Play Dragonball Online

Dragonball on the NES came out in 1986 from Bandai, back when licensed games were still figuring things out. It was one of those early attempts to bring a manga to the console, and it definitely has that mid-80s feel, with simple graphics and a focus on adapting the story rather than flashy action.

You control Goku as he moves screen by screen across the world map, talking to characters and getting into turn-based battles that use a card selection system for attacks and defenses. The main goal is to follow the plot of the original Dragon Ball arc, training and fighting through a series of opponents. Progress is slow, and the mechanics take some getting used to, especially the battle cards, but there's a charm in seeing the story play out in such a straightforward way. It feels like a rough but earnest tribute to the source material.