A big draw of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is the fact that there are multiple playable characters that 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. Here are all the Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot characters, ranked in terms of how awesome it is to control them.
Updated on January 25, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is one of the best ways to experience the story of DBZ through the medium of video games. Players can control their favorite characters and wreak havoc as they lay waste to the many imposing villains across Dragon Ball Z, reliving memorable moments in the story and getting to check out the power boost provided by the various transformations that players can access in the game.
There are many characters that players can control in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, with the vast majority of them being pretty beloved in their own right. Taking control of one of these many characters and beating down legendary foes makes for a great time, even if some of these playable characters might be more enjoyable to check out than others.
13 Goten
Forms Available: None
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 really participate in any battles. Still, it’s quite entertaining for fans of the series to control Goten regardless.
12 Kid Gohan
Forms Available: None
Out of all the playable characters in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, 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 really need to spend too much time with this character also makes time with Kid Gohan special in its own way.
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 reached his true potential. His powers are still quite fun to use, even though they might be somewhat underdeveloped.
11 Kid Vegeta
Forms Available: None
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 really 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.
10 Piccolo
Forms Available: True Namekian Fusion
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 definitely 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.
9 Bardock
Forms Available: Spirit of the Warrior Race
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 he Spirit of the Warrior Race over the course of 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
Forms Available: Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 3
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 definitely 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 really 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
Forms Available: Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2, Potential Unleashed
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 completely 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 own carelessness led to his demise, that is. Gohan has always been one of Dragon Ball Z’s greatest characters, and not even his own late-onset mediocrity can take away from this notion.
6 Future Gohan
Forms Available: Super Saiyan
Future Gohan is one of the most tragic characters in the entirety of Dragon Ball. The fact that the game actually allows players to control this character all the way up to his untimely death is definitely an engaging, if somewhat morose, prospect.
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 definitely makes him a brilliant late addition to the roster of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot.
5 Future Trunks
Forms Available: Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2
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.
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
Forms Available: Super Saiyan
Most people might be surprised to see Vegito rank so high on this list. After all, players don’t really 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.
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 around with his amazing powers too!
3 Teen Gohan
Forms Available: Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2
Fittingly enough, the best version of Gohan in the series is also the most fun to play as in the game. After all, who doesn’t want to enact out 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
Forms Available: Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan Second Grade, Super Saiyan 2, Majin, Super Saiyan God, Super Saiyan Blue
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
Forms Available: Kaio-ken, Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2, Super Saiyan 3, Super Saiyan God, Super Saiyan Blue
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 off with players controlling Goku and ends in the same manner, which makes it clear as to 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.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
More: DBZ Kakarot: Reasons We Want A Prequel To The Game (& Other Reasons Why We Want A Sequel)
