Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zerois one of the best games to come out of the franchise in many years.
It’s a time for fans to celebrate, and there’s never been a more opportune moment for newcomers to dip their toes in. If you can’t get enough ofSparking! Zero, here’s a selection of games you may enjoy alongside it.
I’ve kept other Dragon Ball entries to a minimum. Otherwise, I’d end up recommending the entire library. That said, a few games are too good to ignore, especially if you’re a newcomer.
8Dragon Ball FighterZ
DBZ With A Competitive Edge
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Dragon Ball FighterZis a stunning 2D fighting game. While the number of paywalled fighters is a little egregious for my taste, it is a superb title and even has acompetitive circuit at EVO.
Battles are intense and stylish, and special moves are cinematic spectacles illuminating the entire screen. Every character is beautifully animated, and the bold art style wouldn’t look out of place in an episode of the show.
There’s also arespectable amount of story contentcovering multiple arcs, including one that’s focused on the series' villains.
Dragon Ball FighterZis pretty different fromSparking! Zero, hence the low placement. That said, it’s the best way to experience Dragon Ball as a tournament fighter, and is arguably amongthe best anime fighterson the market.
Electric Wind God Fist’s Are Cool Too!
3D fighting games don’t come much more polished than theTekkenseries.Tekken 8is the latest game in the franchise, and it has a story that’smore “anime” than ever.
TheTekkenstory is ridiculous and cheesy, but even the grumpiest player will crack a smile. You play as multiple characters, and the tale focuses onJin Kazama’squest to take down Kazuya Mishima. There’s never a dull moment, and there areflashy cutscenes galore.
Tekken 8fully utilizes the third dimension, but combat is pretty different from anything inDragon Ball Z. However, the 3D Arenas add a welcome dynamic to fights, and if you’re even slightly interested in learning a competitive 3D fighting game, the series hasnever been more accessible.
6Soul Calibur VI
Soul Calibur VIis an addictive 3D fighter with a superb over-the-top roster andaddictive weapon-based combat.
Much likeTekken 8, combat is pretty different fromSparking! Zero, but it’s a slick fighting game all the same. The story is told in avisual novel style, and while it’s a little convoluted (most fighting games are), it’s entertaining from start to finish.
Soul Calibur VIis anexcellent game for newcomers, as you can execute all sorts of fancy moves by just mashing buttons. If you want to take it more seriously, there’s an ocean of depth for players willing to take the plunge.
If you really enjoy theSoul Caliburstory, I highly recommendSoul Calibur 3. The title has a ton of single-player content, but is a little hard to play nowadays as it’s a PlayStation 2 game.
5Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
Use Your Skills, Kupo!
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
Dissidia Final Fantasyis Square Enix’s bold attempt at a purely combat-focused entry to the franchise.
We’ve traded traditional RPG combat for live battles full of iconicspecial moves and crazy summons. Battles are held in large arenas akin toSparking! Zeroand cutscenes tell the story between fights.
Dissidiadoesn’t follow any mainlineFinal Fantasystory, but there’sheaps of fan serviceas the roster is crammed full of legendary heroes and villains.
The game has a bit of a learning curve, as there’s nothing quite like theDissidiacombat system. It’s unusual but intuitive once you get the hang of it, and it’s worth slogging through the rough early game.
10 Best Roguelites on Game Pass, Ranked
If the roguelike genre is too much, these lighter but awesome variants will meet you in the middle.
4Pokken Tournament DX
A Bold Move For The Series
Pokkén Tournament DX
ThePokémongames are known for their trademark turn-based combat. Still, we all know that system depicts epic live battles, and that’s precisely whatPokken Tournament DXbrings to the table.
Pokkenis an ambitious 3D arena fighter with asolid roster of 21 Pokémon. Battles are pretty unique as they have multiple phases. A Field Phase that is similar toSparking! Zero, and a Duel Phase which feels more akin to a traditional tournament fighter.
There’s awelcome level of complexityto combat, and it’s a real treat to see staple moves from the mainline games from a new perspective.
Pokkenis a little light on the story, but there’s a plot line involving Shadow Mewtwo and several leagues to conquer. Fortunately, the battle system is complex enough to have fun with even after the story concludes.
3Demon Slayer - Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hinokami Chronicles
A Top-Tier Anime Fighter
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles
Demon Slayeris a stylish fighting action game that retraces events from the anime.
3D combat is fast-paced, and all the iconic special moves from the show are beautifully rendered.Demon Slayeralso has aunique approach to combos. There’s a meter that will end any combo when it depletes, and it’s a clever way to ensure players on the receiving end can still fight back.
The big difference betweenDemon SlayerandSparking! Zerois story delivery. There are cutscenes between battles, but there are also some linear sections where you’re not fighting.
I don’t mind this approach as thestory is decent and well-voice-acted, but you may be disappointed if you just want to get your hands dirty.
2Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4
I know there’s a bit of tribalism when it comes to favorite animes, but there’s a fair bit of overlap between gameplay inSparking! Zeroand theNinja Stormseries.
Both games are 3D arena fighters that areeasy to pick up and play but are also laced with complexity. You’ll notice many similarities. Instant Transmission, for example, is similar to Substitutions in Naruto, where you can swap your character out for a wooden stump.
you’re able to also spam equipment that isn’t too different to basic Ki Blasts.Ninja Stormeven has a similar camera perspective as you circle your opponent, and many mechanics will feel familiar.
You can start with anyNinja Stormgame, but4 contains snippets of the story from all over the official timeline. Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is the most current game at the time of writing, and sadly,may be the last we seefor a while.
1Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
A Fan Favorite
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
If you’re into yourDragon Ballgames, it should be no surprise thatBudokai Tenkaichi 3is the top spot on this list.
Sparking! Zerois basicallyTenkaichi 4in all but name. Combat is extremely similar, andeverything you enjoy inSparking! Zerois front and centerinTenkaichi 3.
Many fans holdTenkaichi 3in high regard and declare itthe best DBZ game ever. It’s too early to say ifSparking! Zerowill take that mantle, but it’s a glowing endorsement.
As you may expect from a game from 2007,Tenkaichi 3is pretty difficult. It’s aged remarkably well, but you’ll need the strength of a Saiyan to conquer it.
