Besides being an internationally well-recognized manga and anime series, Dragon Ball is also known for the abundance of fighting games based on it. The Dragon Ball Budokai Tenkaichi series, 3D arena fighting games featuring large character rosters, launched between 2005 and 2007 on various platforms.
The fourth game in the Budokai Tenkaichi series was announced in 2023 during the Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour with a trailer telling players to "Get Ready for Battle" and featuring Goku powering up to Super Saiyan Blue. Although the roster has not been revealed, there are some characters we'd like to see debut.
10 Bacterian
Bacterian is an odd character from early on in Dragon Ball that appeared during the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament. Known for his unruly appearance and foul stench, Bacterian fought against and was defeated by Krillin in the quarterfinals.
The best thing about this match is Krillin seems to be at a disadvantage against Bacterian's odor until Goku reminds him that he doesn't have a nose, meaning whatever he was smelling was imaginary. As a playable character, Bacterian could be a gag character whose odorous attacks are ineffective against Krillin and other characters without visible noses, such as third-form Frieza, Semi-Perfect Cell, and Majin Buu.
9 Olibu
Olibu may be an anime-original filler character like Pikkon, but somehow he has never been featured as a playable character in any Dragon Ball fighting game despite being introduced during the Otherworld Saga. According to King Kai, Olibu is his strongest fighter besides Goku and has inspired many of the heroic legends on Earth. Still, he has yet to be seen using many techniques, even when participating in a tournament.
Olibu's immense strength and a blue homing energy blast are his main features. Olibu's moveset could be expanded upon with strength-based moves. He could appear as he originally did in the anime, or the modern Dragon Ball Super style Toyotaro once drew him in.
8 Monster Carrot
Monster Carrot is a giant anthropomorphic rabbit from early Dragon Ball and could turn living beings into food years before Majin Buu. Instead of turning living being into candy, Monster Carrot can turn them into carrots.
Although he is shown using a Super Jump technique in the manga and anime, because of his appearance in several non-fighting Dragon Ball games and other media, we also know he has an increased power level of 938, can create explosive carrots, and survive in space and on the moon without sustenance. Since expanded media powered him up, Budokai Tenkaichi 4 would provide a great opportunity for his fighting game debut.
7 General Rilldo
The first big villain of Dragon Ball GT, General Rilldo, may have been overshadowed by later villains like Baby and the Shadow Dragons, but somehow has never been a playable character in any Dragon Ball Fighting game, even in Budokai Tenkaichi 3 when characters like Frieza Soldier are in the roster.
Like other Dragon Ball villains, General Rilldo has multiple forms; his base Machine Mutant form, a Hyper Meta form that he becomes after absorbing the parts of the defeated Sigma Force, and a Meta form where his body is made of liquid metal, so depending on how Budokai Tenkaichi 4's roster turns out, General Rilldo could add either one or three characters to it.
6 Jimizu
Although the Yardrat species has had some importance since after the Frieza Saga, due to them teaching Goku how to use Instant Transmission, we never saw one of them fight until the Tournament of Power introduced Jimizu, a Yardrat from Universe 2. Some other techniques were also only shown being used by Vegeta in the Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga of the manga.
Because the Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga has not yet been animated, Budokai Tenkaichi 4 could have Jimizu using the other known Yardrat Spirit Control techniques like Forced Spirit Fission, which separates and manipulates the opponent's energy and can even undo fusion or absorption abilities after being used.
5 Agnilasa
Agnilasa is a fusion of the Universe 3 competitors Paparoni and Koicearata, itself already the merged form of Borareta, Koitsukai, and Pancea. Due to its size, features, and abilities, it's similar to the Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans OVA character Hatchiyack and the movie-exclusive character Hirudegarn from the Wrath of the Dragon, the latter of which is playable in Budokai Tenkaichi 3.
Although most of Agnilasa's abilities have been used by other characters, it has a signature Hyperspace Punch where it can open a portal between it and its opponent to hit them from a distance. Since Agnilasa is a fusion, having it by itself could help save space in the Budokai Tenkaichi 4's roster.
4 Bergamo
Despite being prominent during the start of the Universe Survival Saga, none of the members of the Trio De Dangers have appeared as playable characters in a Dragon Ball fighting game. If only choosing one, it would have to be Bergamo, the group's leader.
Also known as Bergamo the Crusher, Bergamo can absorb damage and deal it back to his opponent with twice the amount of strength and can also use this ability to achieve a Giant Form, with each hit causing him to grow larger. Since the Budokai Tenkaichi games feature some notably large characters, including Bergamo would provide a unique twist to this gameplay aspect.
3 Botamo
While a handful of Universe 6 fighters appeared as playable characters in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, a few were left out. Among those that were left out is Botamo, a Winnie the Pooh-like creature that can use his body to deflect incoming attacks and bounce around the area, and body slam his opponents.
Botamo also has his signature Botamo Beam, which can be fired from his hands, mouth, or ears, the last of which is not usually expected of most Dragon Ball beam attacks. Botamo is also likely the closest we'll ever get to having Winnie the Pooh as a playable character in an official Dragon Ball game without using mods.
2 Yamoshi
Yamoshi, or the first Legendary Super Saiyan, has only been referenced in various Dragon Ball media with only a silhouette of his Super Saiyan and Golden Great Ape forms shown. Although evil Saiyans killed Yamoshi after he achieved a Super Saiyan form, his spirit continued to inspire Saiyans by helping them reach the Super Saiyan God form.
Adding Yamoshi as a playable character could go one of two ways; he could either have the complete design of his Super Saiyan and Golden Great Ape forms revealed specifically for the game, or he could have these forms remain silhouetted, preserving the mystery. He could also use primal versions of known Saiyan attacks like Galick Gun.
1 Cell Max
Cell Max only appeared in the Dragon Ball Super Superhero film but has yet to appear in a Dragon Ball fighting game, although he's somewhat similar to Cell X from Dragon Ball Online. Cell Max is an improved version of Cell, meaning he should have access to all of Cell's techniques, including those taken from other characters due to his combined DNA, but he didn't use them since his brain programming wasn't complete.
Like other monstrously large characters, Cell Max can fly and produce energy from his mouth and several spots on his body. He also has eye lasers and can expand his body to explode eventually, although, unlike Cell, his head must be destroyed first.