Summary
- Dragon Ball games deliver iconic anime moments and let players experience Goku's growth.
- Budokai Tenkaichi 2 provides a vast, interactive archive of the Dragon Ball saga.
- Budokai Tenkaichi 3 offers the pure sensation of being Goku in a fight, with flawless execution.
For decades, the ultimate fantasy for every Dragon Ball fan has been the same: to feel what it’s like to be Goku. It’s about more than just throwing a Kamehameha or hitting Super Saiyan for the first time. It’s reliving a story where chasing limits is a way of life, where a peaceful flight over green fields is just as memorable as the next battle for the fate of the world.
The Best Dragon Ball Games of All Time
From Budokai to FighterZ, here are the best Dragon Ball games ever made, ranked by fun, depth, and how well they capture the anime’s spirit.
Some games let fans relive iconic anime arcs blow for blow, while others perfect signature moves or let players experience Goku’s growth from unknown martial artist to universe-defining hero. But only a select few titles truly deliver that sense of embodying Goku in spirit and in spectacle. So, here’s a definitive list of games for the die-hard Dragon Ball fans who’ve always wanted to step into the shoes of Goku.
5 Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 (2006)
An Encyclopedia of Goku’s Biggest Battles
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
- Released
- October 5, 2006
- ESRB
- Teen
- Developer(s)
- Spike
- Genre(s)
- Anime, Fighting, Action
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 stands as an ambitious attempt to create the most interactive archive of the Dragon Ball saga. Its Dragon Adventure mode is a sprawling, playable anthology of almost everything: the Z and GT sagas, plus legendary movie arcs like The Tree of Might and Lord Slug. For anyone who’s ever wanted to walk through Goku’s entire journey in a single game, this is as close as it gets. The gameplay breaks new ground with massive, destructible 3D arenas, allowing players to punch rivals through mountains, transform mid-battle, and soar across the skies at will.
The sense of scale is genuinely impressive, and Goku’s moveset evolves in sync with the story. Players experience the thrill of in-battle transformations, a feature that’s now iconic for the franchise. But with all that scope comes a trade-off. While players do step into Goku’s shoes for every major fight, the emotional weight of his journey can get lost in the sheer volume of content.
4 Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure (2004)
Kid Goku’s Perfect Origin Story In Gaming
Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure
- Released
- June 6, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Dimps
- Publisher(s)
- Banpresto
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Beat 'Em Up
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance
It’s easy to forget Goku’s journey started long before Super Saiyan hair and world-ending brawls. Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure is a rare gem that takes fans back to those roots, faithfully adapting the original Dragon Ball saga from his first meeting with Bulma to the showdown with Demon King Piccolo. This Game Boy Advance classic is more than nostalgia; it’s a brilliantly executed blend of side-scrolling action and one-on-one fighting.
Kid Goku’s signature Power Pole combos, nimble movement, and beginner Kamehamehas all feel just right, and each boss battle is packed with mechanical depth. There’s even a full-fledged fighting game mode, where super moves, guard breaks, and counters add surprising complexity for a handheld game. Advanced Adventure also boasts a ton of replayability, letting players unlock new characters for its fighting mode and hunt for hidden collectibles. This game is pure, undiluted Goku—from the innocence of his earliest adventures to his crowning moment as a martial arts champion.
3 Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 (2004)
The Perfect Fusion Of Fighting Mechanics & RPG-Style Storytelling
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3
- Released
- November 16, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 is where the franchise found its sweet spot—a brilliant fusion of technical fighting game mechanics and a single-player adventure mode that genuinely lets fans experience Goku’s saga. The much-loved Dragon Universe mode is more than a story mode: it’s a semi-open-world journey where players fly across the map, chase Dragon Balls, level up stats, and discover hidden encounters with legendary foes like Broly and Cooler.
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There have been dozens of video games in the Dragon Ball franchise, but for players who enjoy a good narrative, these are the best ones to check out.
Combat is tight, grounded, and strategic, packing in everything from dramatic beam struggles to cinematic ultimates and even in-battle fusion. The best part is, when fans pick Goku, every step follows his rise from low-level Saiyan to the hero who saves the universe. Budokai 3 doesn’t just replay the Z saga; it lets fans choose how to relive it, offering a high level of replayability, unlockables, and an RPG-lite sense of progression.
2 Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 (2007)
The Pinnacle Of Combat Power Fantasy
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
- Released
- November 9, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Spike
- Genre(s)
- Fighting, Anime, Action
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii
Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is the game that nails the pure sensation of being Goku in a fight. It takes the 3D arena formula and refines it to near-flawless execution, delivering the most authentic recreation of the anime’s speed, scale, and power ever created. The game truly shines for its mechanical authenticity. Players can shift from base Goku to Super Saiyan 3, or even Super Saiyan 4, right in the heat of battle, with no awkward menu or loading screens.
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Goku’s every iconic move is here, from Instant Transmission to the planet-shaking Super Kamehameha. The sense of speed, freedom, and destructive power is second to none; it’s the closest any game gets to matching the scale and spectacle of the anime’s fights. On top of all this, it’s the ultimate local multiplayer Dragon Ball brawler, and a playground for fans to test every rivalry, transformation, and dream match-up imaginable for Goku.
1 Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (2020)
Goku Life Simulator That Goes Beyond The Battlefield
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
- Released
- January 16, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- CyberConnect2
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
No Dragon Ball game captures the full spirit of Goku quite like Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. Kakarot retells the entire Dragon Ball Z arc, letting players soar on Nimbus, train with family, cook meals for stat boosts, and even take a break to learn how to drive. The action-RPG combat system is inspired by the Tenkaichi games, but layers in RPG mechanics, world exploration, and meaningful side content that make Goku’s world feel alive.
The real magic is in the details: quiet moments with Gohan, impromptu sparring with Vegeta, or sharing food with friends. Extensive DLC adds even more, covering the Bardock and Future Trunks stories, and even events from Dragon Ball Super. For fans seeking the definitive “feel like Goku” experience, not just as a fighter, but as a father, friend, and legend, Kakarot is the ultimate choice.
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