There has been an abundance of Dragon Ball games over the years, and they've ranged from astonishing to abysmal. Ii that are among the best are Dimps' Dragon Brawl Xenoverse 2 and Arc System Works' Dragon Ball FighterZ.

Dimps built on what it started with the first Xenoverse to craft a fantastic RPG/fighter hybrid. Arc Organization Works, on the other mitt, took Dragon Ball games back to their roots with a phenomenal 2.5D style fighter. The brilliance of both titles, plus the fact they were released only a few years apart, makes them perfect candidates to pit against each other. This is what each game does improve than the other.

Updated Jan 22, 2022, Past Ben Jessey: Due to its colorful art style and high octane action, the Dragon Ball franchise is the perfect subject area for video game adaptation. As a result, there accept been plenty of Dragon Ball games. So, information technology's difficult for many to stand up out or alive long in fans' memories. Thankfully, though, titles like Xenoverse 2 and FighterZ exist.

Both are vivid examples of the Dragon Ball world in video game form. And we made a list documenting what each game did ameliorate than the other. Notwithstanding, we were noncommittal in declaring one the superior championship. That'southward non the case anymore, as we've at present picked a winner while adding a few more positives about each game.

xiii Xenoverse two: Closer To The Source Fabric

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Screenshot Of Majin Buu vs Majin Vegeta

Most of the significant fights in the various Dragon Ball animes are large-calibration affairs where the two opponents fight around a vast battlefield. In contrast, the duels in FighterZ feel a lot smaller due to being contained in a 2.5D space.

That's the advantage of Xenoverse 2's 3D battle area, as information technology allows fights to feel similar in scope to what you'd run into in the anime. And so, if you lot're looking for a game that closely represents the source material, then Xenoverse 2 is the better pick.

12 FighterZ: Unique Feel

Dragon Ball FighterZ Screenshot Of Tien

As great as Xenoverse 2 is, it's fair to say that it's non the almost original Dragon Ball game ever. For one, information technology's not very different from its direct predecessor. Plus, information technology shares similarities to the Budokai Tenkaichi titles likewise every bit the Raging Smash games.

However, there has never really been some other DB game similar FighterZ. There accept been second and 2.5D fighters in the past, such as Budokai and Outburst Limit. But the core gameplay in those titles is very different from what FighterZ delivers.

11 Xenoverse two: Story Fashion Fights

FighterZ story way is dull, not because of the tale existence told, merely every bit a upshot of facing the same enemies over and over again. Constantly fighting clones of the game'south characters is fine at outset, yet it gets ho-hum during the lengthy story.

Xenoverse 2'southward fights aren't the most original ever seen, as for the well-nigh office, they're only the fights from the anime (with the addition of your created grapheme). Still, at to the lowest degree it provides a lot more variation than FighterZ bouts, especially the unique ones that include fighting Great Apes or battling to option up Dragon Balls.

10 FighterZ: The Story Itself

Slogging through FighterZ's continuous clone fights is worth it as the game's narrative is better than the one in Xenoverse 2. This is due to Arc Systems telling an entirely new tale, whereas Xenoverse 2 has an near identical story to the 1 from the offset Xenoverse game.

Dragon Ball games that tell original tales are a rare sight, only that's not the only good thing about the story. FighterZ narrative is very intriguing also, as information technology does a swell job throughout its offset two arcs of edifice up a mystery surrounding the new grapheme Android 21, before revealing all in the third arc. Xenoverse ii's "Masked Saiyan" mystery isn't as interesting.

9 Xenoverse 2: DLC

A lot of downloadable content has been released for both titles since their releases. While FighterZ additional characters like Broly, Android 17, and Bardock are prissy inclusions, they don't actually add a whole lot to the game, and if you'd already grown tired of FighterZ, then a few extra characters aren't likely to entice yous back.

What might reignite your interest in a game, though, is some additional quests, and that's just what Xenoverse 2 delivers. Along with new parallel quests, each Xenoverse ii pack also includes additional characters, as well as new moves, outfits, and Super Souls to equip to your fighter. Xenoverse 2'southward DLC adds a lot more to the game than FighterZ'southward downloadable content does.

8 FighterZ: Character Individuality

What many Dragon Ball games have struggled with over the years (including Xenoverse 2) is making fighters feel unique to each other, usually due to them sharing similar animations and combos. This is what makes FighterZ stand out, every bit information technology does a fantastic task of making every graphic symbol feel different (for the near part).

Majin Buu walks during fights hoping to catch his opponent and dial them in the face up, Kid Buu kicks people from a altitude past putting his foot through the ground, and Captain Ginyu uses other members of the Ginyu Strength instead of blasts and can even switch bodies with his opponent. Information technology's impressive the amount of variation there is between the fighters, particularly the strongest ones.

7 Xenoverse 2: Character Listing

The downside to having a unique set of fighters is that at that place are only then many you can have, meaning FighterZ'southward roster list includes plenty of big omissions. The likes of Super Buu, Start Form Frieza, and almost every character from Dragon Ball GT miss out.

In contrast, Xenoverse 2 includes most of the fighters from Dragon Brawl Z, Super, GT, and it even has some characters from the movies. Information technology means that players who like to recreate fights or put together dream battles have a lot more options to do it. Plus, after playing FighterZ a lot, information technology can get tiring seeing the aforementioned faces repeatedly.

six FighterZ: Simplicity

To truly appreciate Xenoverse ii, you have to put some time into information technology to sympathize combos, unlock amend moves, and build up your grapheme. If a DBZ fan only wants a game to selection up and play, then Xenoverse 2 won't be information technology, especially as you accept to unlock some characters before you tin can even participate in a non-story fight.

FighterZ is a lot simpler, mainly due to its auto philharmonic system, which is actually easy to go the hang of, while the special attacks are straightforward to pull off also. Additionally, the bulk of FighterZ characters are unlocked from the start, meaning y'all can go straight into battles without the demand to run through an entire prologue first.

v Xenoverse 2: Hub World

It'due south rare for a fighting game to have a hub world, as they're usually only in RPGs and MMOs, but FighterZ has one where you command a niggling chibi and walk betwixt game modes. Unsurprisingly, Xenoverse two's hub world is a lot more expansive, with its featuring side quests, people to talk to, and items to find.

With Xenoverse 2 being more of an RPG information technology was always going to have a superior hub. Still, they could've at to the lowest degree done more with FighterZ's earth. Adding little things to do or NPCs to speak with would've given it more purpose, instead of it just beingness a glorified chief menu with adorable characters.

four FighterZ: Visuals

"It looks just like the anime" is a argument that has been used to draw the visuals of many Dragon Ball games upon their releases, although Dragon Ball FighterZ is the only title where the similarities to the expect of the anime are valid. The game's character models look near identical to their Dragon Ball Super counterparts, as does every blast and special attack.

Xenoverse two is a beautiful-looking game in its own right, yet it can't match up to FighterZ as the latter is amongst the most visually stunning fighting games ever. Arc System Works' title does have the advantage of coming out two years after the second Xenoverse game. Yet, even time to come Dragon Brawl titles will struggle to match the visual quality of FighterZ.

iii Xenoverse two: Raids

Having each player need to tag in and out during a raid isn't that great, and is the one instance where FighterZ'southward gameplay works against information technology. Some enjoyment comes from the boss gradually becoming more powerful each fight, merely there are certainly better raid modes out there.

Speaking of better ones, Xenoverse two's raids are more what you would expect, as upwardly to six players face off against a boss at one time equally they work together to take the powerful enemy downwardly. While there can be some lag problems at times, they're ordinarily a load of fun. Plus, Xenoverse 2 also has Crystal Raids, which put a player into the role of a dominate against other players.

2 FighterZ: Gameplay

Xenoverse 2 is a nifty game, but not a dandy fighter. Its 3D battle arena gameplay matches the telescopic of the anime'southward big fights, yet over time, battles get repetitive.

FighterZ, on the other paw, never stops being fun, as it is ane of the all-time fighting games in recent history. While its two.5D style means fights don't feel as big as the ones in Dragon Ball, they certainly match the anime's bouts in terms of speed and fluidity. You don't even need to exist a fan of Dragon Ball to fall in love with FighterZ, whereas y'all'd struggle to appreciate Xenoverse 2 if you didn't already love the anime.

1 The Verdict: FighterZ

Dragon Ball FighterZ Screenshot Of Frieza Victory Screen

Both of these titles rise in a higher place the average Dragon Ball game, just FighterZ only has the edge. Arc Systems Works was able to create a Dragon Ball feel like cipher fans have e'er seen before through both its story and gameplay. Plus, it did and so while however crafting a genuinely fantabulous fighter that can measure up to the Mortal Kombats and Street Fighters of the world.

Despite Xenoverse 2's greatness, in that location'south a feeling that Dragon Brawl fans accept seen that sort of title before and probably will over again. In contrast, FighterZ is one of a kind.

Side by side: Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3 Vs Dragon Ball Z Tenkaichi 3: Which Game Is Amend?