DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2

If you love fighting outside of the restrictions of grounded combat, flying through the air at great speeds whilst firing off some great combos feels free and exhilarating, even if it can become repetitive over time.

81%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

89% User Score Based on 232,233 reviews

Critic Score 72%Based on 15 reviews

Platforms

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About

"DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 is a fighting RPG where players create their own warrior, explore an expansive city, and train with famous characters. The game's Deluxe and Special Editions include the main game, a season pass for future DLC, and additional character packs for added content. The mission is to defend the Dragon Ball universe's history from enemy attacks, fighting in epic battles and completing quests to grow stronger."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+10

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 16,870 reviews

story927 positive mentions

grinding289 negative mentions

story
3,942 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
71%
6%
The story of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is a mix of nostalgia and fan service, allowing players to relive iconic moments from the Dragon Ball Z saga while introducing new characters and twists. However, many reviews note that the narrative often feels repetitive, as it closely mirrors the storyline of the first game, with some quests and missions recycled, leading to a lack of originality. Despite these criticisms, the game is praised for its engaging gameplay and character customization, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and long-time fans of the franchise.
- “The story mode is a mix of nostalgia and fan service, and the multiplayer has its highs and lows, but when it works, it’s a blast.”
- “The game's storyline revolves around the two Saiyans navigating the complex world of intergalactic commerce while fending off competitors like Frieza, who has shifted from world domination to owning a rival franchise.”
- “It’s an intense journey filled with culinary challenges and unexpected plot twists that take the Dragon Ball saga to new, flavor-filled heights.”
- “The story is a copy-paste from the first game... literally mission for mission, at least I hope the end is unique in some way.”
- “The story is... generally the same except for the ending.”
- “The story is the worst part.”
gameplay
891 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
57%
7%
The gameplay of "Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2" is generally praised for its fast-paced combat mechanics, extensive character customization, and engaging story elements that resonate with fans of the franchise. However, many players note that the gameplay can become repetitive and grindy over time, with some mechanics feeling unbalanced or poorly explained. While the game has seen improvements over its predecessor, including smoother controls and new features, issues such as bugs, connection problems in multiplayer, and a lack of variety in missions detract from the overall experience.
- “The gameplay in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is fast-paced and exciting, capturing the essence of the iconic battles from the anime series.”
- “With its deep customization options, exhilarating gameplay, and engaging storyline, it's a game that will keep you coming back for more as you embark on an unforgettable journey through the Dragon Ball universe.”
- “The combat mechanics in Xenoverse 2 are fast, fluid, and incredibly satisfying.”
- “The core mechanics are poorly explained and ridiculously loose and cheap in feeling.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly confusing, with some of the game design decisions giving me a headache every time I think about them.”
- “The gameplay is very grindy, repetitive and lacks variety.”
graphics
574 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
56%
4%
The graphics of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant, cel-shaded art style that captures the essence of the anime. However, some players feel the visuals are dated and lack polish compared to newer titles, often comparing them unfavorably to games like Dragon Ball FighterZ. While the game offers good customization options and modding potential to enhance graphics, many users express a desire for official updates to improve the overall visual experience.
- “The vibrant, cel-shaded graphics bring the beloved characters and iconic locations to life with stunning detail.”
- “Graphically, Xenoverse 2 maintains the iconic art style of the series, bringing the world of Dragon Ball to life.”
- “The colorful, cel-shaded graphics capture the essence of Akira Toriyama's artwork, and exploring iconic locales like Capsule Corp and the World Tournament stage feels like coming home to your gravity-defying family.”
- “But, graphics kinda look... bad, seriously, DB Legends for mobile has better looking graphics, as the characters have annoying rim lighting that make them look like they're dumped in vaseline.”
- “The terrible graphics don't help either, it gives me a headache to look at, the dialog is bad, and the combat is just okay.”
- “The graphics are awful, combat has no weight and half the dialogue isn't voiced.”
grinding
316 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
8%
91%
The grinding aspect of the game is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as excessively tedious and time-consuming. While some find the grind rewarding and enjoyable, especially for character customization and skill acquisition, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, leading to repetitive gameplay and frustration, particularly in the endgame. Overall, the game is characterized by a heavy reliance on grinding, which can be a barrier for those who prefer a more streamlined experience.
- “The gameplay is pretty good after you hit the skill cap they set for you in the missions, but if you're not grinding out moves and practicing combos actively, it's not a game that goes easily.”
- “I have spent many hours just grinding (which isn't really grinding because of how fun it is) just to get the next level of super saiyan, which has a dynamic impact on your own personally created character.”
- “Aside from online interactions, the game itself is pretty good, not too grindy, either, and definitely has its own difficult battles.”
- “The amount of grinding you have to do is no joke; this game can be a hit or miss for some people.”
- “It's tedious and very annoying.”
- “The game is extremely grindy, which you might like, you might not.”
stability
231 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent crashes, bugs, and glitches that significantly impact gameplay, particularly in online modes. While some users note that the game runs well on decent hardware, many others experience frustrating issues such as freezing during missions, unresponsive controls, and problems with multiplayer connectivity. Overall, the consensus is that while the game is enjoyable, it suffers from a lack of polish and stability, making it difficult to recommend without reservations.
- “Very few to no glitches.”
- “Runs great at 89 fps at max settings in 4K.”
- “Runs great, plays great, exactly what I expected.”
- “The game is a buggy mess and half of the online features don't work most of the time but I still play it a lot.....help.”
- “This game is full of frustrating bugs and glitches that need to be fixed, and the fact that it was released in this state was bad.”
- “The game does have a tendency to crash a lot and some expert missions are buggy, but most of this is pretty minor.”
music
217 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
58%
15%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as enjoyable and fitting for the Dragon Ball universe, while others criticize it for being overly loud, repetitive, and at times, annoying. Many players express frustration with the default hub music, describing it as "carnival-like" and suggesting that it detracts from the overall experience. However, the option to customize music settings is appreciated, allowing players to select tracks that better suit their preferences.
- “The music for this game is awesome, and the developers put a lot of effort into taking the tunes from the shows we recognize, mixing them with new beats that get the blood pumping during fights, to create an effect that both honors the style of the series music while also tuning it aptly for a game where you're controlling the action.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing! It keeps you immersed in that weaboo world you always dreamed of living in.”
- “Great graphics, fun gameplay, okay music, not really my style.”
- “The music is a letdown even without comparing it to past Dragon Ball titles like the Budokai series.”
- “The default song is horrendous.”
- “Possibly the worst music in any game ever is the Conton City music.”
humor
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
3%
The humor in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is widely appreciated, with players finding joy in the game's quirky character creation, absurd scenarios, and the classic comedic elements of the Dragon Ball franchise. Many reviews highlight the hilarity of character interactions, over-the-top transformations, and the often ridiculous AI behavior, contributing to a fun and entertaining experience despite some gameplay frustrations. Overall, the game successfully blends action with humor, making it a delightful romp for fans of the series.
- “It's hilarious, the broken and stupid stuff he comes up with.”
- “Also you can punt kids in this game and blast them at full power and that's really funny.”
- “The action is intense and the character creation is pretty cool with some funny quirks mixed in.”
- “There were many scenes that were intended to be funny but ended up feeling forced and could have been omitted to enhance the drama.”
- “The humor fell flat and often felt out of place, detracting from the overall experience.”
- “Attempts at humor were inconsistent and rarely landed, leaving me more confused than entertained.”
replayability
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
6%
The game boasts significant replayability, driven by diverse quests, extensive character customization, and a robust multiplayer mode that encourages exploration and skill mastery. While some players note limitations in replay value after completing a substantial portion of the game, many appreciate the ongoing updates and DLCs that enhance content and keep the experience fresh. Overall, it is regarded as a solid choice for fans seeking a game with high replay potential, despite some criticisms regarding certain gameplay mechanics and the reliance on DLC for additional content.
- “The game offers tons of replayability, with various quests and character customization options that keep things fresh.”
- “Whether engaging in cooperative missions or testing your skills in ranked matches, the multiplayer mode adds an extra layer of depth and replayability to the game, ensuring that there is always something new to discover and master.”
- “The branching narrative offers plenty of replay value, as players can make different choices and explore alternate timelines with each playthrough.”
- “There's no replayability.”
- “The game doesn't have much replay value outside of you trying new builds or farming out that one skill that you haven't gotten yet.”
- “Good game with pretty much no replayability at all, better than one for sure, but still it's never going to touch dbzbt3.”
optimization
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
52%
10%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting smooth performance on high-end systems, while others experience significant issues such as crashes, stuttering, and poor online connectivity. Some users noted that the game runs well on lower settings, but overall, there are concerns about stability and performance inconsistencies, particularly after recent updates. While the game is praised for its graphics and content, players are advised to be cautious, as optimization appears to vary widely across different setups.
- “The game runs smoothly on high-end systems, thanks to its optimization for PC.”
- “Just amazing, great graphics and special effects, I played for like 17 hours and I didn't find any bugs, very well optimized for PC.”
- “The optimization is great, 60fps solid, no stuttering or frame drops.”
- “Good game and better than the first one, but technical-wise, they should have optimized the game for the recommended specs as even PCs with more than the recommended struggle with this, my PC included.”
- “Very, very, very poorly optimized for PC.”
- “It's a fun game, but the port is terrible and unstable, with random crashes, falling through floors, and even performance issues on some systems.”
monetization
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
43%
50%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism from users, who describe it as a blatant cash grab due to the excessive number of paid DLCs and the introduction of microtransactions in a title that players have already purchased. Many feel that the reliance on in-game purchases detracts from the overall experience, making it feel soulless and exploitative, especially given the high costs associated with the DLC. Overall, players express frustration over the monetization practices, suggesting they undermine the game's value and enjoyment.
- “The hero colosseum's overreliance on TP medals as a form of currency, and consequently microtransactions, is also a noteworthy point souring the focus.”
- “Microtransactions for free-to-play games make sense, not for games players have already paid for.”
- “The DLC is way too expensive and feels like a cash grab.”
- “There is an ungodly amount of paid DLCs in the store, and since they failed to monetize the microtransactions on PC in the past, they now had to add another type of microtransaction to be sure to maximize how much money they can take from their players.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
Players express a mix of emotional experiences with the game, highlighting intense battles and moments that evoke strong feelings, including tears during certain story arcs. While some find the narrative lacking and the multiplayer experience frustrating, many appreciate the emotional depth of character interactions and the satisfying endings that resonate with them. Overall, the game elicits a range of emotions, from nostalgia to frustration, contributing to a complex emotional landscape for players.
- “It's packed with intense battles, emotional moments, and unexpected twists that keep you on the edge of your seat.”
- “So um, yeah its okay story made me cry a little you know manly times idk what this game is about tho i think its a romance?”
- “Personally, I have a visceral emotional attachment to these characters.”
- “The only bad thing about the game is the boring story mode if you are playing with a new character.”
character development
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
42%
17%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while the character design and customization options are praised for their detail and variety, many players feel that the actual character arcs are lacking, with only a few characters receiving meaningful development. This disparity leads some to feel that the game prioritizes aesthetics over narrative depth, resulting in a less engaging experience overall.
- “The attention to detail in character design and environments was impeccable, making it feel like I was playing an episode of the anime itself.”
- “Great character development and art.”
- “As an arcade games lover, I love the character design and customization.”
- “These characters, apart from Bardock, get no character development and hurt the game rather than add to it.”
- “In fact, the gameplay, story progression, and even character design are actually worse.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's atmosphere is generally well-received, capturing the traditional Dragon Ball Z feel, though some players feel the original soundtrack fails to match this vibe, leading to the use of music mods for improvement. Overall, while the atmosphere is commendable, the content may not fully support it.
- “The game does a good job of creating atmosphere, but a middling job of creating content.”
- “The sound is distinct with a traditional Dragon Ball Z atmosphere.”
- “In my opinion, the original soundtrack mainly fails to capture the essence of the Dragon Ball Z/Dragon Ball Super atmosphere, which music mods have been able to improve, but now they can't.”