8 Best games like Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is 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 of Sparking! Zero, here’s a selection of games you may enjoy alongside it.

8

Dragon Ball FighterZ

DBZ With A Competitive Edge

Dragon Ball FighterZ is 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 a competitive 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 a respectable amount of story content covering multiple arcs, including one that’s focused on the series’ villains.

Dragon Ball FighterZ is pretty different from Sparking! Zero, hence the low placement. That said, it’s the best way to experience Dragon Ball as a tournament fighter, and is arguably among the best anime fighters on the market.

7

Tekken 8

Electric Wind God Fist’s Are Cool Too!

3D fighting games don’t come much more polished than the Tekken series. Tekken 8 is the latest game in the franchise, and it has a story that’s more “anime” than ever.

The Tekken story is ridiculous and cheesy, but even the grumpiest player will crack a smile. You play as multiple characters, and the tale focuses on Jin Kazama’s quest to take down Kazuya Mishima. There’s never a dull moment, and there are flashy cutscenes galore.

Tekken 8 fully utilizes the third dimension, but combat is pretty different from anything in Dragon 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 has never been more accessible.

6

Soul Calibur VI

Ring Out!

Soul Calibur VI is an addictive 3D fighter with a superb over-the-top roster and addictive weapon-based combat.

Much like Tekken 8, combat is pretty different from Sparking! Zero, but it’s a slick fighting game all the same. The story is told in a visual novel style, and while it’s a little convoluted (most fighting games are), it’s entertaining from start to finish.

Soul Calibur VI is an excellent 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 the Soul Calibur story, I highly recommend Soul 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.

5

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy

Use Your Skills, Kupo!

Systems

Platform(s)

PSP
, PS Vita

Released

March 22, 2011

ESRB

t

Dissidia Final Fantasy is 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 iconic special moves and crazy summons. Battles are held in large arenas akin to Sparking! Zero and cutscenes tell the story between fights.

Dissidia doesn’t follow any mainline Final Fantasy story, but there’s heaps of fan service as 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 the Dissidia combat system. It’s unusual but intuitive once you get the hang of it, and it’s worth slogging through the rough early game.

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4

Pokken Tournament DX

A Bold Move For The Series

Systems

Platform(s)

Switch

Released

September 22, 2017

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Engine

Tekken game engine

ESRB

e

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The Pokémon games are known for their trademark turn-based combat. Still, we all know that system depicts epic live battles, and that’s precisely what Pokken Tournament DX brings to the table.

Pokken is an ambitious 3D arena fighter with a solid roster of 21 Pokémon. Battles are pretty unique as they have multiple phases. A Field Phase that is similar to Sparking! Zero, and a Duel Phase which feels more akin to a traditional tournament fighter.

There’s a welcome level of complexity to combat, and it’s a real treat to see staple moves from the mainline games from a new perspective.

Pokken is 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.

3

Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles

A Top-Tier Anime Fighter

Systems

Franchise

Demon Slayer

Released

October 16, 2021

Engine

Unreal Engine 4

ESRB

t

Metascore

70

Split Screen Orientation

N/A (Shared Screen)

Number of Players

1-2

Local Co-Op Support

1-2 Players

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Demon Slayer is 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 Slayer also has a unique 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 between Demon Slayer and Sparking! Zero is 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 the story is decent and well-voice-acted, but you may be disappointed if you just want to get your hands dirty.

2

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4

Rasengan!

I know there’s a bit of tribalism when it comes to favorite animes, but there’s a fair bit of overlap between gameplay in Sparking! Zero and the Ninja Storm series.

Both games are 3D arena fighters that are easy 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 can also spam equipment that isn’t too different to basic Ki Blasts. Ninja Storm even has a similar camera perspective as you circle your opponent, and many mechanics will feel familiar.

You can start with any Ninja Storm game, but 4 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 see for a while.

1

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3

A Fan Favorite

Systems

Released

November 9, 2007

Developer(s)

Spike

Publisher(s)

Namco Bandai
, Atari

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer

Engine

game engine

ESRB

e

How Long To Beat

12 Hours

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If you’re into your Dragon Ball games, it should be no surprise that Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is the top spot on this list.

Sparking! Zero is basically Tenkaichi 4 in all but name. Combat is extremely similar, and everything you enjoy in Sparking! Zero is front and center in Tenkaichi 3.

Many fans hold Tenkaichi 3 in high regard and declare it the best DBZ game ever. It’s too early to say if Sparking! Zero will take that mantle, but it’s a glowing endorsement.

As you may expect from a game from 2007, Tenkaichi 3 is pretty difficult. It’s aged remarkably well, but you’ll need the strength of a Saiyan to conquer it.