Dragon Ball is one of the most beloved franchises ever, with characters and stories spanning decades. The series features a multitude of anime shows, movies, games, manga, and fan releases. There’s so much content to go over, it's incredible. Often, video games under the Dragon Ball banner decide to venture forth and explore new stories.
While none of these stories are ‘canon,’ similar to the movies, some of these story modes have led to endearing alternate timelines that diehards would love to sink their teeth into. With that said, here are the best alternate timelines explored in Dragon Ball games so far.
7 Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2
This was a Nintendo DS exclusive 2D fighting game, and the sequel to Supersonic Warriors. The game features multiple "What If" scenarios based around the main and supporting cast of the franchise. Supersonic Warriors 2 also featured a tag-team battle mode that was well received.
The What If scenarios are based around the usual suspects like Goku and the other saiyans of course, but the likes of Krillin, Piccolo, and even many villains such as Dr. Gero and Captain Ginyu get a turn as well. Trunk’s story features his sparring match with Vegeta, which leads to a battle with Broly and his father. After Trunks beats Broly, he returns to the future and beats a new powered up Cell.
6 Dragon Ball: Fusions
Fusions follows two new characters: the player-created Tekka and Pinich who use the dragon balls to wish for a great martial arts tournament. Before the tournament, the characters must fight through Korin’s tower and gather recruits to be their teammates. The game also features characters from the GT timeline.
Fusions features tons of new playable characters, and makes use of many concepts involved with Dragon Ball. Some key inclusions are Goku’s mother Gine and the fusion between Future Trunks and Future Gohan, Gohanks. While the story isn’t that mature or fleshed out, It's still entertaining.
5 Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
Xenoverse 2 was the sequel to the hit Xenoverse game its set during the Dragon Ball Super continuity. This game again features the future warrior as they act at the behest of the Time Patrol.
Towa and Mira return and are aided by a multitude of villains including Turles, Lord Slug and Golden Frieza. Again, the premise is quite simple, but it is executed well enough.
4 Dragon Ball Xenoverse
Xenoverse was an online action game with destructible environments, customizable characters, a brand-new story, and MMORPG elements. The player character ‘Future Warrior’ is completely customizable, including what species they are and who their mentor is.
The future warrior is a member of the time patrol and travels through Dragon Ball mythos in an attempt to stop Towa and Mira from breaking time. The future warrior, with the help of the Supreme Kai and Future Trunks, essentially sets off on a quest to alter history. While the premise is fairly simple, the game executes it well. The story is solid, and the characters are enjoyable. It serves as a fun backdrop to the MMO features on spotlight.
3 Dragon Ball Shin Budokai
This PSP release follows the original timeline two years after Kid Buu is defeated. There’s a disruption in Hell as King Yemma has been sealed, and the dead are left free to do what they wish. This leads to the return of Frieza and Janemba, and then later, other villains from the series.
The game has multiple paths which can be unlocked and explored depending on the choices players make, adding to the story’s depth and making the game much more replayable. The climactic battle features a choice between the potara fusion of Vegito and the traditional fusion to use Gogeta to beat the final boss.
2 Dragon Ball FighterZ
This fighting game took the genre by storm. Not only were the visuals, art style, and animations fantastic, but the game also features impressive fighting game mechanics and a dedicated development team constantly balancing characters.
FighterZ also featured its own original story mode. Taking place after the Universe 6 arc in Dragon Ball Super, it follows a mysteriously revived Android 16, a completely new character, as well as Android 21 and the usual suspects. Android 21 is a brand-new female character for the series. She acts as a cunning yet humorous villain and has a unique skillset.
1 Dragon Ball Z Shin Budokai 2: Another Road
The hit sequel to Shin Budokai released on PSPS across the globe with promises of a brand-new story, and boy did this game deliver. Another Road features one of the best story modes in the franchise’s history. The story is captivating, the characters are fleshed out, and it manages cover completely new material.
Another Road follows Future Trunks in his alternate timeline. Trunks enters the world martial arts tournament to meet his timelines versions of Shin and Kabito and discovers that Majin Buu has arrived. After skirmishes with Dabura, Trunks realizes he can't fight Babidi and Co alone, and goes to seek aid from the Z Fighters. The game features a host of villains, including this timeline’s version of Cooler, who killed Frieza and now controls Broly. Janemba also makes an appearance. Another Road does a great job of fleshing out Future Trunks and providing players with multiple possible bad endings to each chapter as well.