| DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | DLC & Pre-Order | Review |
| Release Date | |
|---|---|
| November 14, 2025 (Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2) October 11, 2024 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam) More Details |
|
| Genre | |
| Action, Adventure, Fighting, RPG | |
| Platforms | Price (MSRP) |
  
|
$69.99 |
| Developer | Publisher |
| Spike Chunsoft | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| Number of Players | Age Rating |
| 1-2 | ESRB T |
| Time to Finish | Cross Platform Play |
| 25 | No |
| Official Website | Official Website for DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO |
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Latest News
⚫︎ DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO finally launches on the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2 on November 14, 2025, available in Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate Editions for both systems.
⚫︎ Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO DLC ‘DAIMA Character Pack 2’ will launch on September 24 with six playable characters coming to the game: Goku (Mini) Super Saiyan 4, Goku (Daima) Super Saiyan 4, Vegeta (Daima) Super Saiyan 3, Majin Duu, Third Eye Gomah, and Giant Gomah.
⚫︎ DRAGON BALL: SPARKING! ZERO’s system trailer showcases gameplay and the motion controls feature on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. The game will be released on these consoles on November 14, 2025.
⚫︎ DRAGON BALL Games Battle Hour 2026 comes back to Los Angeles on 18 and 19 April 2026. The event will feature booth exhibits, merchandise sales, and stage events for DRAGON BALL GEKISHIN SQUADRA and DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO.
⚫︎ In Sparking Zero's Switch Version, You can use both your hands to unleash a Kamehameha. You can perform the attack motion in real life using Joy-Cons to trigger it in the game.
⚫︎ Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO DLC character Shallot announced The latest DLC character to be announced is none other than the main character of Dragon Ball Legends, Shallot. He will join the huge roster of characters on June 26, 2025.
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Overview
DRAGON BALL Sparking! ZERO is the latest iteration and direct successor of the Budokai Tenkaichi series. The game is developed by Spike Chunsoft and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, as they have since its initial release back in 2008. The game released on October 11, 2024 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. It eventually released on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 on November 14, 2025.
DRAGON BALL Sparking! ZERO is an arena battler that features characters from the widely popular anime and manga series Dragon Ball Z, including the latest installments, Dragon Ball Super and Dragon Ball Daima. Additionally, the game will also include characters from the series' movies, with the latest one, Dragon Ball Super: Super HERO, being scheduled as future content.
The game was first announced in March 2023, after the end of the Dragon Ball FighterZ World Tour finals. Following this announcement, the game periodically showcased more trailers for its roster. This ended up being a total of 182 playable characters on launch.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam |
PSN |
Xbox |
|||
| $69.99 | |||||
| eShop |
eShop |
||||
| $59.99 | |||||
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Gameplay
DRAGON BALL Sparking! ZERO is a 3D arena battler that lets players engage in fast-paced, high-action fighting gameplay that lets you choose from a total of 182 playable characters from the historic Dragon Ball franchise. The game features an episodic Story Mode centered around a character that summarizes key events in each saga. Additionally, the Story Mode also featured several What If? scenarios that range from a change of outcome or a completely different scenario than what fans expect entirely.
The game also has Custom Battles where players can create their own scenarios and episodes. It also features both online and offline versus modes, where you can play against real players or AI opponents to hone your skills and become the strongest fighter out there. Lastly, the game also includes several unlockable items, including music, title cards, and other cosmetics to show off your progress and your personal flair.
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Reviews
The Transformation Fans Have Been Waiting For More Than a Decade
Game8 gave DRAGON BALL Sparking! ZERO a 92/100, where the reviewer highlighted the use of the game's nostalgia, massive roster, limitless amount of content, and surprisingly deep gameplay as the main draws. Additionally, the reviewer also noted that DRAGON BALL Sparking! ZERO was the best version of what an arena battler should be and an amazing representation of the franchise, saying, " With a massive amount of playable characters, stunning visuals, and several scenarios to explore and complete, this is the best Dragon Ball game we’ve had in ages, and nothing comes close." Out of 74 Critic Reviews, DRAGON BALL Sparking! ZERO received a Generally Favorable Metascore of 81 and a User Score of 8.6 on Metacritic.
Despite the game's favorable score among fans and other critics, IGN gave the game a 7/10. They highlighted that the game was generally fun and a great reminder of the past, sometimes to a fault. The reviewer cited its archaic menus and remedial training tools weren't anything to be impressed about. One of the big issues that the reviewer faced was the game's difficulty, stating that it "more than once [crossed] the line between challenging and frustrating."
Gamespot also gave the game a decent score of 6/10, stating that the game's good points are the game's fast combat, variety of story episodes, and its stunning visuals. The negatives, however, outweighed the game's good points, as the reviewer pointed out its limited modes, lack of character identity, harsh difficulty spikes, and its Custom Battles don't offer enough creative freedom.
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Announcement Trailer
Announcement Trailer
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Trivia
⚫︎ DRAGON BALL Sparking! ZERO is the first game to feature the series' latest installments, Dragon Ball Super and Dragon Ball Daima.
⚫︎ This is the final game in the franchise to be involved with creator, Akira Toriyama, before his untimely death on March 1, 2024.
⚫︎ DRAGON BALL Sparking! ZERO is the first game in the Budokai Tenkaichi series to be included in Steam, as well as the first Dragon Ball game to be exclusive to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Similar Games
 |
Tekken 8 Action, Fighting |
 |
Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising Action, Fighting, RPG |
 |
Multiversus Action, Fighting, Platformer |
 |
ex_link:MARVEL vs CAPCOM Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics] Action, Fighting |
