The Marvel Snap Developer Might Be Working on a Dragon Ball Game

Second Dinner, the studio behind one of the most successful mobile card games in recent memory, appears to be cooking up something new. And based on a growing pile of evidence from job listings, investor statements, and some very suspicious word choices, that something might be a Dragon Ball game. The studio raised $100 million in a Series B funding round back in January 2024, led by Griffin Gaming Partners with NetEase staying on as a minority investor. At the time, co-founder and chief development officer Ben Brode said the team had "a couple other things cookin'" beyond Marvel Snap, adding that "they're super super fun. I put two 'super's because it's possible they are too fun." That phrasing raised a few eyebrows at the time, but it's taken on a whole new meaning in the months since.

The Job Postings Tell a Story

Second Dinner began hiring for an unannounced project as early as September 2023. A lead product manager listing described the game as being at "the very beginning" of development and already "real real real fun." But the real clues came later. Multiple job postings for the unannounced title referenced wanting candidates who are "into anime and otaku culture." Other listings repeatedly used the phrases "SUPER SUPER" and "ULTRA FUN" in their descriptions. For Dragon Ball fans, those words carry some very specific weight.

So why Dragon Ball specifically, and not another anime franchise? The answer comes down to a few key details that Second Dinner themselves have shared about the project. First, internal descriptions refer to the IP as "one of the biggest and most beloved IPs on Earth" with "cross-generational appeal." That narrows the field considerably. While franchises like One Piece and Naruto are massive, Dragon Ball has a unique position as a series that has maintained mainstream popularity across multiple generations since 1984. Your parents might know Goku. Their parents might too. That kind of reach is rare.

The Mobile Gaming Factor

Second, Dragon Ball's mobile gaming track record is enormous. Dokkan Battle has generated over $3 billion in lifetime revenue, making it one of the highest-grossing mobile games ever. Dragon Ball Legends has also performed strongly. There is a proven, spending audience for Dragon Ball on mobile, which lines up perfectly with Second Dinner's expertise in free-to-play mobile game design. Third, the game is reportedly a match-3 title. That's a completely different genre from anything currently in the Dragon Ball gaming lineup. Dokkan Battle is a bubble-popping strategy RPG. Legends is a real-time PvP fighter. A match-3 game with Dragon Ball characters, flashy animations, and the kind of polished collection mechanics that made Marvel Snap so addictive? That fills a gap nobody even realized was there. The timing also lines up with Dragon Ball's 40th anniversary celebration, which culminated in January 2026 with massive announcements including a new anime series, a remake, new game reveals, and the unveiling of Project Age 1000. Bandai Namco and Toei are clearly pushing Dragon Ball harder than they have in years. A premium mobile title from a proven Western studio would fit right into that momentum.

Nothing is confirmed yet. Second Dinner has not officially announced the game, the IP, or any partnership with Bandai Namco or Toei Animation. Everything above is based on publicly available job postings, investor communications, and community analysis. But the breadcrumbs are hard to ignore.

What Would This Actually Look Like?

If the rumors are accurate, imagine a game built on Second Dinner's core strengths: tight session-based gameplay, satisfying collection loops, and a presentation style that makes every card pull feel like a moment. Now replace Marvel heroes with Saiyans, Namekians, and androids. Quick matches where you chain combos through match-3 mechanics while Goku fires off a Kamehameha as a finishing move. Character collection spanning every era of Dragon Ball, from the original series through Super and Daima. The game has reportedly been in development since 2023, which means an announcement could come at any time. With Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour scheduled for April 18 and 19 in the United States, that event would be a natural stage for a reveal, though it's equally possible Second Dinner would announce it on their own terms. For now, all fans can do is watch and wait. But if Second Dinner really is bringing their Marvel Snap magic to Dragon Ball, this could end up being one of the biggest mobile game announcements of the year. The studio has already proven they can take a beloved IP and build something that millions of people can't put down. Dragon Ball might be next.