Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 closed out Spike's trilogy of games on Wii, which, instead of classic 2D fighting on a single plane, went the route of free movement in large 3D arenas. Characters darted through the air at lightning speed, destroyed the surrounding scenery, and unleashed giant energy attacks straight out of the anime source material. The third installment brought the largest fighter roster in the series' history to date, with hundreds of characters including the most obscure side villains and movie specials.

The core of the game remains a combat system built around smoothly switching between attack, defense, and teleporting behind the opponent, complemented by flashy finishing techniques capable of deciding an entire match in a single move. The Dragon History campaign retells key moments from the series spanning Dragon Ball through Z to the films, and also offers alternative "what if" scenarios that reward fans for their knowledge of the universe. The game also benefits from an extensive roster of battle arenas inspired by specific locations from the anime, ranging from desert plains to space stations, and players can also compete two-player against a friend on one screen.

Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is still regarded by Dragon Ball fans today as the peak of arena fighting games based on the license, not least because no later installment ever offered a similarly large scope of content. For players who grew up on the anime, it's a nostalgic ride full of fan service. Why play it: Because it's the most extensive and most fan-focused Dragon Ball title ever released on a single console.