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The best Dragon Ball game you can play right now is Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO. Released on October 10, 2024 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, it lets you play as 241 characters (after the July 2026 DLC), the biggest roster in series history, and it topped 3 million copies sold worldwide within 24 hours of launch. That said, it beats No. 2, Dragon Ball FighterZ, by a mere 2 points in total score, so if you want something different out of a Dragon Ball game, the answer changes.
There are a ridiculous number of Dragon Ball games. Count back to the Famicom days and you easily clear 50. So answering “Which one should I get?” in a single word is, honestly, a bit of a cop-out. There’s no point handing the same game to someone who wants a fighting game and someone who wants to relive the manga.
I’m a guy in my mid-40s, part of the generation that read the Frieza fight in real time in the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump. I traded blows with friends in Super Butoden on the Super Famicom, and even after I defected to Team Dreamcast, Dragon Ball games were the one thing I kept buying no matter the hardware. And after all that, here’s what I can tell you: right now is a golden era for Dragon Ball games.
In this article, I scored the five major titles you can still buy on current hardware as of September 2026 on four axes, Accessibility, Graphics, Brutality and Replay Value, for a score out of 100 each, and ranked them. I’m including release dates, platforms, developers and sales numbers, so you can pick the one that fits you.
I narrowed the scoring down to the five major titles you can buy new on current hardware. They split neatly by genre, which is exactly what makes comparing them worthwhile.
*Prices in this article are converted from Japanese yen at ¥153 = US$1 (September 2026 rate).
Dragon Ball Games: Score Comparison of the 5 Current Titles
I scored each game out of 100 on four criteria. The higher the “Brutality” score, the tougher the competitive mind games and the longer it takes to get good. A low number doesn’t mean a game is worse. If you just want to play casually, picking a title with low Brutality is the right call.
| Title | Accessibility | Graphics | Brutality | Replay Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparking! ZERO | 82 | 95 | 85 | 96 |
| Dragon Ball FighterZ | 88 | 92 | 90 | 86 |
| Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot | 90 | 88 | 62 | 92 |
| Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 | 84 | 78 | 70 | 94 |
| Dragon Ball The Breakers | 75 | 76 | 80 | 82 |
The number I want you to look at in this table is Kakarot’s Brutality score of 62, the lowest of the five. That’s not a flaw; it’s the design philosophy. It’s an action RPG that isn’t built around PvP, so it rarely puts your skills to the test. If you’ve ever bounced off a Dragon Ball game, start here.
One more thing you shouldn’t overlook: Xenoverse 2’s Replay Value score of 94. For a game released in 2016 to still earn that number is wild. I’ll explain why further down.
No. 1: Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO | A 241-Fighter Brawl That Returns After 17 Years
| Accessibility | Graphics | Brutality | Replay Value | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 95 | 85 | 96 | 358 |
Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is a 3D arena fighter released on October 10, 2024 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Steam version followed on October 11, and the Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch versions launched on November 13, 2025. It’s developed by Spike Chunsoft and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
It’s the first all-new entry in 17 years since Dragon Ball Z: Sparking! METEOR. Seventeen years. When I saw that number, my knees honestly gave out. Whether the wait was worth it, you’ll know within a minute of picking up the controller.
Graphics: 95. The Manga Art Comes to Life
Graphics earned the highest mark of the four axes at 95. The cel-shaded look, the effects when you charge your ki, the destructible stages: all of it makes full, honest use of current-gen hardware. The closest description is a two-page spread from the manga suddenly starting to move.
The 96 for Replay Value comes down to the roster. It launched with 182 characters and hit 241 after the July 2026 downloadable content, the most in series history. Alternate forms of the same character are included as separate fighters, so mastering them all takes a serious amount of time.
Sales match the hype. According to developer Spike Chunsoft, the game topped 3 million units sold worldwide within 24 hours of launch, and reached 5 million as of February 2025.
It’s still actively supported, too. A free update dropped as recently as September 4, 2026, and the large “Limit-Breaking DLC NEO” content pack is also rolling out. The theme song is “ZERO,” a new track by Hironobu Kageyama… It starts with Hironobu Kageyama and ends with Hironobu Kageyama. This series is truly blessed.
I held Accessibility to 82 because of the unusual control scheme. Dashes, steps and explosive movement all overlap, so for the first few hours you’ll struggle to keep up with what’s happening on screen. Go in prepared for that.
- 241 characters after DLC, the biggest roster in series history
- Visuals that push current-gen hardware to the max. The best-looking of the five
- Still getting free updates as of September 2026
- The unusual controls take a while to get used to
- There are multiple DLC packs, so watch out for double-buying content already included in bundle editions
No. 2: Dragon Ball FighterZ | A Seriously Competitive 3v3 Fighting Game
| Accessibility | Graphics | Brutality | Replay Value | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 | 92 | 90 | 86 | 356 |
Dragon Ball FighterZ is a 2D fighting game released on February 1, 2018 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Steam. The Nintendo Switch version followed on September 27, 2018, and the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions arrived on February 29, 2024. It’s developed by Arc System Works and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
It trails No. 1 by just 2 points. I went back and forth for a long time on which one to put on top. In the end, Sparking! ZERO won out on roster size and the scale of its ongoing support, but if you’re judging purely on how polished it is as a competitive game, it’s completely fair to rank FighterZ higher.
A Design Where 88 Accessibility and 90 Brutality Coexist
The genius of this game is that both of those numbers hold true at the same time. Simple inputs still pull off super moves, combos link up, and the screen lights up like fireworks. That means even beginners can fight in a way that looks the part. But dig into the 3v3 team battles and real-time tag system, and the depth feels bottomless.
Its esports track record backs up that depth. FighterZ was picked as one of the main eight games at EVO 2018, and its 2,575 entrants were the most of any game at the event. The Top 8 on the final day peaked at 258,705 concurrent viewers.
The sales are staggering, too. It passed 2 million units within two months of launch, the fastest ever for a Dragon Ball game at the time, and hit 10 million as of May 2023.
Arc System Works’ 2.5D visuals still haven’t aged, even though this is a 2018 game. The 92 for Graphics reflects exactly that.
- Super moves come out even with simple inputs. Total fighting game newbies can still hold their own
- Most entrants of any game at EVO 2018. Its competitive pedigree is in a league of its own
- PS5 / Xbox Series X|S versions launched February 29, 2024, so it runs smoothly on current hardware
- Many online opponents are eight-year veterans. That 90 Brutality score is no joke
- Single-player content is thinner than the other games. If you won’t play PvP, it can feel overpriced
No. 3: Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot | An Action RPG Where You Live the Whole Story
| Accessibility | Graphics | Brutality | Replay Value | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | 88 | 62 | 92 | 332 |
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a “live as Goku” action RPG released on January 16, 2020 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The Nintendo Switch version followed on September 22, 2021, PlayStation 5 on January 12, 2023, Xbox Series X|S on February 3, 2023, and Steam on May 23, 2024. It’s developed by CyberConnect2 and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
If PvP isn’t your thing, this is the one out of the five I’d recommend. Its Accessibility score of 90 is the highest of the five, and its Brutality score of 62 is the lowest. That combination tells you everything about this game’s personality.
Covers the 4 Main Story Arcs Plus DLC
The main game is split into four chapters: the Saiyan Saga, the Frieza Saga, the Android Saga and the Majin Buu Saga. The downloadable content adds Trunks, Bardock, the World Tournament, an episode set 10 years later, and even the DAIMA arc.
The key thing is that this isn’t just a game about fighting. You fly around open areas, go fishing, chow down on meals and chat with your friends. Goku’s everyday life is the game. It’s a rare title where booting it up works as a substitute for rereading the manga.
As of January 2026, it has sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Developer CyberConnect2 is the studio behind the .hack series and the Naruto Ultimate Ninja series, and it’s known for its knack for faithfully recreating source material. That strength shines through here.
An 88 for Graphics is a strong showing, but as a 2020 release it can’t quite match the newest game. Still, the cel-shaded visuals are gorgeous, and there are few moments where it feels dated.
- Brutality score of 62. The lowest barrier to entry of the five, with no skill check
- Fully covers all 4 story arcs from the Saiyan Saga to the Buu Saga, with DLC going all the way to DAIMA
- Packed with slice-of-life content beyond combat. The only game here that truly captures the feel of the manga
- No real PvP mode. Competitive players will find it lacking
- Lots of DLC. Buying all of it can cost more than the base game
No. 4: Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 | A Custom-Character Playground Still Going After 10 Years
| Accessibility | Graphics | Brutality | Replay Value | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | 78 | 70 | 94 | 326 |
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is a Dragon Ball action game released on November 2, 2016 for PlayStation 4. The Nintendo Switch version followed on September 7, 2017, PlayStation 5 and Steam on May 23, 2024, and Xbox Series X|S along with the Japanese Xbox One version on May 24, 2024. It’s developed by Dimps and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
The core of the game is that you create your own original character and team up with Goku, Vegeta and the gang to protect the history of Dragon Ball. You can pick your avatar from five races and freely build both their look and their fighting style.
Replay Value: 94. Ten Years On and Still Going
The reason I gave a 2016 game a 94 for Replay Value is simple. It’s still alive and kicking. In May 2024 it expanded to current-gen hardware, making it playable on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. Cumulative shipments passed 10 million as of May 2023.
Level up your avatar, collect skills, gear up and meet other players online. Once that loop hooks you, hundreds of hours just melt away. I literally know people who play nothing but Xenoverse 2.
The 78 for Graphics is the lowest of the five, and it honestly reflects the game’s 2016-era design. The current-gen versions improve frame rate and resolution, but the models and effects themselves are the same as back then. You’ll have to make peace with that.
On the other hand, as the Brutality score of 70 shows, the competitive barrier isn’t too high. Leveling up can make up for a lot, so it’s a different beast from a fighting game where it’s purely skill versus skill.
- Avatar creation with five races to choose from. Jump in with a character that’s all yours
- Over 10 million units sold. The online player base is stable
- Available on PS5 / Xbox Series X|S / Steam since May 2024
- The graphics are from a 2016 design. Side by side with the latest games, it looks dated
- Xenoverse 3 is coming in 2027, so you may hesitate over whether to start now
No. 5: Dragon Ball The Breakers | 1v7 Despair From the Side That’s Running Away
| Accessibility | Graphics | Brutality | Replay Value | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 76 | 80 | 82 | 313 |
Dragon Ball The Breakers, released on October 13, 2022, is the first online asymmetrical action game in Dragon Ball history. The Steam version launched on October 14. It’s available on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Steam, developed by Dimps and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
Matches pit one “Raider” against seven “Survivors.” The Survivors’ goal is to escape the map while dodging an overwhelmingly powerful Raider. The Raider’s goal is to stop them.
A Game That Makes You Play the Side That Can’t Win
What makes this game fun is how it flips the script. For ages, Dragon Ball games were about going wild as a powerful character. The Breakers turns that on its head and has you running for your life from Cell or Frieza as one of seven ordinary people. In manga terms, you’re the farmer with a power level of 5.
Survivors are toast the moment a Raider spots them, so staying hidden while you move is the name of the game. Meanwhile, the Raider evolves as they meet certain conditions, unlocking stronger skills and super moves. That asymmetry is what creates the tension.
Pricing is $14 (tax included) for the standard edition and $21 (tax included) for the Special Edition, making it the easiest of the five to jump into. It’s still being supported, too, with Season 9 ranked matches running as of July 2026.
It landed at No. 5 with a total of 313 points, but that has a lot to do with how it fits the four scoring axes. Because of its asymmetrical design, Graphics and Accessibility just can’t score very high. Flip that around, and it occupies a unique niche that doesn’t compete with the other four.
To be honest, I first wrote this off as a gimmick. Then I actually played as a Survivor and did a complete 180. If we’re talking about which game is worst for your heart, it wins by a mile.
- The standard edition is $14 (tax included), the cheapest of the five. Easy to give it a shot
- 1v7 asymmetrical matches. An experience no other Dragon Ball game offers
- Season 9 running as of July 2026. Support is ongoing
- Online only. Not for anyone who wants to take their time solo
- No dedicated PS5 / Xbox Series X|S version (you’ll play the PS4 version or similar)
What Platforms Can You Play Dragon Ball Games On? Full Platform List
Bottom line: on PlayStation 5 or Steam, you can play all five. Nintendo Switch also has a version of all five games. Your options depend on what hardware you own, so check here before you buy.
| Title | Main Platforms | Latest Platform Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Sparking! ZERO | PS5 / Xbox Series X|S / Steam / Switch 2 / Switch | Switch 2 & Switch: November 13, 2025 |
| Dragon Ball FighterZ | PS5 / PS4 / Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Switch / Steam | PS5 & Xbox Series X|S: February 29, 2024 |
| Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot | PS5 / PS4 / Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Switch / Steam | Steam: May 23, 2024 |
| Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 | PS5 / PS4 / Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Switch / Steam | PS5 & Steam: May 23, 2024 |
| Dragon Ball The Breakers | PS4 / Xbox One / Switch / Steam | Steam: October 14, 2022 |
The one to watch out for is The Breakers, the only game here without a dedicated PS5 or Xbox Series X|S version. You’ll be playing it through the PS4 version or similar.
On the flip side, FighterZ, Kakarot and Xenoverse 2 all got current-gen versions one after another in 2024. Even if you own them on last-gen hardware, they’re worth buying again.
What Dragon Ball Games Are Coming Next? Xenoverse 3 Is Slated for 2027
When deciding whether to buy now, it helps to know what’s coming next. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 was announced on April 20, 2026, with a 2027 release planned. It’s coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
It’s set in West City in “AGE 1000,” a future era of the Dragon Ball world, and features original characters newly designed by Akira Toriyama. The announcement trailer included original animation produced by Toei Animation.
In other words, if you’re starting Xenoverse 2 now, factor in that the sequel is coming in a little over a year. That said, Xenoverse 2 has kept going for 10 years, and it’s hard to imagine it shutting down the moment 3 comes out. There’s no need to rush in, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
Meanwhile, Sparking! ZERO is still getting free updates as of September 2026, so it’s a safe buy for the foreseeable future. FighterZ and Kakarot, for their part, are finished, fully realized games whose reputations are already set in stone.
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The Bottom Line: The Best Dragon Ball Game for What You Want
Let’s wrap up the key points. The final rankings: No. 1 Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO (358 points), No. 2 Dragon Ball FighterZ (356 points), No. 3 Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (332 points), No. 4 Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (326 points), and No. 5 Dragon Ball The Breakers (313 points). Just 2 points separate first and second place.
Put another way, here’s how it breaks down by what you’re after. If you just want to cut loose, get Sparking! ZERO. Released October 10, 2024, its secret weapon is sheer volume, with 241 characters after DLC. If you want to get seriously good at competitive play, get FighterZ. Released February 1, 2018, it boasts the competitive credentials of drawing the most entrants of any game at EVO 2018. If you want to relive the story, get Kakarot. Released January 16, 2020, its Brutality score of 62 means anyone can play it to the end.
If you want to play as your own character, get Xenoverse 2. Released November 2, 2016, it has sold over 10 million units and still has a stable player base. If you want to try something offbeat on the cheap, get The Breakers. Released October 13, 2022, it offers 1v7 asymmetrical matches for $14 (tax included) for the standard edition.
Hardware-wise, PS5 and Steam cover all five. And Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is on deck for 2027.
The SpotGeeks editorial team’s verdict: “If it’s your first, go with Sparking! ZERO, but the right answer depends on what you want.” As the 2-point gap between first and second shows, no single Dragon Ball game wins on every front right now. If anything, we’re in an incredibly lucky era where every genre has a highly polished entry. For 3D fighting, Sparking! ZERO. For 2D fighting, FighterZ. For an RPG, Kakarot. For character building, Xenoverse 2. For something offbeat, The Breakers. You can’t go wrong with any of them. If I had to name a flaw, it’s pretty much just that The Breakers has no dedicated PS5 or Xbox Series X|S version.
If you can’t decide, look at the Brutality score. Not confident in your skills? Start with Kakarot at 62. If that lights a fire in you, the top two are waiting.
*Release dates, prices and platforms in this article were checked against each official site as of September 7, 2026. Prices and sales may change.
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