DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE

Dragon Ball Xenoverse allows players to participate in the world of Dragon Ball like never before as they help change the tide of battle. If you enjoy battling it out with your favorite Z fighters then you will enjoy this game.

86%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

90% User Score Based on 45,148 reviews

Critic Score 74%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $2.87

Buy NowGet on Steam$39.99

Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store

Buy NowGet on PS Store$4.99

About

"Dragon Ball Xenoverse" is a fighting game allowing 2-player competition. Create your own warrior from 5 races, customize with over 450 items, and learn skills from Dragon Ball characters. Join online in Toki Toki City to fight with or against 200 players, restoring the series' original story and competing in tournaments.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+10

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,514 reviews

story1.1k positive mentions

grinding600 negative mentions

story
4,750 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
74%
4%
The story of Dragon Ball Xenoverse offers a fresh take on the classic Dragon Ball Z narrative, allowing players to create their own character and participate in iconic battles while correcting time distortions caused by new villains, Towa and Mira. While the main storyline is engaging and filled with nostalgic moments, it can feel short and repetitive, often requiring players to grind through parallel quests to level up and unlock skills, which some find tedious. Overall, the game successfully immerses players in the Dragon Ball universe, but the reliance on grinding and RNG for rewards can detract from the experience.
- “The game's story mode revisits iconic moments from the Dragon Ball Z series, adding a fresh twist and allowing players to play a pivotal role in these battles.”
- “What Xenoverse does well is present this story in a way that feels a little more personal, where your created character experiences these events that originally didn't involve them, gaining a different perspective on these iconic scenarios.”
- “The storyline is enjoyable, allowing you to relive classic moments while also introducing new elements that add depth to the lore.”
- “The balancing is terrible and the story is even worse.”
- “The story is forgettable garbage at best and memorably horrible at its worst.”
- “The story is a bit convoluted; it is a time travel spin-off essentially, allowing you to place your character in the known Dragon Ball events, but I don't think you should play this one for the story.”
gameplay
1,094 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
54%
7%
The gameplay of Dragon Ball Xenoverse has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the engaging combat mechanics and character customization options, which allow for a unique experience within the Dragon Ball universe. However, criticisms include repetitive gameplay, clunky controls, and issues with AI difficulty, leading to frustration in both single-player and multiplayer modes. Overall, while the game offers fun and fast-paced action, it is often seen as lacking depth compared to its predecessors and the sequel, Xenoverse 2.
- “Dragon Ball Xenoverse is a fantastic game that successfully combines the best elements of the Dragon Ball universe with engaging gameplay mechanics.”
- “The combat is fast-paced and exhilarating, with a mix of flashy moves and strategic gameplay that keeps every battle engaging.”
- “The gameplay is fun and the leveling up system for your own unique character is cool, but you don't see a lot of progression when you level up about 5 times.”
- “The gameplay is so clunky and somehow feels worse than the PS2 games.”
- “The fighting mechanics feel mediocre compared to Battle of Z and the co-op isn't near as fun.”
- “The gameplay is extremely repetitive.”
graphics
688 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The graphics of Dragon Ball Xenoverse are generally praised for their vibrant, cel-shaded style that closely resembles the anime, providing an immersive experience for fans. While many reviewers note that the visuals remain impressive for a game released nearly a decade ago, some criticize the graphics for not fully utilizing modern hardware capabilities, leading to a mix of opinions on their overall quality. Despite some minor graphical glitches and limitations, the game's aesthetic is often highlighted as a strong point, contributing to its appeal within the Dragon Ball franchise.
- “Despite being nearly a decade old, the original Xenoverse still boasts graphics that remain impressive today.”
- “In essence, the graphics and aesthetics of the game harmoniously blend to enhance both the storyline and gameplay experience.”
- “Dragon Ball Xenoverse is a visually stunning game that truly captures the look and feel of the anime through its cel-shaded graphics.”
- “The game's graphics stay true to the cartoon visuals, though they don't take full advantage of new-generation hardware.”
- “Graphics are shit, gameplay is shit, appearances and interaction is shit.”
- “The graphics in general and home region are poorly designed, unappealing to look at, and just stagnant and boring.”
grinding
610 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
98%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting it as excessively tedious and repetitive. While some enjoy the challenge and sense of progression that comes from grinding for skills, items, and levels, others find the reliance on RNG for drops frustrating and time-consuming. Overall, players recommend the game primarily for Dragon Ball fans who are willing to invest significant time into grinding, but caution that it may not appeal to those who dislike repetitive gameplay.
- “Good game, not grindy or frustrating at all, except for maybe some challenges.”
- “Whether or not the grinding is a detriment to your experience is entirely your opinion.”
- “After that, I would say the game is a bit grindy, and it would be nice to have a bit more of an open world in Tokitoki (the main city) instead of being restricted to walking around and having preselected chat until you are in a room where you can voice chat (which is flawless).”
- “Grinding this game to full completion took a toll on me because of the sheer amount of random elements.”
- “The game gets really tedious after a while; so many characters in the later story have super armor and constantly just kind of say 'no' to stuns and combos. I would much recommend the second one instead of this.”
- “The grinding required to get there is unforgivable.”
music
186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
51%
14%
The music in Dragon Ball Xenoverse receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the catchy and memorable tracks that enhance the gameplay experience, particularly during battles. However, many criticize the repetitive nature of the soundtrack, especially in hub areas, and note issues with audio mixing and a lack of variety. Overall, while the game features some standout pieces, it falls short of delivering a consistently engaging musical experience.
- “The game's soundtrack is solid, with a mix of catchy and memorable tracks that add to the overall experience of the game.”
- “The music is particularly effective during intense battles, helping to heighten the tension and excitement of each fight.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing (I dare you not to listen to track 03, which is the theme for Frieza, and not love it); the fact I can make my own DBZ character with my favorite moves, I love it!”
- “However, the first Xenoverse game had some sound issues, including repetitive sound effects, mediocre soundtracks, and an unbalanced mixing volume during fights.”
- “The music is so hopeful too, it's almost as if it's saying 'maybe we'll connect to the servers this time, maybe.'”
- “The music is horribly annoying.”
replayability
135 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
54%
3%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its extensive character customization, parallel quests, and RPG elements that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some find the grind for items and skills frustrating, others appreciate the depth and variety it adds, leading to a high replay value overall. However, a few reviewers noted that once the main story is completed, the incentive to continue playing diminishes unless pursuing 100% completion.
- “It has tons of replayability, in my opinion.”
- “The semi-open world makes the game feel exponentially larger than the linear progression of previous titles, and the inclusion of side quests (called parallel quests) adds a massive amount of replayability to the game.”
- “Creating your own character and building them up however you wish is a most welcome addition and adds to replayability since each race/gender combo can be built differently.”
- “The game's replay value is significantly diminished by the overwhelming presence of Xenoverse 2 and the numerous gameplay problems it faces.”
- “Game was fun for a while, but what they call 'replayability' is just a garbage grind system with the worst RNG I have ever seen.”
- “Fun game but lacking content, easily finished in 20 hours or less, 'replayability' is forced on you in the form of random drops for all skills that sometimes seem to take 30+ tries just to get one.”
stability
109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
1%
83%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting a variety of bugs and glitches, particularly in online modes, which can lead to frustrating experiences such as disconnections and unresponsive NPCs. While the game performs well on most PCs and offers enjoyable gameplay, the prevalence of issues like visual glitches and server instability detracts from the overall experience. Players generally agree that while the game is fun, it requires significant patches to address its numerous stability problems.
- “As said before, in terms of performance, this game runs great.”
- “The game runs great with the setup right, 1080p+ with a solid 60 fps with no frame loss whatsoever. I wish a game like this would've come out sooner; it honestly surprised me and I would suggest it to any Dragon Ball fan because you get the feeling that you're really a part of the story.”
- “Ill have to say that this is by far my favorite fighting game. I really enjoy the structure of the game loadout, reminds me of a cross between an MMO & RPG. Runs great & graphics are amazing; you can tell it's built on the next-gen platform.”
- “The game is only okay to play, with lots of buggy interactions, and the incessant grinding for random drops is instantly tedious.”
- “It's way too buggy to play and I can't recommend buying it until all these issues are fixed.”
- “Has to be one of the most buggy and poorly working games I have ever played.”
optimization
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
36%
7%
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with many users reporting smooth performance at 60fps even on lower-end PCs. While some minor visual glitches and occasional server issues were noted, the game is generally considered well-optimized, allowing for a good balance of graphics and performance across various hardware configurations. Players appreciate the ability to adjust settings for improved performance, making it accessible to a wide range of systems.
- “Overall the game is amazing, the optimization is flawless and I run this game at a constant 60 frames on max settings.”
- “The graphics look amazing and the game is very well optimized for the PC, meaning it doesn't take a supercomputer to run this game at max settings.”
- “Amazing gameplay and smooth performance even on low-end machines!”
- “Lag and stuttering is a constant, or at least it was for me and a few other people I know.”
- “I give this game an 8/10 because of the online DRM that's required to play, which doesn't seem optimized well and has gone down a couple of times, rendering the game basically useless while it was down.”
- “The quests and battles are awesome, the only negative thing is the server performance at the moment; you get kicked after nearly every fight.”
humor
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it genuinely funny and self-aware, often highlighting hilarious character interactions and absurd scenarios. Many enjoy the comedic elements of character customization and the over-the-top action, while some note that the humor can sometimes stem from glitches or AI mishaps. Overall, the game's comedic tone adds a layer of enjoyment, making it appealing even to those who aren't fans of the Dragon Ball franchise.
- “I’m not joking, this campaign is really hilarious if you examine it closely.”
- “Naming your Frieza race character 'Wintermint' is hilariously satisfying.”
- “The multiplayer lobby allows you to goof around by doing hilarious character poses, like the Ginyu Force poses, or Great Saiyaman's entirely too elaborate poses.”
- “That's really time consuming and unfunny.”
character development
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
Character development in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the rewarding progression system that allows for skill acquisition and equipment upgrades. While the character design offers a satisfying level of customization, some feel it lacks depth compared to traditional RPGs. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of the Dragon Ball universe, enhancing the experience through memorable character interactions and a variety of unlockable features.
- “Great way of exploring a new character development with all the memorable moments from DBZ.”
- “Character development is fun and rewarding; the mentor system is great, the in-game currency is well balanced, item collection is fun, it's just a great Dragon Ball game that's way better than you'd think.”
- “The character development is not as big as in an RPG game, but it fits really well and it is really satisfying to see your character grow, learning new skills, getting new equipment, and of course, training with the best fighters of the universe.”
- “Character design (how you look) is way too limited.”
- “I feel like they designed their whole idea for leveling and character development with cooperating and competing with friends in mind, then completely neglected to come up with an optimal combat system for this gameplay.”
- “Bad character design for the original characters in the game (hello Kefka, what are you doing in a DBZ game?).”
emotional
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
76%
24%
The emotional responses to the game are mixed; while some players express nostalgia and excitement for revisiting beloved Dragon Ball sagas, others feel disappointed by the lack of a compelling story and character depth, leading to a sense of detachment. Fans appreciate the immersive experience and emotional connections, but criticisms highlight a feeling of being a mere spectator rather than an active participant in the narrative. Overall, the game resonates strongly with long-time fans, evoking joy and nostalgia, despite its flaws.
- “This game made me feel like the giddy 8-year-old me, that watched the Dragon Ball Z series and tried the 'kamehameha' move when no one was looking.”
- “Not only because it’s just simply a DBZ game on PC, but because it really is a heartwarming love letter to fans and a respectably fine-tuned experience.”
- “The only reason I give a positive review here is because I'm emotionally attached to DBZ stuff for the last 20 years.”
- “Awful, unimaginative, incredibly boring story - it's trying to make you fix the chaos to make the story how it should've been - you know, actually, a new unique story would be great.”
- “All of this piled on top of a boring story makes this one of the worst Dragon Ball games I've played.”
- “Bad gameplay, boring story, and poor controls.”
atmosphere
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
27%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its detailed environments and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the essence of the Dragon Ball universe. Reviewers note that the combination of engaging fights, a fitting soundtrack, and a warm, chaotic ambiance enhances the overall experience, making it particularly enjoyable for fans of the franchise. However, some mention that certain design choices can detract from the atmosphere, such as overly challenging quests in less engaging settings.
- “The game's environments are detailed and atmospheric, making it easy to get lost in the world of Dragon Ball.”
- “The atmosphere and experience do make up for a lot of the flaws and some odd design choices, like slipping in super hard parallel quests in the lower tiers where it seems like the enemies never stop coming.”
- “You'll spend hours customizing your character, unlocking new moves, increasing your character's strength, and just all around enjoying the new story and atmosphere the game has to offer.”
- “The atmosphere is light and warm.”
- “Large bosses had the atmosphere of a large boss such as its movement and attacks.”
- “The chaotic atmosphere is pleasing and if you win you really feel like a victor.”
monetization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
71%
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many reviewers labeling it as a blatant cash grab, particularly regarding its DLC offerings and the forced online components. Players express frustration over the grind required to compete, especially against those who invest excessive time or money into in-game purchases, while some appreciate the absence of microtransactions. Overall, the monetization strategy detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
- “No microtransactions: well, how about that! Thank whatever deity you worship.”
- “The monetization model is fair and allows players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content and rewards for players who choose not to spend.”
- “The hub world and the forced internet connection made this an unenjoyable experience for me. Just let me play the story or go into online battle with characters from the Dragon Ball universe instead of the whole idea of making your own character and grinding in a Dragon Ball game. The DLC is also an absolute piece of garbage cash grab.”
- “It's a cash grab and it literally summarizes a few big battles in the storyline.”
- “People with jobs and life commitments should avoid this game at all costs and be prepared for kids who spend 60 hours+ grinding in-game currency to decimate you with in-game purchases in PvP.”