Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

🔥 What is Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot for PC?

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is an open-world action RPG developed by CyberConnect2 and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, inspired by the legendary anime and manga series created by Akira Toriyama. Released for PC and consoles, it allows players to relive the complete saga of Dragon Ball Z, from the Saiyan invasion to the battle against Majin Buu, through a cinematic and interactive journey that mixes fast-paced combat with narrative storytelling. The game stands out for how it merges iconic anime moments with new scenes and small personal stories that expand the universe of Dragon Ball beyond pure combat.

At its core, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is about experiencing the life of Goku and other Z Fighters in a way no other game has done before. Players can not only fight legendary enemies like Vegeta, Frieza, Cell, and Buu but also explore the world, fish, cook, train, and interact with characters in side missions that reveal slices of daily life between epic battles. It’s both a nostalgic trip for long-time fans and an approachable introduction for those new to the series, blending anime spectacle with RPG systems that encourage exploration and character growth.

The structure of the game follows the major arcs of the anime almost episode by episode, but instead of passively watching them, the player lives them through high-energy fights and emotional cutscenes. What makes it special is the effort to recreate not just the action, but the tone and humor that defined Dragon Ball Z the quiet moments with Gohan, the training with Piccolo, and even the small, funny interactions that keep the world alive between battles.

👉 Features of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

Expansive Open World

The game offers several large, explorable regions filled with familiar locations such as West City, Capsule Corporation, Kami’s Lookout, and King Kai’s planet. Each zone hides collectibles, side quests, and training grounds where you can power up or unlock new abilities. Players can fly freely, collect orbs, hunt animals, and engage in mini-games that add variety to the experience.

Faithful Story Recreation

Every major saga is faithfully adapted, including the Saiyan Saga, Namek Saga, Android Saga, and Majin Buu Saga. The developers worked closely with the original animation studio to preserve the look, tone, and pacing of the anime. Dialogue scenes are voiced by the original Japanese and English cast, bringing authenticity and emotional continuity for fans.

RPG Progression and Skills

Leveling up, upgrading attacks, and unlocking transformations like Super Saiyan or Super Saiyan 3 are central to progression. You can assign skill points to enhance special techniques or improve stats, making each character evolve as you move through the story. The Community Board system, which involves placing characters on themed boards to gain bonuses, adds a layer of strategy outside combat.

Character Switching and Team Battles

During certain arcs, players control characters other than Goku, including Gohan, Vegeta, Piccolo, and Trunks. This rotation keeps gameplay fresh and lets you experience each fighter’s distinct abilities and transformations. Support attacks and team combos create dynamic, visually striking battles that stay true to the anime’s energy.

Additional Content and DLCs

Post-launch content expands the story beyond the original Z timeline. DLCs include encounters with Beerus and Whis from Dragon Ball Super, a retelling of the “Resurrection F” movie, and even a time-travel storyline from the Future Trunks arc. These expansions deepen the lore and let players reach new power levels like Super Saiyan God.

Gameplay

Exploration and World Building

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot’s gameplay alternates between intense combat and relaxed exploration across interconnected zones. Each area feels alive, filled with NPCs who offer small tasks, collectible Z-Orbs, and hidden treasures. Flying through the clouds or over the ocean while sensing power levels creates a constant feeling of movement and freedom, and short interactions with minor characters often reward you with new lore or items.

Combat Mechanics

Combat captures the fast, explosive energy of the anime while maintaining control and structure. You engage enemies in full 3D arenas, chaining melee combos, ki blasts, and signature attacks like the Kamehameha or Final Flash. Timing, dodging, and resource management play key roles, especially against bosses who require learning attack patterns and counters. The AI companions add tactical variety with support abilities that can interrupt enemy combos or boost your attacks.

Character Growth and Training

Between major fights, you can train in special arenas to unlock new moves or increase stats. Each training session offers specific challenges based on the character’s story, like Goku’s gravity chamber or Vegeta’s solo training. Cooking and eating meals prepared by Chi-Chi grant temporary or permanent stat boosts, making even everyday actions meaningful. Collecting Soul Emblems and arranging them on the Community Board allows deep customization for various bonuses.

Side Activities and Mini-Games

Aside from fighting, you can fish using Goku’s tail, race vehicles, collect Dragon Balls to summon Shenron, or take on side quests that often reintroduce forgotten characters from early Dragon Ball episodes. These smaller stories bring humor and warmth, helping balance the more intense narrative arcs with moments of lightness and nostalgia.

Graphics

Faithful Anime Visuals

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot perfectly replicates the colorful style of the anime through cel-shaded graphics that make battles look like they’ve been pulled straight from the screen. The art direction emphasizes fluid movement, glowing energy effects, and vibrant lighting, which together capture the exaggerated style that defines the series. Every transformation or special move bursts with color and explosive detail, turning fights into small visual spectacles.

Cinematic Presentation

Cutscenes use dynamic camera work to mirror the original anime’s pacing and angles, especially during iconic moments like Goku’s transformation into a Super Saiyan or the final beam struggle with Cell. The transitions between gameplay and cutscenes are almost seamless, keeping immersion high and allowing fights to flow naturally into storytelling moments without long interruptions.

Environmental Detail and Performance

Each area feels distinct, from the lush fields of Earth to the desolate wastelands of Planet Namek. Lighting effects enhance mood, especially during dramatic confrontations where the color palette shifts to emphasize intensity. On PC, the game runs smoothly with high frame rates and customizable graphics settings, making it accessible even on mid-range hardware while still looking strikingly authentic to the anime’s art style.

Pros and Cons

✔️ Pros

• Faithful recreation of the full Dragon Ball Z storyline with original voice actors
• Engaging combat that captures the speed and power of the anime
• Large, colorful open world filled with side quests and collectibles
• Strong RPG progression with skill trees, cooking bonuses, and Community Boards
• Visually stunning presentation that brings key anime moments to life

❌ Cons

• Some side quests feel repetitive and lack narrative depth
• Exploration zones can feel empty after main missions are completed
• Combat, while flashy, can become repetitive over long play sessions
• Limited enemy variety outside main story bosses