Best Playable Characters In DBZ: Kakarot

Players who wanted to play through the entirety of Dragon Ball Z‘s riveting story in the most definitive manner possible can now enjoy the same with Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. The game is a love letter to this beloved anime series and features a massive amount of content that takes players from the emergence of Raditz to the final fight against Kid Buu. A big draw of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is the fact that multiple playable characters can be tried out in the game. All of these characters are beloved fan favorites and are quite a blast to try out in battle.

The DLCs for this game have been excellent in their own right, allowing players to check out new forms, intense battles, and whole new DBZ: Kakarot playable characters to boot. The game is a love letter to all fans of Dragon Ball, and this can be seen in the many DBZ: Kakarot characters that players can control in this amazing game. While the fun factor of controlling each fighter in the game varies quite a bit, players can rest assured that each battle-hardened veteran does a great job of justifying their inclusion in the game, making the game pretty engaging for the majority of its runtime.

Updated on January 5, 2025 by Ritwik Mitra: Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is one of the best video games for players who want to play an active role in the series’ epic story. Players unlock several transformations and take out numerous threats as they save the world time and time again from maniacal tyrants who have a thirst for death and destruction. Throughout the main story and its many DLCs, players will get to control several DBZ Kakarot playable characters who are pretty powerful and bring pain to their enemies as they use a wealth of unique abilities along with awe-inspiring transformations to turn the tide of battle in a flash.

17

Goten

Can’t Be Controlled In Battle, Is Only Playable During A Segment Before The 25th World Martial Arts Tournament

• Forms Available: None
• Playable In: Base Game

It’s surprising that the game even allows players to control Goten in the first place, even though Goku’s youngest child barely has a role to play in the major battles of the series outside of his fusion with Trunks. Perhaps this is why players can only control Goten for the briefest of instances.

He can only be moved around during the start of the 25th World Martial Arts Tournament and doesn’t participate in any battles. Still, it’s quite entertaining for fans of the series to control Goten regardless, even though the lack of any participation in any fights makes him the least interesting DBZ Kakarot playable character.

16

Kid Goku

Present At The Start Of The DLC Documenting The 23rd World Tournament

• Forms Available: None
• Playable In: Chaos at the World Tournament

The 23rd World Tournament is an interesting piece of DLC for Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, taking the combat of the series and adding a fresh spin to it by removing the concept of flight altogether. This leads to grounded battles against powerful opponents, with players having to dodge more efficiently and time their combos so that they don’t get taken out by powerful attacks. This DLC starts on a high note, with players controlling Kid Goku during his confrontation against the Great Demon King Piccolo.

It’s a great introduction to how grounded combat works, with players slowly learning the ropes as Kid Goku and fighting against this powerful opponent, setting the stage for the arc that this DLC covers. Kid Goku is pretty fun to control in battle, and it’s a shame that players only get to play as him in this solitary encounter before the time skip that leads to the introduction of Teen Goku.

15

Pan

Goku’s Granddaughter Who Can Be Controlled In The World Tournament DLC

• Forms Available: None
• Playable In: Chaos at the World Tournament

Pan is a fun character in Dragon Ball Z who was finally introduced in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero as a valuable member of the main cast. She is partly the reason why Gohan finally gets serious about fighting, going toe-to-toe with the Red Ribbon Army, and unlocking a new form in the process.

In one of the newer Kakarot DLCs, players get to control this character during the 28th World Martial Arts Tournament, even if this moment is as brief as they come. Still, that doesn’t take away from how fun it is to control Goku’s powerful granddaughter for a bit, making her one of the most novel DBZ Kakarot playable characters fans will have a great time with.

14

Kid Gohan

Gohan’s Playable Form During The Early Story Arcs Of Dragon Ball Z

• Forms Available: None
• Playable In: Base Game

Out of all the Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot playable characters, Gohan is the only character who grows throughout the entire series. The earliest iteration of this character might not be all that powerful, but he’s still fun to play with at times. The fact that players don’t need to spend too much time with this character also makes time with Kid Gohan special.

Using the powers of this young fledgling Gohan in both the Saiyan and Frieza Saga makes for an entertaining time as players control this legendary character before he reaches his true potential. His powers are still quite fun to use, even though they might be somewhat underdeveloped.

13

Kid Vegeta

Playable In A Side Story Added In The Bardock DLC

• Forms Available: None
• Playable In: Bardock – Alone Against Fate

Bardock – Alone Against Fate is a great piece of DLC that players will have a great time with. Given Goku’s central importance as a character, it’s only a given that players would like the idea of playing as his father and witnessing his story as a Saiyan warrior. However, while Bardock’s story is pretty great in its own right, the fourth DLC for DBZ: Kakarot also features a side story where players can play as Kid Vegeta as well!

For what it’s worth, Kid Vegeta’s story is pretty short and doesn’t have too many highlights to speak of. While the background of this character and his reaction to the destruction of Planet Vegeta is pretty interesting to witness, this side story certainly doesn’t stick around and just gives a taste of what Kid Vegeta’s powers were really like.

12

Tien Shinhan

A DLC Lets Players Control This Character During Some Pivotal Dragon Ball Events

• Forms Available: None
• Playable In: Chaos at the World Tournament

Tien is a character who initially comes across as a villain who stands in Goku’s way before both characters earn each other’s respect and become steadfast friends. This character was extremely powerful when he was introduced, and it’s a shame to see that the current iteration of Tien is nowhere near as important as he used to be, even if he did play a decent role during the Tournament of Power.

The fact that players could control this character during the 5th DLC for Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot was a pleasant surprise for many players, who cursed his absence in the base game. Controlling him using the new grounded combat system makes for a great time, even though he doesn’t stick around for too long in the game.

11

Piccolo

The Iconic Namekian Who Holds His Own For Most Of Dragon Ball Z

• Forms Available: True Namekian Fusion
• Playable In: Base Game

The beloved Namekian of the series is a joy to control during the first half of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. While people can argue that Piccolo’s relevance to the plot wanes over time, there are still times when he proves his usefulness in the series.

A great example of this is an epic battle for the ages against Android 17 when Piccolo fuses with Kami to get a massive power boost. It’s a great battle in Dragon Ball Z and is replicated fairly well in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. Piccolo has other moments where he shines, and he’s a fun character to control. However, there’s only so far that Piccolo can reach in terms of power before the Saiyans end up taking center stage.

10

Teen Goku

A Focal Character Players Control In The 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament

• Forms Available: None
• Playable In: Chaos at the World Tournament

The events of the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament serve as the final arc of the original Dragon Ball show, and fans were more than happy to see this story be adapted in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. The tournament ends with a confrontation between Piccolo Jr. and Goku in a battle for the ages.

The fact that this story allows players to control Teen Goku makes for a great time, and players have to get used to the fact that they can’t fly around freely like they could as this character’s adult variant. This adds a fresh spin to things, and players will love experiencing this rich history of the Dragon Ball franchise firsthand.

9

Bardock

Goku’s Father And A Fun Character To Control In His DLC

• Forms Available: Spirit of the Warrior Race
• Playable In: Bardock – Alone Against Fate

Bardock is Goku’s father and one of the most interesting characters in the show. The OVA that builds on his backstory is pretty interesting, giving a glimpse of Bardock’s personality and how he decided to stand up against Frieza after realizing that this tyrant would destroy Planet Vegeta in its entirety. Players who loved this side story can now play through the same courtesy of a new piece of DLC released for Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, aptly named Bardock – Alone Against Fate.

Bardock is a ton of fun to control, with his special moves being pretty flashy despite lacking any Super Saiyan boosts. While he does get infused with the Spirit of the Warrior Race throughout the story, this is more to add some variety to his gameplay than anything else. That being said, controlling Bardock is still pretty novel in its own right and a blast for fans of the series.

8

Gotenks

The Fusion Of Goten And Trunks Is As Powerful As They Come

• Forms Available: Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 3
• Playable In: Base Game

The fusion of Goten and Trunks makes for a powerful fighter who truly shines during the Buu Saga. Gotenks might be a goofball, but there’s no denying the massive power he boasts that helps him stand toe-to-toe against Majin Buu. He’s a great character to mess around with, as is the case with most of the fusion characters on this list.

However, Gotenks’ time in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is fairly brief, as was the case in the series as well. As a result, he doesn’t get the time to shine and show his true potential all that much in battle. Thankfully, the Switch release of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot lets players spend more time as this fused character.

7

Adult Gohan

The Version Of Gohan Players Control In The Buu Saga

• Forms Available: Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2, Potential Unleashed
• Playable In: Base Game

Most fans of Dragon Ball Z unanimously agree that Gohan ends up losing his luster after turning into an adult. It’s a shame since the potential of this character is destroyed in a bid to make Goku the main character once again.

However, that’s not to say that Adult Gohan doesn’t have his moments. His power increases massively after turning into Mystic Gohan, allowing him to fight on equal footing with Super Buu before his carelessness leads to his demise, that is. Gohan has always been one of Dragon Ball Z‘s greatest characters, and not even his late-onset mediocrity can take away from this notion.

6

Future Gohan

A Mentor In The History Of Trunks And One Of Dragon Ball Z’s Best Characters

• Forms Available: Super Saiyan
• Playable In: -Trunks- The Warrior of Hope

Future Gohan is one of the most tragic characters in the entirety of Dragon Ball. The fact that the game allows players to control this character up to his untimely death is an engaging, if somewhat morose, prospect. He’s arguably the most interesting adult version of Gohan in the game, making it clear why players consider him to be one of DBZ Kakarot‘s best playable characters despite the tragic fate that awaits him.

Even after losing his arm, there’s no stopping Gohan from being the defender of an Earth that is on the brink of extinction. It takes a massive barrage of attacks from the demonic Androids to snuff his life out once and for all. The novelty of controlling such an epic version of Adult Gohan makes him a brilliant late addition to the roster of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot.

5

Future Trunks

A Version Of Trunks From A Ravaged Future

• Forms Available: Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2
• Playable In: Base Game, -Trunks- The Warrior of Hope

One of the best characters in the show, Future Trunks is a fan-favorite character who is an absolute treat to play as. His introduction as he cuts down Mecha Frieza was still awe-inspiring to witness in the game as well, turning him into a fun DBZ Kakarot playable character who can use his amazing Super Saiyan transformation to take out anyone standing in his way.

Over time, Future Trunks becomes a core character in both the Android Saga and Cell Saga. Controlling this character and playing with his powers is quite enjoyable, but players should savor everything possible with this character before he goes away from good. His limited time in the main story is perhaps the only major detractor from an otherwise great character.

4

Vegito

The Fusion Of Goku And Vegeta Is One Of The Series Most Powerful Characters

• Forms Available: Super Saiyan
• Playable In: Base Game

Most people might be surprised to see Vegito rank so high on this list. After all, players don’t get to spend a ton of time with him, and his sole highlight comes in the form of an admittedly amazing clash against Super Buu. It’s one of the best moments in the Buu Arc, with the sheer power exuding from Vegito making him one of the best DBZ Kakarot playable characters.

Thankfully, it seems that players will finally be able to spend way more time as Vegito in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot‘s Switch release, where both this character and Gotenks get their time to shine in various other scenarios as well. It’s a great way for fans to spend more time with Vegito and experiment with his amazing powers too!

3

Teen Gohan

The Version Of Gohan Who Transforms To Become The Series’ First Ascended Super Saiyan

• Forms Available: Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2
• Playable In: Base Game

Fittingly enough, the best version of Gohan in the series is also the most fun to play in the game. After all, who doesn’t want to enact the iconic battle against Cell where Gohan puts his all into a one-handed Kamehameha that blasts this genetic monstrosity into oblivion?

Of course, aside from this moment, there are also other times where players can control Teen Gohan in the game too. These moments are also quite enjoyable and serve as a great precursor to the Cell Games. Watching Gohan realize his full potential in one of the best moments in the series is truly awe-inspiring, and the game does a brilliant job of showcasing this moment.

2

Vegeta

The Prince Of All Saiyans And A Beloved Anti-Hero

• Forms Available: Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan Second Grade, Super Saiyan 2, Majin, Super Saiyan God, Super Saiyan Blue
• Playable In: Base Game, New Power Awakens – Part 1, New Power Awakens – Part 2

The Prince of all Saiyans is considered by many to be the best character in the entire show. Unlike Goku, Vegeta features a mean streak that makes him more of a complex and riveting character, as opposed to his goody-two-shoes rival.

However, players have to admit that Goku gets more time to shine in the series and — as a result — the game. However, Vegeta is fun to control in his own right, with players having a blast as they explore his patented moveset.

1

Goku

The Hero Of The Series Who Achieves New Heights In Power Time And Time Again

• Forms Available: Kaio-ken, Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2, Super Saiyan 3, Super Saiyan God, Super Saiyan Blue
• Playable In: Base Game, New Power Awakens – Part 1, New Power Awakens – Part 2, Goku’s Next Journey

It was only a given that the protagonist of Dragon Ball Z was going to top the list for its video game adaptation. After all, his Saiyan name is featured in the title itself!

The game starts with players controlling Goku and ends in the same manner, which makes it clear whom the players should get accustomed to the most in the game. This Saiyan enjoys a ton of iconic moments in the series and is easily the most fun character to control in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot.