Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is the Dragon Ball game where the hero is you: you create a warrior, pick their race and drop them into the series' history as a member of the Time Patrol. Developed by Dimps and published by Bandai Namco, it launched on October 25, 2016 for PS4 and Xbox One (October 27 on PC) as the sequel to Dragon Ball Xenoverse (2015). Nearly ten years on, it is still one of the most played games in the franchise, thanks to a stream of updates and DLC that ran for years.
What it is and how it plays
Xenoverse 2 blends a 3D arena fighter with a character-building RPG. You start by creating an avatar from five races: Earthlings, Saiyans, Namekians, Majins and Frieza's race, each with its own strengths, weaknesses and signature transformations (Saiyans can go Super Saiyan, Namekians can turn giant, Frieza's race can unlock a golden form).
Everything revolves around Conton City, the hub created by the Supreme Kai of Time and seven times larger than the first game's Toki Toki City. This is where you pick up missions, meet other players online and find mentors: characters from the series who teach you their techniques once you pass their trials. That way your warrior can learn signature moves from the cast and build a fully personal moveset.
Beyond the main story there are Parallel Quests, alternate scenarios you can play solo or with others online for rare rewards, plus race-specific missions.
The story
Two years after the first Xenoverse, Towa and Mira, two figures tied to the Demon Realm, start tampering with key moments in Dragon Ball history to harvest energy. Your job is to travel through time and set things right: help Goku against a powered-up Raditz, stop Turles from meddling in the Saiyan arc, take on Frieza and Cooler together on Namek and so on, all the way to the events of Dragon Ball Super. It is one giant what-if that revisits the arcs of Dragon Ball Z from a fresh angle, with detours into the movies.
DLC and updates
Support lasted a very long time. Paid packs usually add between two and five characters, along with missions, stages and techniques. Highlights include:
- Dragon Ball Super Packs 1-4: Universe 6 fighters and the Future Trunks arc, with Goku Black and Zamasu;
- Extra Packs and Ultra Packs: Ultra Instinct Goku, Jiren, Broly and Gogeta from the 2018 film, plus Majin Buu, Dabura and GT characters;
- Legendary Packs and Hero of Justice Packs: from Tournament of Power fighters to Beast Gohan and Orange Piccolo from Super Hero;
- Future Saga (four chapters) and the Dragon Ball Daima Pack, with the Daima versions of Super Saiyan 4 Goku and Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta.
Free updates arrived too, such as the Masters Pack, the Supreme Kai of Time as a playable character to celebrate 6 million copies sold, and the Legend Patrol Pack, which brings over the entire campaign of the first Xenoverse. In 2019 a free-to-play Lite version with part of the content was released.
Did you know? The Collector's Edition came with an artbook featuring an exclusive manga drawn by Toyotarō, the artist of the Dragon Ball Super manga, based on the game.
Platforms and reception
- PS4 and Xbox One: October 25, 2016; PC: October 27, 2016.
- Nintendo Switch: September 7, 2017 in Japan, September 22 worldwide.
- Stadia: December 17, 2019.
- PS5 and Xbox Series X/S: May 24, 2024, as a free upgrade for existing owners.
Critics received it positively, praising the visual style, sound, combat and fan service, while the most common complaints were imprecise controls, repetitive missions and how closely it resembles the first game. Players kept coming back: according to Bandai Namco it passed 10 million copies in 2023. In April 2026 the sequel, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3, was announced, again from Dimps, set in Age 1000 and due in 2027 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Who it is for
It is the game for anyone who always dreamed of stepping into the series with their own character, for players who enjoy grinding for rare skills and outfits, and for anyone looking for a Dragon Ball game to sink months into with friends online. If you want a rigorous fighting game, Dragon Ball FighterZ will serve you better.
Our take
Xenoverse 2 is not perfect: the controls are not always precise, missions start to blur together and newcomers today face a mountain of content to sort through. But it understood, before anyone else, something fans had always wanted: a place inside Dragon Ball. Building a Namekian who fights with Vegeta's techniques, or a Majin who fights like Goku, is a pleasure no other game in the series offers. After eight years of updates it has become a huge playable archive of the franchise, which is why it earns its place on our list of the best Dragon Ball games.