When you think about Dragon Ball Z video games, odds are you’re going to remember all those fighting games: Budokai, Tenkaichi, Raging Blast. Not all of them were great games, but they did capture the action that made DBZ so popular in the first place. It makes sense to associate Dragon Ball with the fighting genre. That said, the series didn’t start out with fighting games. It actually began as a series of RPGs for the Famicom, otherwise known as the Nintendo Entertainment System everywhere else.

To be more specific, the first Dragon Ball was actually an overhead adventure game for the NES called Dragon Power, but the less we speak of that the better. Immediately following Dragon Boy was a card based RPG that followed the King Piccolo saga. Cards were used to move around the world map and cards were used to attack enemies in random battles. This served as the staple that so many other Dragon Ball RPGs would follow.

It’s easy to write off the Dragon Ball Z RPGs as just a misrepresentation of what the series is about but, in a way, it actually captures the essence of the franchise better than the fighting games. DBZ is more than just an action anime, it’s a character driven work. What better genre to represent characters than a role playing game? They weren’t always good, but they were novel, and that alone makes the DBZ RPGs worth looking into.

20 The Legacy Of Goku

In 2002, Webfoot Technologies was given a very special honor: they were given the honor of developing the first American made Dragon Ball Z game. Toei Animation even went so far as to create a brand new illustration for the cover of the game. The Legacy of Goku was going to capitalize on the DBZ frenzy that was invading America, and while the game did indeed capitalize, it was lambasted by critics for being perhaps the worst possible adaptation of Dragon Ball Z.

Webfoot Technologies had taken the good faith Toei had put into them and released a game with as little effort as possible. The story contradicted basic Dragon Ball lore, simple wolves could kill Goku in two or three hits, and instead of letting players experience the plot from Gohan and Piccolo’s perspectives, Webfoot added filler specifically for Goku to pad the game. Throw in some glitches and a mind numbing soundtrack, Legacy of Goku was the worst first impression the Western world could have possibly gotten for DBZ RPGs.

19 Harukanaru Densetsu

Even though Legacy of Goku is without a doubt worse than Harukanaru Densetsu, the latter is actually a bit more disappointing due to the fact that effort was clearly put into it. Harukanaru Densetsu is a card based RPG for the Nintendo DS that remakes the first Z-era Famicom RPGs, but without any of the features that made those games fun.

Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, and Vegeta each have their own story mode which means you’re going to have to play through almost every event four times to fully complete the game. In other, smarter RPGs in the series, there’s one story where you play as multiple characters. Harukanaru Densetsu decided that was stupid, though, and that repetition was actually more fun. It’s especially sad, because the presentation is fantastic. The game has a good soundtrack, it looks just like the manga, and the card system had a ton of potential. Unfortunately, playing an RPG with one character four times is tedious and fails to capture the Dragon Ball Z spirit.

18 Great Demon King’s Revival (Daimaō Fukkatsu)

Chances are you didn't grow up playing the Dragon Ball RPGs on the Famicom, and that's alright considering most of them aren't very good. Daimaō Fukkatsu is the first of those not-so-great RPGs chronicling the King Piccolo saga. Like Harukanaru Densetsu, it's a card based turn based RPG, and like Harukanaru Densetsu, there's very little reason to invest time into it.

Needless to say, a game that covers one of the series’ shortest sagas isn’t going to be very fun. The RPG elements aren't very refined, traversing a Mario Party-esque board gets exhausting, and your only character is Goku (just like another very terrible RPG). It's an interesting piece of Dragon Ball RPG history, but that's about it.

17 Hot Battle! Artificial Humans! (Ressen Jinzōningen)

Have you ever wanted to play a Dragon Ball Z RPG that covered the start of the Android saga up until Cell appeared for the first time before ending abruptly? Of course not, but the good news is you can anyways! Ressen Jinzōningen is the fifth card based RPG for the Famicom and the third to cover the Z era. Unfortunately, it started development before the Cell saga had even properly began. Bandai wasn’t going to let that stop them though. What’s the harm in releasing an incomplete game?

The only reason Ressen Jinzōningen isn’t lower on the list is because it’s at least interesting. Cooler is thrown in mid-game to pad for the time and Goku can actually avoid getting the heart virus if defeat Cooler fast enough. This is also the first of the RPGs to use a traditional level up system. Is it good? Not really, but it’s at least a unique piece of DBZ RPG history.

16 Plan To Eradicate The Saiyans (Saiyajin Zetsumetsu Keikaku)

Despite the Cell Games being over by this point, Bandai decided they weren’t going to tempt fate again. Instead of adapting the rest of the Cell saga with the Broly film thrown in for filler, the DBZ RPG series chose to tell its own story: Saiyajin Zetsumetsu Keikaku, or better known as Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans, pitted the Z-Warriors against their past movie villains and a new antagonist with an intense Saiyan hatred.

For all its ambition, Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans, unfortunately, suffers the same fate as Daimaō Fukkatsu: it’s boring. By this point, it was the sixth card based DBZ RPG in a row. Market saturation is very much a thing and these games are very samey. When you consider how it came hot off the trails of a game that ended on an enormous cliffhanger, it just feels off. It gets points for originality, but not much else.

15 3: Goku’s Story (3: Gokuden)

Dragon Ball 3: Gokuden is the second of the Famicom RPGs hence the 3 in its title. Gokuden is basically what Daimaō Fukkatsu should have been in the first place. Instead of just covering one tiny saga, the game spans the ENTIRETY of Dragon Ball. Goku is still your main playable character, but you do get Krillin and Yamcha every now and again to balance things out.

Gokuden does suffer from many of the same problems as Daimaō Fukkatsu unfortunately, but it’s easy to forgive when you consider that this may be the only Dragon Ball game that actually lets you play through every saga. You can even fight Raditz at the end as a secret boss. It’s at times dated and tough to get through but, if you can find yourself a good fan translation or can read Japanese, it’s certainly worth a playthrough.

14 Super Legend of Goku - Assault Chapter (Super Gokuden - Totsugeki-Hen)

Super Gokuden - Totsugeki-Hen, or Super Legend of Goku - Assault Chapter, is the first of two of the weirdest Dragon Ball Z games you’ve probably never heard of. It’s technically an RPG because you have stats, but there are no random battles and most of the game is played like a visual novel where you navigate your way through the beginning of Dragon Ball to the end of the King Piccolo saga.

Combat boils down to playing rock, paper, scissors against every boss until you pick the right options and win. An RPG that relies on RNG is seldom a good thing, but the level of polish present is incredibly high. Almost bafflingly so. Some of the attack animations are just way too good for the Super Famicom. If you ever get a chance to play Totsugeki-Hen, give it a try. Your perception of what constitutes a Dragon Ball RPG will never be the same.

13 Super Legend of Goku - Awakening Chapter (Super Gokuden - Kakusei-Hen)

Super Gokuden - Kakusei-Hen, otherwise known as Super Legend of Goku - Awakening Chapter, is the sequel to the previously mentioned Totsugeki-Hen. Where you were once rock, paper, scissoring for fun, you will now rock, paper, scissors to death. Kakusei-Hen picks up immediately where the last game left off. King Piccolo is dead and Goku is ready for the Piccolo Jr. saga. Unlike the first game which covered pretty much all of Dragon Ball, this one only goes up to Goku’s showdown with Frieza. It has a ton of fun getting there, though.

You have access to Gohan this time around which keeps battles surprisingly fresh. Both Goku and Gohan have their own moves and stats, so jumping between the two ensures you don’t get burnt out playing as the same character. Take into account that Z’s story is just all around better written with more sophisticated themes and arcs, and you’ve got one bizarre adventure waiting for you.

12 Goku’s Soaring Legend (Goku Hishōden)

If you thought the last two games were weird, get ready for the next two. Goku Hishōden was a Dragon Ball Z RPG hybrid for the original Gameboy that started with the Piccolo Jr. saga and ended with Goku fighting Vegeta at the end of the Saiyan saga. The keyword in that sentence is, of course, “hybrid.” You see, Goku Hishōden isn’t your ordinary RPG, it’s also a platformer and a rhythm game.

It’s kind of hard to believe that Dragon Ball used to be so experimental with their games, and that’s exactly what makes something like Goku Hishōden so memorable: it sincerely tried to be something new. It was still an RPG, but it deviated away from the card system that ruled over the Famicom games so it could add its own twist. It isn’t the best DBZ experience out there, but it’s one you certainly won’t forget.

11 Goku’s Fierce Fighting Legend (Goku Gekitōden)

Where Goku Hishōden was a good RPG because of its eccentricities, Goku Gekitōden is a good RPG because of how refined its RPG elements are. Instead of being a turn based RPG with platforming and rhythm elements, the second game is an action RPG with platforming and rhythm elements. Kind of. It’s not so much an ARPG, as it is a real time RPG. Either way, it’s a refreshing turn of events that helps the game feel more like the anime.

Goku Gekitōden, like every sequel in a Dragon Ball Z video game series, picks up where the last one left one. Goku’s just allowed Vegeta to leave Earth with his life, and now the remaining Z-warriors are headed to Namek to wish their friends back to life. Gohan, Krillin, Vegeta, and Piccolo are all playable characters this time around which really puts the RPG aspect upfront and center.

10 Xenoverse

Xenoverse is that Dragon Ball Z MMO RPG you always wanted, but never got (so long as you ignore the failed Korean MMO Dragon Ball Online.) It promised character creation, ability customization, and all the infuriating drop rates from your favorite MMOs. It’s a DBZ wet dream come to life. As fun as Xenoverse was though, it suffered from a severe identity crisis. It wanted to offer fans an RPG experience, but it was too scared to stray away from fighting game conventions.

It takes way too long to unlock every character, the fighting mechanics don’t really mesh with all the stat building, and team battles can be a bit awkward at times. That said, Xenoverse also has some of the highest highs for a Dragon Ball Z RPG, and the novelty of making your own character and leveling them up into a powerhouse is never lost. At its core, it’s an arena fighter with RPG elements but, for a first try, that’s not the worst thing in the world.

9 Fusions

In a decade with too many bland Dragon Ball Z video games, Fusions for the 3DS was the breath of fresh air the series had been desperately needing. Take all the fun of Pokémon, throw in your favorite DBZ characters with some good ol’ RPG leveling, and you’ve got a game worth throwing some time into.

Fusions’ premise has you collecting Z-Fighters so you can level them up and fuse them together for super warriors. Along the way, you can ring out enemies instead of KOing them to steal their abilities so you can customize your party. The best part of Fusions really has to be how it brings ambition back to the DBZ video game scene. No cards or story retellings with weird cutoff points: Just an original idea with tons of fun to offer.

8 Assault Of The Saiyans (Kyōshū! Saiyan)

Unlike the previously mentioned Famicom RPGs, Kyōshū! Saiyan is actually awesome. You only get to play through the Saiyan saga with The Dead Zone thrown in as filler, but it takes the card based premise and makes it works. Every member of your party has a card affinity that makes them stronger when you attack with said card. These cards also let you walk around the world map and since the maps are well designed and tight this time around, there’s actual strategy involved in your movements.

One of the best inclusions has to be the tournament mode which lets you pit characters against each other in an RPG clash. Chi-Chi even debuts here as a playable character. With so much going for Kyōshū! Saiyan like surprisingly great sprite work and a killer soundtrack, there’s only one card based game that beats it out.

7 Freeza The Planet Destroyer (Gekishin Freeza!!)

Gekishin Freeza!! is undeniably the best of the old school Dragon Ball Z RPGs. It doesn’t even finish the saga, but it does a great job getting to the very end that it’s hard to actually see that as a flaw. The game takes place in an alternate timeline where Piccolo was the only one who died on Namek so Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu all accompany you to Namek. Since they should be dead, though, they’ll actually die if they’re defeated in combat.

By having an expandable party, there’s a sense of tension that perfectly captures that intensity found in the Namek arc. Enemies are aggressive, too, and will actively move around the map alongside you. The sprites are better, the music is better, and the challenge is top notch. It does cut out right before Goku goes Super Saiyan, but fighting Freeza’s four forms as Goku sort of makes for it. No matter how you look at it, Gekishin Freeza!! is proof that Bandai wasn’t totally nuts to make so many card-based DBZ games.

6 Xenoverse 2

Xenoverse 2 isn’t the world’s greatest sequel by any means, but it does polish just about everything that was rusty at release with the first Xenoverse. The RPG elements, especially, feel a lot more refined and at home. It’s less of an arena fighter with leveling up this time around and an actual MMORPG fighting game, instead. Item drops are better, no more super armor shenanigans, and the base mechanics are just all around better. If you never got a chance to play the first one, just do yourself a favor and jump into Xenoverse 2. It’s the Dragon Ball Z MMO you deserved in the first place.

5 Legend Of The Super Saiyan (Super Saiya Densetsu)

If you were emulating games in the early 2000s, then this is probably going to be the only one of the Japanese titles you’ve heard. It was constantly topping the charts as the most downloaded rom on countless websites and it was the first of the international games to get a fan translation. Super Saiya Densetsu covered the Saiyan and Frieza sagas of the series and basically served as a remake of the first two Z RPGs on the Famicom.

What makes it succeed where those other card based RPGs failed is how it changes the story based on what happens. Piccolo is going to get killed by Nappa no matter what, but you can bring everyone else to Namek with you. Goku can even arrive early if you master King Kai’s training asap. If you’re feeling adventurous, you don’t even need to have Goku body switch back with Ginyu. It’s creative and it has an actual level system. What else could you ever need?

4 Buu’s Fury

Growing up while The Legacy of Goku trilogy was being released was truly a magical time. You were basically getting accurate video game adaptations of your favorite show while it was still airing. Sure, the first one was garbage, but the last one? Buu’s Fury was a fine game. It’s a bit worse than The Legacy of Goku II on account of how easy it is, but it has the best balance of action and RPG elements.

You start off as Goku fighting in the Otherworld Tournament and play until he flies off with Uub at the end of the series. This time around, you actually get the chance to decide where your character’s stats go. This does mean you can make everyone a powerhouse, but it is pretty fun to run around as an overpowered Saiyan. There’s even an equipment system and enemies with actual drop rates. It almost makes you wish Webfoot Technologies went back and remade the first game just to have a perfect, little trilogy.

3 Legendary Super Warriors

Legendary Super Warriors has the notable distinction of being the only RPG in the series to cover the entirety of Dragon Ball Z’s story. From Raditz’s introduction to Buu’s death, you get to join Gohan and Goku on the journey of a lifetime. And it’s card based! But the good kind where you actually deck build. It also has a surprisingly large amount of playable characters for an RPG, which is very much a good thing.

LSW’s claim to fame has to be its difficulty, though. The first few battles can be jarring and turn prospective players away, but learning the mechanics and winning is so rewarding. Each battle feels like an actual life or death match. Just like the anime! It’s basically an RPG where every fight is a boss fight. The next time you’re itching to play a Game Boy Color game, why not try your hand at a super hard DBZ RPG that’ll give you a whole story recap?

2 The Legacy Of Goku II

It’s actually amazing how Webfoot Technologies went from developing the single worst RPG in Dragon Ball history to one of the best games in the series. The Legacy of Goku II is what happens when a developer actually takes criticism to heart. Every mistake that was present in the first game is now gone. You can play as Gohan, Piccolo, Vegeta, Trunks, Goku, and Hercule all with their own stats and special abilities. You see every plot point play out. There’s even a post-game!

Really, the thing that makes The Legacy of Goku II such a good game is that it actually feels like you’re playing the anime. Action is fast, there’s weight to your hits, and your Ki actually matters. It doesn’t forget to be an RPG though. You need to take time leveling your party; you even get supplementary items to help boost your stats. Throw in a ton of side quests and you’ve got one of gaming’s best comeback stories.

1 Attack Of The Saiyans

It’s true, the perfect Dragon Ball Z RPG does exist. No cards, actual character building, and a story that doesn’t abruptly stop halfway through. Attack of the Saiyans was the one and only Dragon Ball Z game made by Xenoblade developers, Monolith Soft, and it is by far the single best video game in the franchise’s entire history. It might be one of the best games on the Nintendo DS, period. You’re given so much room for customization that it puts other RPGs to shame.

Your whole party can be swapped in and out during battle, Tien can collect enemies as part of a monster catching side quest, and you have access to Chrono Trigger style combos. The story is the single best video game adaptation the series has ever seen. It covers the entire Saiyan saga word for word with tasteful filler to help the game feel alive. We can only hope that Monolith Soft will someday grace us with a sequel that covers the Frieza saga.