Akira Toriyama’s iconic Dragon Ball saga has left its mark not only on the world of anime and manga but significantly staked its claim in the realm of video games. Dragon Ball video games have surfaced almost since the inception of the manga, resulting in a whopping tally of over 100 titles since the 1980s. As anime video games soared in popularity, Dragon Ball held its own, managing to preserve the franchise during the anime and manga’s bleak periods. Today’s Dragon Ball video games, like Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, and the forthcoming Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, symbolize the immense strides made in the quality of these games.

Fantastic as these contemporary games maybe, there is a treasure trove of excellent Dragon Ball releases from yesteryears that most today have not even heard of, let alone played. These gems have faded into oblivion, partly because they’re incompatible with modern gaming hardware or just challenging to secure. However, plenty of these vintage games merit a digital face-lift, so a new generation of gamers can indulge in and appreciate their charm.

10 Dragon Ball Z: Shin Butoden – An Underappreciated Sega Saturn Surprise

November 17th, 1995, saw the genesis of Dragon Ball Z: Shin Butoden on the Sega Saturn, developed by Tose. In the same year, Tose released Ultimate Battle 22 on PlayStation, but despite the PlayStation’s popularity, Shin Butoden outclasses Ultimate Battle 22. Both games feature a roster of 22 characters, using the same character sprites, but Shin Butoden throws more action into the mix. This underrated classic from the ’90s is a hidden gem among Sega Saturn’s overlooked titles.

Shin Butoden displays magnificent 2D graphics and brilliant Tournament and Group Battle modes, thanks to the Sega Saturn’s proficient handling. More creativity is evident in the unique Mr. Satan mode, allowing players to place bets on matches and manipulate the outcome. The game deserves a revamped version, at least for its Mr. Satan mode, in a modern Dragon Ball combat game.

9 Dragon Ball: Revenge Of King Piccolo – A Beat-‘Em-Up Adventure Through The Original Series

Nintendo’s Wii shattered many gaming conventions, appealing to both casual and die-hard gamers. Although the system’s motion controls were often questionable, Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo strikes a harmonious balance. It’s quite delightful to use the Wiimote and Nunchuk to unleash Kamehamehas and thrash enemies to your heart’s content.

The game, released on July 23, 2009, by Media.Vision, covers the Red Ribbon Army and Demon King Piccolo Sagas. The gameplay invokes pleasurable beat-’em-up bliss in single-player mode, with a generous World Tournament Mode for healthy competition. A sprinkle of RPG elements in the game store, with available attack upgrades, collectibles, and other fringe benefits, adds another layer of engagement. Over time, unique Wii controls led this game to slip through cracks, but a modern makeover could revive this forgotten classic.

8 Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors & Supersonic Warriors 2 – Creative Story Modes Excel

Launched on March 26, 2004, Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors on Game Boy Advance and Supersonic Warriors 2 on Nintendo DS on November 20, 2005, by Cavia and Arc System Works, offer a fresh perspective on creative story modes. The comprehensive fighting game covers the entire Dragon Ball Z series and features a smart three-tiered combat system, allowing in-battle transformations. Innovative storytelling alongside character-based Story Modes makes for unique and challenging gameplay.

A follow-up release, Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2, leverages the superior gaming hardware of the Nintendo DS. It expands on its forerunner’s gameplay and introduces a thrilling three-on-three fighting style. A compilation remake of the Supersonic Warriors games would shed a more favorable light on these obscure handheld combat games.

7 Dragon Ball Z: Buyu Retsuden – 16-Bit Fighting Game Masterpiece

In the era of 16-bit gaming, Dragon Ball Z fighting games were a staple but predominantly on Super Nintendo with the Super Butoden trilogy. Dragon Ball Z: Buyu Retsuden, also known as Fierce Bravery Legend, mirrors Sega Genesis’ response to the Super Butoden games and gives quite the spectacle. Buyu Retsuden doesn’t flip the script, but it’s indeed a high-tier fighting game with a varied roster of 11 characters.

The game boasts of satisfying combat across nine different battle stages, including energy beam struggles and aerial battles. A modern remake, while not critical, could help today’s gamers appreciate a neatly tied Dragon Ball Z fighter. An HD pixel graphics version complete with voice acting and online capabilities would be nothing short of staggering.

6 Dragon Ball: Origins & Origins 2 – Dual-Screen & Stylus Controls for Success

The Dragon Ball: Origins series for Nintendo DS covers Dragon Ball’s Emperor Pilaf, Tournament, and Red Ribbon Army Sagas across two games. These titles rely heavily on stylus and older touch-screen controls but still make their mark due to their high quality. The second installment builds on the success of its predecessor by introducing an expanded roster of playable characters and a two-player co-op mode, perfect for the Switch.

A compelling Dragon Ball: Origins – The Complete Collection release could make Nintendo’s catalog of games even more irresistible to fans. No doubt, such a game would score winner status.

5 Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure – A Passionate Salute to the Original Series

Our number five entry is one of Game Boy Advance’s best-hidden secrets, Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure. The beat-’em-up’s immersive story mode spans a range of engaging levels, from basic combat and Nimbus-based flying to one-on-one tournament battles. Additional thrills hide among the game’s mini-games, hidden items, and an extensive roster of unlockable characters. A proper nod to the original Dragon Ball series, a high-definition modern makeover would surely impress everyone.

4 Dragon Ball Z: Super Butoden 2 – The Super Nintendo’s Perfect Formula

If you love classic 16-bit anime fighting games, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with the Super Nintendo’s iconic Dragon Ball Z: Super Butoden trilogy. Across the first two games, we get to play across Dragon Ball’s Piccolo Jr. Saga to the end of Dragon Ball Z’s Cell Games, plus a few movie villains like Broly, Bojack, and Zangya. The What If story mode in the second installment, plus a robust Tournament mode, sets new benchmarks for Nintendo fighting games.

Although Super Butoden 3 came out a year later, it felt like a step backward due to the lack of a story mode and a less creative roster. Super Butoden 2’s enduring popularity ensured its release on the Nintendo 3DS’ North American virtual console. Regrettably, wider audiences largely overlooked this surprising move.

3 Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimension – Reaching New Heights With Super Nintendo

The Super Nintendo’s Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimension stands out as a sui-generis fighter and a befitting farewell to the 16-bit era. The game delightfully covers the Frieza, Cell, and Buu Sagas, swapping characters and changing paths with each lost battle. The game is also particularly notable for its introduction of Vegito and having Kid Buu as a playable character.

Even after almost three decades, the game is fun to play and belongs in the same conversation as any modern Dragon Ball fighters. A remake that extends the roster but maintains the retro esthetics could be a winning formula.

2 Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors – Top Tier Turn-Based Card Battles

Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors was released for Game Boy Color in 2002. This antiquated piece of hardware doesn’t deter from delivering a memorable Dragon Ball game. It’s a turn-based strategy game that uses over 125 game cards for attack, techniques, support items, and the story is based on the entirety of Dragon Ball Z.

The game holds a unique spot among Dragon Ball games due to its card-based approach, which is why a resurgence on a modern gaming platform that boasts better than 8-bit graphics is justified. The game’s story mode contains 32 battles that dig into different Dragon Ball Z events, and the game’s replay value is high since a second run allows the use of villains – or any character or form – in the player’s deck.

1 Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku Trilogy – Setting Standards That’s Been Hard to Match

The Legacy of Goku trilogy – The Legacy of Goku, The Legacy of Goku II, and Buu’s Fury for the Game Boy Advance graced North American Dragon Ball fans. These action-RPG titles are not merely games but love letters to the franchise. They demonstrate the immense potential of a story-driven Dragon Ball game. The trilogy gameplay covers the entire Dragon Ball Z series and characters from some popular movies like Cooler’s Revenge, Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan, and Fusion Reborn.

Sadly, these top-tier games are currently locked away in the Game Boy Advance. However, if it was given the Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot treatment, a modern remake resembling the makeover could revive these gems for a new generation of fans. A collection of the three games for the Switch is also a deserving alternative.