Fighting alongside Goku in full-scale anime battles sounds like every Dragon Ball fan’s dream, and Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 lets me live that fantasy in a way few games ever have.
After spending dozens of hours building characters, grinding Parallel Quests, and throwing hands across timelines, one thing is obvious.
This game understands Dragon Ball at its core, even if it stumbles in a few frustrating places.
Conton City became my second home, my custom fighter felt like part of the universe, and the constant chase for new moves kept pulling me back long after the credits rolled.
I Knew This Game Was Special When Conton City Opened Up
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is not just another Dragon Ball fighting game to me. Creating my own Time Patroller and jumping into the Time Patrol immediately made me feel invested in the story.
Conton City is where everything starts and eventually, where I spent way more time than expected. It is massive, packed with NPCs, training spots, shops, and players running around in every possible transformation.
Choosing my race mattered more than I expected. Saiyans feel aggressive and explosive, Namekians feel tanky, and Frieza race characters reward speed and precision.
Each race pushes you toward a different playstyle, which kept character creation interesting even on repeat runs. Training under characters like Vegeta and Piccolo genuinely felt rewarding.
Xenoverse 2 Gave Me What No Other Dragon Ball Game Has
I have played most major Dragon Ball titles, and Xenoverse 2 fills a niche none of the others do. FighterZ delivers tight competitive mechanics.
Kakarot delivers a focused story retelling. Xenoverse 2 delivers freedom.
| Feature | Xenoverse 2 | FighterZ | Kakarot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genre | Fighting RPG | 2D Fighter | Action RPG |
| Character Creation | Yes | No | No |
| Hub World | Conton City | Lobby System | Open World |
| Combat Style | 3D Arena | 2D Side-View | 3D Adventure |
| Online Focus | High | High | Low |
| Story Approach | Original Timeline | Tournament Arc | Anime Retelling |
Watching History Break Apart Through Time Rifts Never Got Old
The time rift concept works far better than I expected. Instead of lazily replaying the anime, the game twists iconic moments just enough to keep things interesting.
Jumping into altered versions of Goku vs Frieza or Gohan vs Cell gave me that nostalgic hit while still forcing me to stay engaged.
Conton City acts as a solid hub between missions. It feels alive, even if some NPC dialogue gets repetitive. Accepting missions, flying across the city, and jumping through time rifts created a loop that stayed engaging longer than it should have.
The story itself is not groundbreaking, but it gives me a reason to keep pushing forward. More importantly, it makes my custom character feel like they actually belong in Dragon Ball history.
The Switch Version Changed How I Played the Game
I spent a good chunk of my time on the Switch version, and honestly, the portability changed how I played the game.
What worked for me
- Being able to play anywhere made grinding less painful
- All DLC content included felt generous
- Stable performance most of the time
What did not
- Handheld resolution takes a noticeable hit
- Frame drops during chaotic fights
- Longer load times compared to other platforms
The visuals are not as sharp in handheld mode, but the core gameplay holds up. For me, portability outweighed the performance compromises.
Platform note (quick and honest): If you want the cleanest performance and shortest load times, PC/PlayStation/Xbox is usually the better home. Switch is the “I can grind anywhere” version, great when that’s the priority.
The Core Gameplay Kept Me Hooked Despite the Flaws
The gameplay pulled me in because everything feeds into everything else. Every fight pushed me to tweak my build, swap moves, or rethink how I used stamina.
1. The First Beam Clash Literally Made Me Stop and Smile
The 3D arena combat is where Xenoverse 2 shines. Flying freely, teleporting behind enemies, and clashing beam attacks never stopped feeling cool. When combat clicks, it clicks hard.
Early on, button-mashing works. Later, that stops being true very quickly, and that’s where the combat gets way more satisfying.
Ki fuels supers and ultimates. If you spend it carelessly, you run dry at the worst time.
Stamina matters even more. It powers your escapes and defense, and once your stamina is gone, you’re basically in trouble.
Vanish/teleport escapes are life-saving, but they’re also a trap if you burn stamina too early.
Stamina breaks turn fights. Once you crack someone’s stamina, big damage windows open up.
Higher-level missions forced me to slow down, think, and actually learn the mechanics.
2. I Lost Hours Tweaking Stats and Outfits
This is where Xenoverse 2 completely won me over. Building a fighter from scratch, tweaking stats, choosing moves, and revealing transformations created a long-term attachment I did not expect.
Gear actually matters. I constantly found myself balancing stats versus appearance, and that decision-making added depth. I do wish there were more hairstyle options and cosmetic variety across races, but what is here is still strong enough to support dozens of hours of experimentation.
3. Parallel Quests Hooked Me In and Then Tested My Patience
Parallel Quests are both the best and worst part of the game. The variety of what-if scenarios kept things fresh early on, and teaming up with unexpected character combinations led to some genuinely fun moments.
That said, the RNG is brutal. Chasing a specific Ultimate Move sometimes meant running the same mission 20 or more times. When drops refused to cooperate, frustration set in fast.
4. Leveling Up Felt Incredible Until the Grind Hit Hard
Leveling up feels amazing at first. New moves, mentors, and transformations roll in at a steady pace. Eventually, the grind hits hard.
Higher levels demand serious time investment. Experience gains slow down, and rare drops become mandatory for meaningful upgrades. I pushed through because the payoff was worth it, but I can see casual players bouncing off here.
5. Online Matches Were Pure Chaos When They Worked
Online play kept me coming back long after finishing the story. Co-op Parallel Quests are chaotic fun, and raid events offer incentives that feel worthwhile.
PvP is more hit-or-miss. Matchmaking regularly throws new players against maxed-out veterans, and lag can ruin otherwise great fights. When connections are stable, PvP is thrilling. When they are not, it is frustrating.
6. The Visuals Nailed the Anime Look Even When Performance Slipped
The anime-styled presentation immediately felt right to me. Bright colors, thick outlines, and cel-shaded character models make every fight look like it was pulled straight from the show. Special attacks are the real standout.
Performance is mostly solid, but not flawless. On PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, the game runs smoothly at higher frame rates during most fights. Things start to wobble when multiple fighters, explosions, and transformations flood the screen.
Load times are longer on older hardware, and waiting between missions sometimes broke momentum, but not enough to push me away.
What Made Me Love Xenoverse 2 and What Drove Me Crazy
After spending a lot of time with Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, my feelings about it became very clear. The highs are genuinely high, and the lows can be hard to ignore.
| What Worked for Me | What Wore Me Down |
|---|---|
| Deep character creation system | Heavy RNG for rare items |
| Authentic Dragon Ball fan service | Repetitive mission structure |
| Active online community | Grinding is required at higher levels |
| Regular DLC and updates | Unbalanced PvP matchmaking |
| Transformations feel powerful | Connection issues in online modes |
| High replay value | Camera problems during fights |
| Training under iconic mentors | Limited single-player content |
My Honest Take After Finishing Xenoverse 2
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is far from perfect, but I kept coming back to it anyway.
I put up with the grind, the RNG, and the occasional performance hiccups because the game constantly made me feel like I belonged in the Dragon Ball world.
Watching my custom fighter grow stronger, unlocking transformations I actually had to work for, and jumping into chaotic battles never stopped being fun.
Xenoverse 2 is the best Dragon Ball game for players who want an MMO-lite grind, a hub world that feels alive, and a custom character that grows into a monster over time.
But for someone who hates repetition, RNG drop chasing, and messy online moments, it can absolutely wear them down.
Even when frustration set in, the payoff was usually worth it. This is not the most polished Dragon Ball game, but it is the one that made me feel most involved. For me, that mattered more than anything else.