Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is an action role-playing game that follows the main events of the Dragon Ball Z anime series across the Saiyan, Frieza, Cell, and Buu sagas. Players control Goku and other Z Fighters in a mix of exploration across divided hub areas and direct combat encounters. The experience emphasizes reliving key story moments alongside everyday activities in the Dragon Ball Z setting.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on advancing through the main story while taking time in intermission periods between major arcs. These intervals allow free movement through unlocked zones via flight or vehicles such as hover cars. Activities include fishing, eating meals for stat effects, training sessions, and collecting items like Z orbs. Side stories and mini-games such as baseball add variety during these breaks.
Combat shifts to arena-style battles against enemies and bosses. Basic attacks chain into combos, with options for ki blasts, charges, dashes, guards, and assigned super moves. Power levels increase through RPG progression, and major fights often pit the player against stronger opponents that require preparation or ally support. Environments feature destructible elements during large-scale encounters with iconic villains.
Exploration stays within story-gated hubs rather than a fully connected open world. Characters build relationships through interactions and shared activities, unlocking additional content tied to the cast of Dragon Ball Z figures.
Game Modes
The primary experience unfolds as a linear story campaign divided into the four main sagas. Intermissions provide structured downtime for optional exploration and tasks without advancing the central plot.
Training Grounds serves as a dedicated mode for practicing against various characters. This setup helps unlock or refine super attacks through repeated matches.
Difficulty settings include easy, normal, and hard options, with the latter two available from launch and adjustments added later. No competitive or co-operative multiplayer modes exist; the focus remains on single-player story and side content.
Story and Progression
Progression follows the established Dragon Ball Z timeline with added side quests that expand on character moments and lore questions. Players switch between Goku and supporting Z Fighters during different sections. Relationships develop through repeated training, meals, and joint activities, which tie into combat effectiveness and new story branches.
Power growth occurs via leveling and skill acquisition, directly impacting battle performance against escalating threats. The structure balances main saga events with lighter side content to maintain pacing across the full campaign length.
Is It Worth Playing?
The game suits fans seeking a narrative-driven retelling of Dragon Ball Z events in an action RPG format with interspersed life-simulation elements. Combat delivers straightforward arena fights that capture the series' scale, while exploration and side activities provide breaks from the main path.
Reception has been mixed to average on Xbox platforms, with praise for the visual presentation of characters and environments alongside criticism of repetitive combat rhythms. Sales have exceeded eight million copies worldwide. A next-generation update improved graphics and reduced load times for Xbox Series consoles.
Those who enjoy story-focused single-player experiences with light RPG progression and familiar Dragon Ball Z characters will find the most value. Players preferring deep customization or multiplayer competition may find the systems limited. The title remains available on Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles with the post-launch improvements intact.