Dragon Ball Xenoverse is an action role-playing fighting game that puts players in control of a custom-created warrior who steps into the Dragon Ball timeline. Available on PS4 and PS5, the experience centers on building and leveling a fighter drawn from one of five races while taking part in time-altering missions that intersect with familiar story events.
Gameplay
Players begin by selecting a race and gender for their avatar, then customize appearance and abilities using a large selection of clothing, accessories, and skills. Training sessions with established Dragon Ball characters teach new techniques that can be equipped and upgraded through repeated use in battles. Combat takes place in open 3D arenas modeled after locations from the series, allowing movement on the ground, in the air, and even underwater. The core loop involves completing missions that require defeating enemies, protecting key figures, and altering outcomes to keep the original timeline intact.
Progression feels steady because each fight rewards experience points that raise stats and unlock additional moves. Offline play supports solo runs through the main story while online features let players team up or compete directly. The PS4 and PS5 versions maintain consistent performance with support for vibration feedback and high-definition resolutions up to 1080p.
Game Modes
Several distinct modes structure the experience. The main story follows a custom timeline where the player assists Trunks in correcting disruptions caused by new threats. Parallel Quests send the created warrior into altered versions of classic events, often with optional objectives that change rewards and difficulty. The Tenkaichi Budokai mode recreates the world tournament format in real time, complete with entrances and bracket-style matches that can be played locally or online.
Additional activities include free exploration of the central hub area and cooperative or versus encounters that draw from the broader roster. These modes blend single-player progression with opportunities for group play, giving variety without requiring constant online connection.
Multiplayer and Community Features
The central hub serves as a gathering point where up to 200 players can interact at once. From this location, groups form for joint missions or direct battles against one another. Online sessions support two to six participants, with full access to these features requiring PlayStation Plus membership. Local split-screen options on PS4 and PS5 allow two players to face off in the same room without an internet connection.
Global tournaments run periodically, letting fighters from different regions compete for rankings. The system encourages both cooperative time-travel missions and competitive one-on-one or team matches, creating a living space that remains active years after launch.
Is It Worth Playing?
Dragon Ball Xenoverse appeals most to fans who enjoy mixing character creation with Dragon Ball combat and story elements. The ability to insert a personal fighter into key events and experiment with race-specific abilities provides hours of replay value through different builds and quest paths. Players who prefer structured single-player campaigns alongside occasional online matches will find the balance satisfying.
Those seeking ongoing updates or large-scale raids may prefer newer entries in the series, yet the original still delivers a complete package of story missions, training systems, and multiplayer lobbies on current PlayStation hardware. Availability on PS5 through backward compatibility extends its lifespan for anyone who owns a compatible console and enjoys the core loop of building a warrior and rewriting Dragon Ball history.
