Summary
There are a ton ofDragon Ballgames out there, be they fighting games, arena fighters, RPGs, collectible card games, etc. The opportunity to play a part in theDragon Ballstory, or blitz their friends with Big Bang Attacks, is one keen fans of the series can’t pass up. However, these chances often depended on which console they had.
Sega Saturn owners only had 2DBZgames to import, which was an improvement over Genesis’ solitary entry. The original Xbox also only had the risibleDBZ Sagasin its library. But if players had any of these machines, they had a wealth ofDBZgames to play. This list only counts full-onDBZgames. Otherwise, it would have to calculate the fractions over how muchDBZtoOne Piece/Naruto/Gintama/Reborn, etc., crossover games likeJump Super Starshave.
7Nintendo DS
When 6 Games Are More Than Enough
Just making the list, theNintendo DSmanaged to have just one more game over the last generation of consoles, as the PS4, Xbox One, and Switch all have 5 games apiece. However, that could all change, as the Switch and PS4 are still active. They won’t be gettingDragon Ball Sparking Zeroanytime soon, though they could get a compilation or re-release of older games.
For example, the DS went through the originalDragon Ballseries in theDB: Originsduology, and the Saiyan arc inDBZ: Attack of the Saiyans.DBZ: Supersonic Warriors 2was an improvement over its GBA predecessor, as wasDB Kai: Ultimate ButoudenoverDB GT: Final Bouton the PS1. WhileDBZ: Harukanaru Densetsulets players battle it out with cards instead of ki.
6SNES/Super Famicom
7 Games, 16 Bits, Plenty of Fun
By the timeDBZreached the West, theSNES, orSuper Famicom, was fading out and the PS1 was on the rise. This might be why only a handful of its 7DBZgames made it out of Japan. Even then, they usually turned upin mainland Europeover North America, like theButoudengames. As simplistic as they are now, they were to the 16-bit era what theBudokaigames are to the 128-bit era.
Still, if people didn’t likeButouden’s scrappy-looking sprites, TOSE cleaned them up forDBZ: Hyper Dimension. Then, for RPG fans, the twoSuper Gokudengames went through Goku’s story from the start ofDBto when he went Super Saiyan against Freeza on Planet Namek. WhileDBZ: Super Saiya Densetsuwas essentially a remake of 2 Famicom card-based RPGs put together.
5PlayStation 3
Managing Lucky 7 Entries
Technically, one could say thePlayStation 3had 8DBZgames, as theBudokai HD Collectionhad 2 games on it. But they’re only available on one disc as they didn’t get separate digital releases before they were delisted from the PS3 store. As such, it just became one of 7 games to make up the console’sDBZlibrary.
Fans had a reasonable bunch of games to play, though they were a step down from the previous generation. The twoRaging Blastgames were average at best, as wasUltimate Tenkaichi.Burst Limitwas okay though not as solid as theBudokaigames, andBattle of Zonly thrived while players were online. It did get the firstXenoversegame, even if it was a down-port of the PS4 version.
4Xbox 360
Edging Out the Competition with 8 Games
With the PS3’s terrible launch and tricky cell processor, it’s perhaps no surprise that theXbox 360ended up getting ahead. Console-exclusive series likeTekkenwent multi-format to give the new console some games, and the likes of Dimps, Spike, Artdink, etc., took the chance to port their wares to the machine. Which is why the 360 has the exact same library of games as the PS3.
Burst Limit,Ultimate Tenkaichi,Battle of Z,Xenoverse 1, theBudokaicollection, and bothRaging Blastgames could be run on Microsoft’s box of wonders just as well as Sony’s pricey machine. Then it got one more,asDBZ for Kinecttried to use the 360’s maligned motion-detecting webcam for its controls. It didn’t work, but it was still enough to give the machine moreDBZgames than the PS3.
3NES/Famicom
Two Irresistible Forces Clash to Produce 8 Games
TheFamicom(aka theNES) was already a Japanese phenomenon when Goku first met Bulma in the woods inDragon Ball. But the strip was such a smash that it got a wealth of games on the console. Fans might recognize the first,DB: Shenron no Nazo, as it got a Western release. Except, since no one knew what a ‘Goku’ was back then, it wasturned intoDragon Power. It’s a strange game to go back to now thatDBZhas caught on worldwide.
The rest stayed in Japan, with many of the games being RPGs.DBZ: Gekitou Tenkaichi Budokaistood out as it came with a card reader accessory that let players add characters and items by swiping cards against it. The rest, fromDaimaou FukkatsutoRessen Jinzouningen, used in-game cards, untilDBZ Gaidenstuck to regular RPG action for an original story where Goku & co had to stop the evil Dr Lychee from eradicating the Saiyans.
2Game Boy Advance
8 Ways to Game with Goku on the Go
By the early 2000s,DBZwas global in its appeal, with an international audience eager to play more than the scant offerings on the PS1. The GameCube was out of luck, offering just 3DBZgames (though its versions ofBudokai 1 & 2are arguably the best). However, Nintendo fans still had hope to get someDBZaction if they had a handheld like theGame Boy Advance.
The device is still the handheld with the mostDBZgames on it, even over mobile phones. They weren’t all winners, like the dreadfulDBZ: Taiketsuand the iffyLegacy of Goku. ButLegacy of Goku 2was a vast improvement,Buu’s Furywas solid, andSupersonic Warriorsoffered a much better fighting game experience thanTaiketsu.
1PlayStation 2
Sets the Number for Other Consoles to Beat at 10
Handhelds are fine and all, but when it comes to consoles, thePlayStation 2still has the most to offerDBfans. Owners of the mighty machine could treat themselves to all 3Budokaigames, all 3Budokai Tenkaichigames (the precursors toSparking Zero), the underratedSuper Dragon Ball Z, and the rightly slatedDBZ: SagasandDBZ: Infinite World.
However, if those fans tried to collect all 10 games, they’d have troublefinding that last one.DBZ 2 Vwas a souped-up version ofBudokai 2released only in Japan as part of a contest held byV-Jumpmagazine. Only 2,000 discs at best still exist, and it came with all its content unlocked at the start, and Cooler and Kuriza as alternate skins for Freeza.
