As the world waited for a new Dragon Ball game, it didn’t expect the franchise’s creator to go to glory. On March 1, 2024, Akira Toriyama’s news of demise shook the world. He left his legacy in the form of the fictional lives of Goku, Piccolo, Vegeta, and more. Now he’s not with us, but there’s still plenty of him left.
For gamers, developers across the globe have given them a plethora of content that they may stay engaged in if they try to consume it for years, only to see much more development while they were taking a deeper dive into the DB universe. Now, it might be challenging if one is selective; in that case, here are five games one can play to memorize the legacy of Akira Toriyama.
The Five Biggest and Best Dragon Ball Games to Play in Memory of Akira Toriyama
5. DB FighterZ
Without a shadow of a doubt, it is among the best games developed based on Akira Toriyama’s franchise. From a fluid combat system to stunning visuals, the game is the most accurate showcase of the source material. Players get to choose three characters to fight against, either friends or AI. The commercially successful game has sold over 10 million copies globally.
The “Shenron System” remains among the most interesting aspects, as it allows players to find Dragon Balls as they advance. Similar to the TV shows and movies, Shenron appears following the accumulation of seven Dragon Balls to grant the player a wish. FighterZ features a single-player mode, but players prefer its multiplayer more.
4. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
Back in the PlayStation 2 days, Budokai Tenkaichi 3 featured 98 characters in 161 forms, making it the largest roster in the fighting genre at the time. What’s more, the graphics, in contrast to the previous titles, were greatly enhanced, which gave users one more reason among many to stick to the game.
Originally published as Sparking! Meteor, the game’s cinematics while executing certain attacks are a sight to behold. For instance, Goku’s Spirit Bomb would remind a player of the time when he used it against Frieza, a supervillain appearing in the series.
3. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
While its RPG elements are not that praiseworthy, the story and combat presentation are certainly a feast for the eyes. The game showcases the life of adult Goku in a more fun and enjoyable way. Bonyu, an original character developed by Toriyama, appears in the game as one of the villains too. So this is a must-play game in the memory of the DBZ creator.
It is both a fighting and a role-playing game. Apart from showcasing power in the battles, players need to showcase skills if they are to conquer the game. It won’t help much if all a player knows is punching and kicking. Learning about how to fish and drive flying cars could help.
2. Dragon Ball Fusions
When no developer provided attention to one of the most popular aspects of the franchise, Japanese video game company Ganbarion took charge and made a Dragon Ball game solely focused on Fusions. The idea behind it? What if everyone could fuse with everyone? And the game was born.
Interestingly, players have the freedom to create their own characters in the game. Want to create a Green Goku? Well, why not give it a go? The concept is indeed interesting, but the game was met with “mixed” reviews from the critics.
1. Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero
The game is yet to be released, but it is an important one, as can be seen in the latest trailers and the leaks that surfaced on the internet. It will be called Sparking Zero. As the name suggests, the game will be the fourth installment in the Budokai Tenkaichi series. It already appears visually stunning, and developers are likely to bring more realism, given that there’s still some time for it to arrive.
From cinematic transformations to a massive roster featuring 164 characters, this is definitely going to be one of the biggest Dragon Ball games ever created. Sparking Zero will also feature a great number of sagas that fans may find interesting to play. This includes the likes of the Frieza Saga, Cell Saga, Saiyan Saga, and more.
So which Dragon Ball game are you playing? Tell us in the comments.
