
Development ĭragon Ball Xenoverse is the first game developed by Dimps to feature full 3D battles, similar to Spike's Budokai Tenkaichi and Raging Blast series. Time Patrol Trunks asks Shenron to send him a hero who would help him restore the timeline. The story itself borrows elements from the Dragon Ball Online MMO, which sees returning villains Towa and Mira manipulating the history of the Dragon Ball universe. Xenoverse features an entirely original story starring the player's custom character. The online multiplayer is accessed from the Toki-Toki City, which serves as a hub where players can form groups and take on cooperative, time-traveling missions.

There are five available playable races: Saiyans, Namekians, Earthlings, Majins and Frieza's race all of which have race specific advantages and bonuses as well as shortcomings. With character customization, players are able to customize their character's race, gender, facial hair, body features, clothing and character's voice effects. Player-created character has the option of becoming an apprentice of the original Dragon Ball characters in order to learn their special moves and access specific costume items. Xenoverse is the third Dragon Ball game to feature character creation, the first being Dragon Ball Online and the second being Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi.

Although limited, the players have some freedom to explore the planet Earth as it exists in the Dragon Ball universe along with a handful of other locations, including the aforementioned Toki-Toki City. The game features spoken dialogue from a majority of main characters while in battle, and characters show facial expressions when they strike an opponent or take damage. Fighters can traverse the levels free-roaming in large spaces and can fight on ground, in the air and underwater.

The game is set almost entirely within a number of 3D area which are mostly modeled after notable locations in the Dragon Ball universe, accessed from the main hub – the Toki-Toki City.
