Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is an action role-playing game developed by CyberConnect2 and published by Bandai Namco, released on January 17, 2020, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam. A Nintendo Switch release followed on September 24, 2021, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions arriving on January 12, 2023. The game presents an open-world interpretation of Dragon Ball Z, divided into large hub areas corresponding to each saga. These areas are accessible via flight or ground vehicles and populated with enemy fighters, friendly NPCs, and collectible resources. Players control Goku and his allies through the Saiyan, Frieza, Androids, and Majin Buu sagas, with the Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan Blue forms added through separate DLC expansions alongside Beerus, Whis, and Golden Frieza.

Combat is real-time and incorporates ki blasts, melee combos, and signature techniques drawn from the anime. A Training Grounds mode allows players to face specific characters in order to unlock and upgrade Super Attacks. Between sagas, Intermission periods offer free exploration, sub-stories, and training opportunities. The game also features a cooking system where raw ingredients gathered through hunting and fishing can be prepared at campfires or by NPC cooks, producing meals that permanently boost stats or provide temporary buffs. Chi-Chi becomes available as a full-course meal cook after the Saiyan Saga concludes.

Additional activities include a fishing minigame using either a tail or rod mechanic with timed button prompts, dinosaur and animal hunting across overworld zones, and Red Ribbon Army base destruction that yields item drops. The game incorporates original lore content including a new explanation for Animal-type Earthlings, background on Saiyan tail biology, and an original character named Bonyu designed by Akira Toriyama, whose contributions to this material are considered canon.

Kakarot adapts the four major sagas of Dragon Ball Z from start to finish, presenting each as a self-contained episode arc with named sub-chapters. The Saiyan Saga follows Goku and his son Gohan from Raditz's arrival through the defeat of Vegeta. The Frieza Saga covers the journey to Namek and the climactic battle across Frieza's multiple transformation stages. The Androids Saga addresses the arrival of Future Trunks, the emergence of the Android threat, and Cell's developmental stages. The Majin Buu Saga closes the main campaign with the Supreme Kai's warnings, the World Martial Arts Tournament, and the final battle against Kid Buu.

The narrative includes expanded scenes not present in the original anime or manga, developed specifically for the game. These additions fill in gaps between major battles and add context to side characters and world-building elements. The game also uses remixed excerpts of Shunsuke Kikuchi's original Japanese score from the Dragon Ball Z broadcast, preserving the sonic identity of the source material while presenting it in a new interactive context.

Kakarot represented the most comprehensive single-game adaptation of the Dragon Ball Z story since Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, distinguishing itself through RPG depth and open-world structure rather than fighting game competition. Akira Toriyama's direct involvement in creating the original character Bonyu and establishing new lore details elevated the game's canonical status within the franchise. The ongoing DLC program extended the experience past the base game with Battle of Gods and Resurrection F content, and the eventual new generation console release ensured that Kakarot remained a current offering across multiple hardware generations.