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The Best Dragon Ball Games for Playing as Saiyan Transformations (2026 Guide)

By Freedom251 Team · · 11 min read

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Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is the best overall choice for playing through a large roster of Saiyan forms and changing transformations during arena battles. Choose Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot if you want transformations tied to a story campaign, Dragon Ball XenoVerse 2 if you want a custom Saiyan avatar and years of downloadable content, and Dragon Ball FighterZ only if competitive 2.5D fighting matters more than switching between forms.

Quick answer: which Dragon Ball game fits your transformation goal?

These games treat Saiyan transformations in fundamentally different ways. Sparking! ZERO presents forms as part of a huge playable roster and lets arena matches build toward dramatic power changes. Kakarot makes transformations milestones in an authored retelling of Dragon Ball Z. XenoVerse 2 combines an original avatar, quests and downloadable content, while FighterZ focuses on precision competition rather than a transformation sandbox.

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Game Best for How transformations are used Mode Documented current detail
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO The broadest current transformation-focused roster Selectable character variants and in-battle power changes 3D arena fighter with Episode Battle 181 playable characters announced at launch in October 2024; a February 2025 corporate release described a 182-character roster
DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT Story-driven progression Forms unlock as part of the campaign and DLC, then function in action-RPG combat Action RPG Official DLC includes Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan (Blue); official news references Goku’s Super Saiyan 3 transformation
DRAGON BALL XenoVerse 2 Creating and developing a Saiyan avatar Avatar and downloadable-content systems cover multiple Super Saiyan eras Story missions, quests, avatar battles and DLC Official pages list content involving Super Saiyan 2, Super Saiyan 3, Super Saiyan God, Super Saiyan Blue and Super Saiyan 4 characters or forms
Dragon Ball FighterZ Tournament-style competitive fighting Forms are represented through the selected fighter and team system, not a broad transformation progression 2.5D fighting game Bandai Namco reports more than 10 million cumulative shipments

If your first question is “Which game has the most Super Saiyan forms?”, start with Sparking! ZERO for documented roster breadth. If “Can I make my own Saiyan?” is the deciding question, XenoVerse 2 is the clear fit. If you want to watch Goku’s transformations emerge through a campaign, Kakarot is the better match.

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1. DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO — best overall for transformation variety

Why it leads this list

Bandai Namco Entertainment America announced 181 playable characters at launch on October 8, 2024. A Bandai Namco corporate release dated February 4, 2025 described the game as having a 182-character roster. Those figures reflect different publisher communications and should not be treated as a promise that every edition or later update has an identical count. They do establish the game’s defining advantage: an unusually broad set of character and form variations in one arena fighter.

#1 Best Overall
DRAGON BALL FighterZ - Nintendo Switch
  • Nintendo Switch features: Simplified controls for single Joy-Con play. More features to be announced.
  • Spectacular fights: Experience aerial combos, destructible stages, and famous scenes from the Dragon Ball anime reproduced in 60 FPS
  • 3VS3 TAG/SUPPORT: Allows players to train and master more than one fighter/style, which brings deeper gameplay.
  • HIGH-END ANIME GRAPHICS: Using the power of the Unreal engine and the talented team at Arc System Works, DRAGON BALL FighterZ is a visual tour-de-force.
  • Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Cartoon violence, mild language, mild suggestive themes

The roster includes named Saiyan and related forms such as Super Saiyan 2, Ultra Instinct, Broly variants and Gogeta variants. In practical terms, you can select the version of a character that fits the matchup or use a battle’s transformation mechanics to escalate power. Bandai Namco’s corporate description specifically uses turning Super Saiyan to turn the tide of a battle as an example of the intended experience.

How transformation play works

Sparking! ZERO is built around 3D arena battles rather than a linear role-playing progression. That means forms are useful as tactical choices: a lower-form character can begin a match with one moveset and transform when the battle demands more power, while separate roster entries let you start directly as a later form. This is the closest of the four games to a playable catalog of Saiyan transformations.

Transformation availability is tied to the character and battle rules you select. Do not assume that every form can be freely swapped in every mode; roster variants, team settings and scenario rules determine what is available. The game’s appeal is the combination of those constraints with a very large cast, not an unrestricted character editor.

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Episode Battle and What If paths

Episode Battle gives Sparking! ZERO a story component without turning it into a conventional open-world RPG. Branching What If paths allow key encounters to develop differently from the expected anime sequence. This matters for transformation fans because the mode places forms inside alternate battle outcomes rather than treating them as a menu-only collection. You can therefore experience a transformation as part of a fight’s dramatic turning point and then replay the scenario to explore another branch.

Who should buy it?

  • Choose it if you want the largest documented current roster and many named forms in one package.
  • Choose it if you prefer 3D movement, aerial combat and dramatic arena presentation to questing and equipment management.
  • Choose it if branching battle scenarios are more appealing than a strictly chronological retelling.
  • Skip it if your priority is building one original Saiyan avatar with a persistent identity; XenoVerse 2 is designed for that instead.

2. DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT — best for a transformation-centered story

A campaign where forms have narrative meaning

The official Kakarot site presents the game as an action RPG retelling Dragon Ball Z. You follow the major story arcs, explore environments, complete battles and side activities, and develop the protagonists through an authored progression. Transformations therefore arrive as part of the story’s escalation rather than as a collection of disconnected roster entries.

That structure makes Kakarot the strongest answer to “Is Kakarot better for the story than Sparking! ZERO?” Yes, when “better” means a continuous campaign with context for why a form appears. Sparking! ZERO offers more immediate variety and branching battles; Kakarot gives each major transformation a place in the sequence of events.

Rank #2
Sale
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO PS5
  • Engage in heart-pounding, high-speed 3D battles that stay true to the anime and video game series
  • This game contains breathtaking visuals and authentic combat moves like beam clashes, rush attacks, and movements too quick for the eyes to see
  • Step into an arena that reacts to your every action including planet-razing ultimate attacks
  • Watch the environment respond with stunning realism, and leave a trail of destruction in your wake as you battle to your heart’s content

Documented forms and DLC

Official Kakarot downloadable content adds Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan, commonly called Blue. The official site’s Whis training description explains that players awaken Super Saiyan God and then test their strength against Beerus in a Boss Battle Episode. Official news also references Goku’s Super Saiyan 3 transformation.

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These additions mean the base campaign and DLC should be considered separately when comparing form coverage. Your available transformations depend on which downloadable episodes and edition you own. Check the contents of the specific release before assuming that every post-campaign form is included.

What combat feels like

Kakarot’s battles are real-time action encounters against story enemies and optional opponents. A transformation is valuable because it changes how you approach those encounters, but the game is not designed as a head-to-head laboratory for testing every form against every other form. Progression, resources and the surrounding mission determine when a form becomes relevant.

Who should buy it?

  • Choose it if you want to relive Dragon Ball Z while unlocking forms in a recognizable narrative order.
  • Choose it if exploration, side missions and role-playing progression matter as much as the fights.
  • Choose it if Super Saiyan God, Blue and Super Saiyan 3 are important and you are willing to account for DLC.
  • Skip it if your main goal is instant access to a huge selection of alternate fighters for competitive matchups.

3. DRAGON BALL XenoVerse 2 — best for creating a Saiyan avatar

The custom-character advantage

XenoVerse 2 is the best choice for readers asking, “Which Dragon Ball game lets me create a Saiyan?” Its central appeal is an original avatar that participates in story missions, battles and online or quest-based activities. Instead of controlling only established heroes, you develop a character whose appearance, abilities and progression are your own.

The official XenoVerse pages list transformation-related content involving Super Saiyan 2, Super Saiyan 3, Super Saiyan God, Super Saiyan Blue and Super Saiyan 4 characters or forms. The exact way each form is obtained can depend on the relevant quest, update or downloadable-content package. Treat the list as evidence of the game’s transformation range, not as a guarantee that every form is available to a newly created avatar without prerequisites.

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Why the DLC runway matters

XenoVerse 2 has continued to receive downloadable content over a long lifespan. That is useful if you want a game that can expand with new missions, characters and transformation-related material. It also makes edition checking more important: a standard release and a bundle with several DLC packs can provide very different starting libraries.

Rank #3
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot + A New Power Awakes Set - Nintendo Switch
  • Beyond the epic battles, experience life in the DRAGON BALL Z world as you fight, fish, eat, and train with Goku
  • Explore new areas and adventures as you advance through the story and form powerful bonds with other heroes from the DRAGON BALL Z universe
  • Experience the story of DRAGON BALL Z from epic events to light-hearted side quests, including never-before-seen story moments that answer some burning questions of Dragon Ball lore for the first time
  • Play through iconic DRAGON BALL Z battles on a scale unlike any other
  • Includes “A New Power Awakens Set” which contains New Power Awakens Part 1 and New Power Awakens Part 2 DLCs

Before buying, identify whether the product includes the add-on packs you care about, whether the packs are sold separately on your platform and whether your region uses the same bundle names. The official store lists products for PlayStation 5, Xbox, Switch and Steam where offered, but platform catalogs and bundle contents can change.

Avatar transformations versus roster forms

XenoVerse 2 mixes two experiences. Your avatar can progress through its own skill and transformation systems, while established Dragon Ball characters appear in missions and downloadable content. Those are not interchangeable: seeing a Super Saiyan 4 character in a DLC roster does not automatically mean your avatar can use that exact form under the same conditions. Read the individual pack description and in-game unlock requirements.

Who should buy it?

  • Choose it if character creation and a long-term avatar are more important than recreating every anime scene.
  • Choose it if you enjoy quests, training and downloadable-content expansion.
  • Choose it if you want to investigate several Super Saiyan eras over time.
  • Skip it if you want the cleanest, most focused competitive fighting rules; FighterZ is built for that.

4. Dragon Ball FighterZ — best for competitive 2.5D fighting

What it prioritizes

Bandai Namco classifies FighterZ as a 2.5D fighting game. Its combat is built around precise movement, timing, assists, team composition and tournament-style matchups. Bandai Namco reports more than 10 million cumulative shipments, a sign of substantial long-term reach, but sales do not change the game’s basic design: it is a competitive fighter first.

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FighterZ is not the right purchase if you want to transform repeatedly through a story or collect every Saiyan stage in one continuous progression. Its character selection and team systems represent different fighters and forms within a competitive framework. You choose the version that fits your team rather than developing one hero through an action-RPG campaign.

When it still makes sense for Saiyan fans

Choose FighterZ when animation quality, responsive controls and learning a tournament-oriented fighting system matter more than transformation breadth. It is particularly suitable for players who want local or online matches with clear competitive rules. The trade-off is that a match will not provide the same transformation journey as Sparking! ZERO or Kakarot.

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Which game has the most Super Saiyan forms?

Based on the documented publisher information, Sparking! ZERO has the broadest current roster for transformation-focused play. Its launch announcement listed 181 playable characters, and a later corporate release described 182 characters, including named forms such as Super Saiyan 2, Ultra Instinct, Broly variants and Gogeta variants.

Rank #4
Dragon Ball FighterZ Nintendo Switch
  • Nintendo Switch Exclusive Features:
  • Simplified controls for single Joy Con play.
  • More features to be revealed soon.
  • Features:
  • Spectacular Fights: Experience aerial combos, destructible stages and famous scenes from the Dragon Ball anime reproduced in 60fps..3vs3 Tag/Support: Allows players to train and master more than one fighter/style, which brings deeper gameplay..High End Anime Graphics: Using the power of the Unreal Engine and the talented team at Arc System Works, Dragon Ball FighterZ is a visual tour de force..No game card included(Downloadale Code).No game card is included

XenoVerse 2 may be the better answer for a player who specifically wants to develop a custom Saiyan across several eras, because its official content listings cover Super Saiyan 2, Super Saiyan 3, Super Saiyan God, Super Saiyan Blue and Super Saiyan 4-related content. The comparison is not simply a count: Sparking! ZERO emphasizes how many established fighters and variants you can select, while XenoVerse 2 emphasizes what your avatar can become through progression and DLC.

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Can you transform during fights?

Game Answer Important qualification
Sparking! ZERO Yes, transformation is part of the arena experience. Available forms depend on the selected character, roster variant and battle rules.
Kakarot Yes, forms function as combat states after they are introduced through progression or DLC. Unlock timing follows the campaign and the episodes you own.
XenoVerse 2 Transformation-related avatar and character content is central to the game. Specific forms require the relevant progression, quest or DLC; not every listed form is automatically available to every avatar.
FighterZ Not as a broad, free-form transformation progression. The competitive roster and team system represent different fighters or forms within matches.

If the feeling you want is a mid-match power spike that visibly changes the fight, Sparking! ZERO is the safest recommendation. If the feeling you want is earning a form after a story event, Kakarot is more satisfying. XenoVerse 2 sits between those ideas by making your avatar’s long-term development the focus.

Kakarot versus Sparking! ZERO for story players

Choose Kakarot for continuity

Kakarot is structured as one action-RPG retelling of Dragon Ball Z. Missions, exploration and character growth support a chronological experience, and its DLC extends that progression with God and Blue content. It is the better choice when you want to understand where a transformation belongs in the plot.

Choose Sparking! ZERO for replayable alternatives

Sparking! ZERO’s Episode Battle mode offers branching What If paths. You can revisit major encounters, alter outcomes and use a large roster of forms in a battle-focused format. It provides story flavor, but its primary loop remains arena combat rather than open-world role-playing.

There is no universal winner between them. Kakarot answers “What happens next in the story?” Sparking! ZERO answers “What happens if I use this form and change the matchup?”

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Which Dragon Ball game should you buy on PS5?

Best PS5 pick for arena transformations

Buy Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO PS5 if your priority is the widest documented roster and transformation-driven 3D battles. Its 181-character launch announcement and later 182-character corporate description make it the strongest current choice for variety.

Best PS5 pick for story

Buy Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot PS5 if you want an action-RPG campaign and are comfortable checking which DLC episodes are included. The official store lists physical editions of both games. Physical inventory, edition names and regional availability can change, so confirm the exact contents and current stock at the time of purchase.

When to consider the alternatives

Choose XenoVerse 2 on PS5 when your priority is a custom Saiyan and a large DLC catalog. Choose FighterZ when competitive 2.5D matches are the reason you are buying, not transformation collection. The official store also lists Dragon Ball products for Xbox, Switch and Steam where offered; availability is product- and region-specific.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 2
Bestseller No. 3
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot + A New Power Awakes Set - Nintendo Switch
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot + A New Power Awakes Set - Nintendo Switch
Play through iconic DRAGON BALL Z battles on a scale unlike any other
$33.27
Bestseller No. 4
Dragon Ball FighterZ Nintendo Switch
Dragon Ball FighterZ Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch Exclusive Features:; Simplified controls for single Joy Con play.; More features to be revealed soon.
$24.93

A practical buying checklist

  1. Define your transformation fantasy. Pick a large established roster, a story-unlocked form, a custom avatar or a competitive team before comparing editions.
  2. Check the mode first. Sparking! ZERO is a 3D arena fighter, Kakarot an action RPG, XenoVerse 2 a quest-and-avatar game, and FighterZ a 2.5D competitive fighter.
  3. Separate base content from DLC. Kakarot’s God and Blue material is downloadable content, and XenoVerse 2’s form coverage varies with packs and updates.
  4. Verify the platform product. Confirm that the listing is for your console or PC storefront and that the edition includes the episodes or packs you want.
  5. Check volatile details immediately before purchase. Physical stock, bundle names, regional catalogs and DLC availability can change after publisher announcements.

Final recommendation by player type

If you are this player… Choose Reason
“I want as many recognizable Saiyan forms as possible.” Sparking! ZERO Largest documented current roster and transformation-focused arena design.
“I want to experience forms through the Dragon Ball Z story.” Kakarot Authored action-RPG progression with God, Blue and Super Saiyan 3 references.
“I want to create my own Saiyan.” XenoVerse 2 Avatar creation, progression and extensive transformation-related DLC.
“I want the deepest competitive fighting system.” FighterZ 2.5D tournament-oriented combat, even though transformation variety is not its focus.
“I am buying one game for PS5.” Sparking! ZERO or Kakarot Sparking! ZERO for arena variety; Kakarot for a story campaign.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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Dragon BallFighterZKakarotPS5 gamesSaiyan transformationsSparking! ZEROXenoverse 2

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