Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 preview – Make your mark in a whole new world

It appears Dragon Ball fans are in for treat next year, with the latest entry in the Dragon Ball Xenoverse series set to let them create their very own hero and make their mark in a brand new world. In development by Dimps Corporation and being published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 should offer plenty of explosive battles alongside a brand new story and plenty of opportunities to grow your character.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 takes place in Age 1000, a brand new Dragon Ball world that features both a large number of new characters as well as lots of familiar faces. There’s going to be Brett, for example, an important member of the Great Saiyan Squad that’s at the heart of the game. And Bulma is also a member of that squad, a character who Dragon Ball fans will instantly recognise.

Focused on the concept of connection, the gameplay of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 will find you stepping into the world that Goku and his allies once fought to protect. After creating your very own character, with multiple races including being Saiyan available, you’ll carve your own path, aiming to make a nig impression and become a storied hero yourself.

You’ll start in your character’s room, which serves at a hub, and here you can change your visual appearance at any time you wish. When you’re ready for action, however, you’ll want to leave your room and the apartment in which it’s located, and start to explore West City, a technological marvel in the world of Dragon Ball. Here you’re likely to meet plenty of new characters to talk to as well as some familiar faces such as Trunks and Vegeta.

As you explore West City you’ll encounter characters with missions for you to complete. Head into one of these and you’ll find that you can be accompanied by up to three companions, providing valuable assistance where necessary. The action itself appears to similar to that of past Dragon ball titles, with fast-paced battles that take place on both the land and in the air. Needless to say, this is going to be a game where you’ll be doing plenty of flying, boosting and blasting.

Both standard and heavy attacks will be available to you, but more exciting are the number of special attacks available to you at any one time. You’ll be able to put together your own selections of these, making your character your own. You’ll have access to an ultimate attack, too, of course, and no matter which race you choose you’ll also be able to power yourself up and go ‘Super Saiyan’ on your enemies, even if it requires you to momentarily switch your soul.

During a hands-off gameplay demo, in which I witnessed a boss battle against Broly, it became clear that you’ll be able to transform into other characters under certain conditions, too. I saw the player character momentarily transform into Super Trunks, for example, giving them access to a range of new skills and abilities with which to cut down their powerful foe.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 will likely be a great deal of fun when it lands on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC in 2027, then, letting you loose in a brand new Dragon Ball world while also providing you with a healthy dose of nostalgia. And with you able to grow and develop your very own character, it should also be very rewarding. If you’re a Dragon Ball fan you should definitely keep this on your radar. But you might also want to keep an eye on it if you simply love action-packed action RPGs.