Spike 3D fighter for the Dragon Ball saga with destructible arenas. Full 360-degree aerial combat, huge roster covering the entire anime, spectacular transformations. A Dragon Ball Wii reference, strongly recommended for manga fans.
Your verdict
Category
Fighting2 players12+
Description
3D fighting game developed by Spike and published by Bandai Namco in Europe in February 2008. Over 150 characters from all Dragon Ball Z and GT sagas - the most complete roster in the series - battle in destructible arenas with free 360-degree aerial combat. Wiimote for signature attacks and dodges, story mode, Challenge mode and online tournaments. Considered the best episode of the Budokai Tenkaichi franchise.
Dragon Ball Z - Budokai Tenkaichi 3 review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
4/5
Story
★★★★★
"Captivating"
Faithful to Akira Toriyama's line, the cel-shading renders more than a hundred and fifty fighters as if straight out of the anime. Destructible arenas, sprays of energy and blazing transformations saturate the screen with spectacular effects. This graphic excess, readable despite the chaos, still delights fans.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Fighting in destructible 3D arenas with a colossal roster from across the whole saga, unleashing spectacular energy attacks: this versus bets on excess and fan-service. Flying, countering and firing a Kamehameha delivers an instant glee, especially for anime fans. Two-player, the spectacle ignites. Generous, snappy and explosive, a fan's dream come true.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Unleashing your favourite heroes' combos in 3D arenas, charging ki and letting fly the ultimate attack makes you want to try each of the countless fighters. Unlocking characters and transformations feeds the collecting urge, and the rematch imposes itself on its own. The system stays messy and repetitive, but the lavish fan service and the fury of the duels keep a stubborn hook.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Unlocking this enormous roster of over a hundred and fifty fighters takes hours of dedication, between a story mode that retraces every saga, the Challenge mode, and the hunt for items and equippable techniques. Free-roaming aerial duels and mastering the Wiimote dodges add a genuine learning curve, extended further by online tournaments. That encyclopedic generosity is exactly why it keeps its reputation as the definitive Tenkaichi.
Technical info
💾2,1 GB📅15/02/2008
Published by Atari
Dragon Ball Z - Budokai Tenkaichi 3 (Wii) price, value & rarity
Is Dragon Ball Z - Budokai Tenkaichi 3 still worth playing in 2026?
A peak of Spike's Budokai Tenkaichi series, this entry offers a gigantic roster of over one hundred and fifty characters and spectacular aerial clashes faithful to the spirit of the anime. The Wiimote motion controls add a gestural dimension to transformations and signature attacks. The messy combat system and a sometimes wayward camera remain its limits. A safe bet for Dragon Ball Z fans and lovers of generous arcade fighting in multiplayer.
