DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is a real treat for a lapsed Dragon Ball fan.

82%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

89% User Score Based on 241,591 reviews

Critic Score 72%Based on 30 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

+12

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 22,566 reviews

story1.2k positive mentions

grinding395 negative mentions

The game offers an engaging time-traveling narrative that allows players to relive iconic moments from the Dragon Ball series while introducing original elements.
Character customization is deep and rewarding, allowing players to create unique characters and experiment with various playstyles and strategies.
The vibrant, cel-shaded graphics effectively capture the essence of the Dragon Ball anime, enhancing the overall visual experience.

The missions can feel repetitive and grind-heavy, leading to a lack of depth in the gameplay experience.
The story is criticized for being a rehash of the first game, lacking originality and depth compared to other titles in the genre.
The game suffers from stability issues, including frequent crashes and performance problems, particularly on PC, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.

story
5,029 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
71%
6%
The story of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is a mix of nostalgia and new content, allowing players to relive iconic moments from the Dragon Ball Z and Super series while introducing original elements and characters. While many players appreciate the engaging time-traveling narrative and character customization, some criticize the repetitive nature of missions and the reliance on familiar story arcs, leading to a feeling of déjà vu for those familiar with the franchise. Overall, the game offers a fun experience for Dragon Ball fans, but the story can feel thin and lacks depth compared to other titles in the genre.
- “Xenoverse 2 is a thrilling action-packed RPG that brilliantly captures the essence of the Dragon Ball universe, offering players epic battles, deep character customization, and an immersive time-traveling storyline that lets fans relive iconic moments while carving out their own legendary path.”
- “The story mode, along with the parallel quests, makes for a fun time, and with the inclusion of modding on the PC version, gives you something to keep coming back to, even with new experiences that fill in the gaps where this game doesn't.”
- “The story is captivating, and getting the other characters, being able to fight or use them is fun.”
- “That being said, most of it's just more characters and glamours and zero-plot missions that you can grind through.”
- “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 basically the same story as xenoverse 1.”
gameplay
1,171 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
57%
8%
The gameplay of "Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting improvements over its predecessor, particularly in combat mechanics and character customization. While some appreciate the fast-paced and engaging battles, others criticize the repetitive nature of missions and the reliance on grinding, which can detract from the overall experience. Additionally, issues such as bugs, unbalanced mechanics, and a lack of depth in certain gameplay elements have been highlighted, leading to a varied reception among fans of the series.
- “The gameplay offers an immersive experience with its stunning visuals, solid mechanics, and a wealth of content that keeps players engaged for hours.”
- “With a variety of special abilities and combo mechanics, players can experiment with different playstyles and strategies.”
- “The combat mechanics in Xenoverse 2 are fast, fluid, and incredibly satisfying.”
- “Very poor game mechanics... no real thrill... became worse after 2020.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly confusing, with some of the game design decisions giving me a headache every time I think about them.”
- “The lack of depth in the fighting mechanics makes battles feel more like a chore than an exhilarating showdown between powerful warriors.”
graphics
762 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
56%
5%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the vibrant, cel-shaded art style that captures the essence of the Dragon Ball anime. However, some users feel that the visuals are outdated and not as impressive as the trailers suggest, with comparisons made to older titles in the franchise. While the graphics are generally considered good for a game of its age, there are calls for updates to enhance the overall visual experience.
- “The vibrant, cel-shaded graphics bring the beloved characters and iconic locations to life with stunning detail.”
- “Visually, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is stunning, with vibrant, cel-shaded graphics that faithfully recreate the iconic art style of the anime.”
- “The graphics are fantastic, the gameplay is smooth, and the character animations are incredibly lifelike.”
- “The graphics are bad, and it is very hard to control with a keyboard, unless you have a controller.”
- “The graphics are not that great, even though that is probably just the style of the game.”
- “The graphics are the same with no improvement, yet it's harder on my graphics card.”
grinding
434 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
8%
91%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While many acknowledge that the grind can be tedious and time-consuming, especially after reaching higher levels, others find it rewarding and enjoyable, particularly for fans of character customization and progression. Overall, the game is described as heavily reliant on grinding, with some players suggesting it may require a significant time investment to fully enjoy the content.
- “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.”
- “Unlocking new skills, equipment, and characters requires hours of repetitive grinding, with little sense of accomplishment or satisfaction upon completion.”
- “The grind for equipment and skills gets a bit tedious, but it's overall not too bad.”
stability
281 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
1%
96%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various glitches that significantly impact gameplay, particularly in the PC version. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these issues, many express frustration over the persistent bugs, especially in online modes and during missions. Overall, the game's stability is considered a major drawback, detracting from an otherwise fun experience.
- “Very few to no glitches.”
- “Runs great at 89 fps at max settings in 4K.”
- “While there aren't as many PC players compared to console, this game runs great even on older hardware.”
- “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.”
- “My only problem with it is that at completely random points in time, the game freezes and then crashes.”
- “The game does have a tendency to crash a lot and some expert missions are buggy, but most of this is pretty minor.”
music
279 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
59%
15%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its energetic and nostalgic tracks that enhance the gameplay experience, while others criticize the loud and repetitive nature of certain pieces, particularly the hub city music, which many find annoying. While some players appreciate the variety and the ability to customize soundtracks, others feel that the overall quality is inconsistent, with a lack of memorable tunes and a reliance on generic or poorly chosen tracks. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant aspect of the game, but opinions vary widely on its execution.
- “The music is a fusion of Beethoven and cowbells, creating a harmonious atmosphere that makes you question everything, especially the existence of socks.”
- “The music is appropriately jazzy and upbeat, and thankfully you can change it in the menu to several choices if one track wears out its welcome.”
- “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 music is so loud you cannot hear anything; it wants to make your ears bleed.”
- “The music is a letdown even without comparing it to past Dragon Ball titles like the Budokai series.”
- “The default music sounds like a friggin' carnival.”
humor
133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in the game is a significant highlight, with players enjoying the comedic elements tied to character interactions, absurd combat scenarios, and the overall lighthearted tone reminiscent of the Dragon Ball franchise. Many reviews mention the amusing character customization options and the hilariously chaotic nature of PvP battles, where unexpected outcomes often lead to laughter. However, some players also note that the humor can become repetitive or overshadowed by gameplay frustrations, yet it remains a core aspect that enhances the overall experience.
- “It's hilarious, the broken and stupid stuff he comes up with.”
- “The action is intense and the character creation is pretty cool with some funny quirks mixed in.”
- “The online battles are hilarious, as for one, I am in no way a good player in the PvP realm.”
- “There was a lot of what was supposed to be funny scenes that could have been left out to make it more dramatic.”
- “Yeah, wait for a sale or something, the storyline is so rehashed it's not funny, regret buying at the price, seriously wait for sale.”
replayability
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The game boasts significant replayability, driven by diverse quests, character customization options, and a robust multiplayer mode that includes cooperative and competitive elements. While many players appreciate the variety and ongoing updates, some express concerns about the depth of customization and the impact of DLC on overall replay value. Overall, it is regarded as a fun and engaging experience with ample content to explore, though opinions on replayability can vary widely among players.
- “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.”
- “This lack of depth in customization options makes it difficult to create a character that feels truly distinct or personal, further diminishing the game's replay value.”
- “However, I believe replayability is low for this game once you have cleared everything.”
- “This means you get tutorials again, parallel quests again, story again, and even unlocking characters for multiplayer again... this is an absolutely awful design choice and kills all replayability.”
optimization
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
56%
14%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players reporting smooth performance on high-end systems while others experience significant issues such as frame rate drops, stuttering, and crashes, particularly on PC. While some reviews praise the game's graphics and overall design, many users express frustration over poor online performance and inconsistent optimization across different platforms. Overall, the game shows potential but requires further optimization to enhance the experience for all players.
- “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.”
- “Very optimized and smooth, works like a charm!”
- “One of the most unoptimized, unpolished grindfest games I've ever played.”
- “The game suffers from frequent frame rate drops, stuttering, and long loading times, making it difficult to immerse yourself in the action.”
- “Do not buy this game until Namco says they've polished up glaring performance issues, but even then, be wary.”
monetization
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
35%
58%
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many players expressing frustration over the excessive reliance on microtransactions and costly DLCs, especially for a title they have already purchased. Users feel that the introduction of microtransactions detracts from the overall experience, making the game feel more like a money-making scheme than a genuine effort to provide enjoyable content. Overall, the monetization approach has left many fans disappointed, with calls for a more thoughtful and player-friendly model in future releases.
- “It's definitely worth a buy, given how the game has no microtransactions besides the DLCs that give you fun extra content like story, quests, and characters.”
- “Overall, I'm not a fighting game fan (but I do love the Dragon Ball franchise) and I thought this game is pretty sweet, has a huge amount of content, customization, support, DLC, no microtransactions and integrates your character from Xenoverse 1 into the story which I thought was pretty cool.”
- “Nothing but an unbalanced cash grab.”
- “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.”
emotional
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed responses from players, with some praising its ability to forge connections and evoke feelings, while others criticize the narrative for lacking depth and coherence. Many players report moments of genuine emotional impact, particularly during intense battles and character interactions, but also express frustration with repetitive cutscenes and a lackluster story. Overall, while the gameplay mechanics and visuals are well-received, the emotional engagement is often overshadowed by narrative shortcomings and technical issues.
- “Thank you to professor 鳥山明（とりやまあきら） for creating this excellent work, which has allowed friends around the world to establish emotional connections together.”
- “It's packed with intense battles, emotional moments, and unexpected twists that keep you on the edge of your seat.”
- “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.”
- “Really fun combat... boring story, way too much meaningless banter... stopped following the story pretty early on in the game.”
character development
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
47%
15%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while the character design and customization options are praised for their detail and fidelity to the anime aesthetic, many players feel that the actual character development is lacking, with most characters receiving little to no growth. This has led some to feel that the game prioritizes visual appeal over meaningful narrative progression, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The attention to detail in character design and environments was impeccable, making it feel like I was playing an episode of the anime itself.”
- “Visually, Xenoverse 2 is solid, with vibrant colors and character designs that faithfully replicate the anime’s aesthetic.”
- “Great character development and art.”
- “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
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The atmosphere of the game is described as a unique blend of classical and whimsical elements, with music that evokes a questioning mood, though opinions on the soundtrack's fit with the Dragon Ball universe are mixed. Weather effects influence gameplay and enhance the atmosphere, while the PvP experience offers a distinct feel compared to the main game. Overall, while the game succeeds in creating an engaging atmosphere, it falls short in content and graphical presentation, leading to a desire for improvements in both areas.
- “The game does a good job of creating atmosphere, but a middling job of creating content.”
- “They also show cutscenes which use the game engine, but are rendered with just the best graphics and no cartoonish process, which would totally be possible to run, and would make the game just look incredible as well as help with the atmosphere.”
- “The music is a fusion of Beethoven and cowbells, creating a harmonious atmosphere that makes you question everything, especially the existence of socks.”
- “The PvP of the game is an entirely different atmosphere than the main game.”
- “Also, the OST mainly sucks in my opinion, as the music doesn't match the DBZ/DBS atmosphere in the slightest, which music mods were able to fix, and now they can't.”

72%Critics’ scoreBased on 54 critic reviews

Buy DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2

48h Median play time

235h Average play time

19h Main story

90h Completionist

9-230h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 86 analyzed playthroughs

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77%8.5kreviews