters, the title looks like the ultimate Dragon Ball game. In addition, the experience benefits from the series’ maneuverability in environments where you move freely, all with gameplay that is more technical than it seems. Besides that, we are treated to impressive graphics thanks to the Unreal Engine which gives rise to spectacular effects, but also to shots faithful to the anime. A nice faithful experience, even if we can criticize it for some small faults.

#5 – Dragon Ball Z : Budokai Tenkaichi 2

• Release date: October 27, 2006
• Developer: Spike Chunsoft
• Platforms: PS2, Wii

We have already praised the qualities of Budokai Tenkaichi 3, but it must be recognized that the saga began to get on the right track with its second episode. It was from Budokai Tenkaichi 2 that the gameplay was enriched to resemble what we know today with Budokai Tenkaichi 3 and Sparking Zero. In addition, this opus offers a particularly long lifespan thanks to its story mode. If it now appears to be less complete than its successors, it remains a pillar among Dragon Ball fighting games.

#6 – Dragon Ball : Raging Blast 2

• Release date: November 5, 2010
• Developer: Spike Chunsoft
• Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360

As said a little earlier, Budokai Tenkaichi 3 has long remained a reference as a Dragon Ball fighting game. So obviously, with the arrival of the PS3 and Xbox 360, it was decided to bring up to date what made the charm of this license to make a new arena fighter series on this generation of console with the Raging Blast. In development, we once again find Spike Chunsoft who takes the basics of what made it successful and transposes them to HD machines. If we still have some faults such as readability problems, we find with Dragon Ball Raging Blast 2 the essence of Budokai Tenkaichi, even if we will have to wait for Sparking Zero for the saga to return in proper form.

#7 – Dragon Ball Z : Shin Budokai

• Release date: May 19, 2006
• Developer: Dimps
• Platforms: PSP

Finally, it is only in the seventh position that we will talk about a Dragon Ball fighting game on portable consoles. And to get the ball rolling, we’re going to start with the best, namely Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai. As its name suggests, the title is part of the Budokai series, which means that it offers fights on a 2D level. Obviously, this suits the technical capabilities of the PSP perfectly, which offers a rendering not so far removed from that of the PS2 episodes. Certainly, we find a slightly simplified gameplay compared to the home console opuses, but we still feel the charm of Budokai through the graphics and satisfactory content, and all on portable!

#8 – Dragon Ball Z : Supersonic Warriors 2

• Release date: February 3, 2006
• Developer: Arc System Works
• Platforms: Nintendo DS

After the PSP, it’s time for the Nintendo DS with Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2. After a more than successful first episode on GBA, this second opus once again offers 2D combat, but in pixel art, given the capabilities of the console. This sequel takes up the strengths of its predecessor in broad terms with effective gameplay, even if limited in the long term. Nevertheless, with its quality animations and its friendly cast, the title still remains memorable, especially because it was the only Dragon Ball Z fighting game on DS at the time.

#9 – Dragon Ball Z 2: The Legend of Saien

• Release date: June 15, 1994
• Developer: THESE
• Platforms: Super Nintendo

How can we not talk about the best Dragon Ball fighting games without mentioning the legendary Butouden series. For the youngest, this saga was the heyday of the Super Nintendo by offering the first DBZ games for many players. Obviously, we had to deal with 2D duels on the same level and this episode introduces gameplay that finally matches the anime. As a result, with this Dragon Ball Z 2: The Legend of Saien, we are entitled to fast and much more enjoyable fights than the first opus which laid the foundations of the saga. With a rather solid lifespan for the time, the title became cult for an entire generation who loved it.

#10 – Dragon Ball : Xenoverse 2

• Release date: October 28, 2016
• Developer: Dimps
• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch

Finally, it’s difficult to talk about the Dragon Ball fighting games without mentioning the inexhaustible Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2. Since 2016, the Dimps game continues to be updated and even entitled to exclusive DLC. If we know that the title will receive content related to Dragon Ball Daima, that does not prevent it from offering new elements. It must be said that the adventure offers an exclusive story where you play a time patroller, which allows you to explore many possibilities. In terms of gameplay, we are close to a Budokai Tenkaichi in terms of freedom of movement, even if we don’t really have similar depth. But just by the richness of the content offered and its RPG dimension, Xenoverse 2 deserves its place in the ranking.

Here is our top 10 of the best Dragon Ball fighting games. Once again, we remind you that this only concerns fighting games and that we may be able to offer you a general ranking of DBZ games. After all, there are some excellent RPGs and other action-adventure games that deserve their place in it!