JP N64 | Custom Robo | 1999 | Noise Inc. | First game in the robot customizing (hah) and fighting series; upgrades to robots are bought rather than earned |
PS4 | Damascus Dear: Operation Tokyo HD Edition | 2017 | Aplus | See Vita, but prettier |
PS4 | Damascus Gear: Operation Osaka HD Edition | 2018 | Aplus | See Vita, but prettier |
PSP | Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy | 2011 | Square Enix | Adds more characters and expands the story mode to be party-based, also retells the story from the first game within |
Vita | Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy (DL only) | 2012 | Square Enix | See PSP |
PS4 | Dissidia: Final Fantasy NT | 2018 | Team Ninja | Changes the battle format to 3v3; leveling up characters is possible but only does things like improve the AI control and unlock HP-based attacks |
PSP | Dissidia Final Fantasy | 2009 | Square Enix | A 3D Final Fantasy fighting game with unconventional mechanics, representatives from most main games in the series, and a story mode with character leveling |
Vita | Dissidia Final Fantasy (DL only) | 2012 | Square Enix | See PSP |
Xbox One | Dragon Ball: Xenoverse | 2015 | Dimps | See PS3 |
Xbox 360 | Dragon Ball: Xenoverse | 2015 | Dimps | A 3D fighter based in the Dragon Ball universe with RPG elements such as leveling and a story mode… starring you! |
PS4 | Dragon Ball: Xenoverse | 2015 | Dimps | See PS3 |
PS3 | Dragon Ball: Xenoverse | 2015 | Dimps | Make your own DB character and fight using them in story mode (because what else do you do in that universe?) |
Xbox One | Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 | 2016 | Dimps | Lots of time-travel tomfoolery with your own custom Dragon Ball character; plays otherwise like a 3D arena fighter |
Switch | Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 | 2017 | Dimps | See XBO |
PS4 | Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 | 2016 | Dimps | See XBO |
PS2 | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 | 2004 | Dimps | More of a 3D fighter with the Z crew, but there is also a story mode where the main characters can train and level |
PS3 | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai HD Collection | 2012 | Dimps | HD remasters of both Budokai (itself more of a fighting game alone) and Budokai 3 (fighter with mild/moderate RPG elements) |
Xbox 360 | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai HD Collection | 2010 | Dimps | See PS3 |
PS2 | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 | 2006 | Spike | Uses a different game engine and camera style than the Budokai series, but has a similar story mode with additional "what-if" scenarios |
Wii | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 | 2006 | Spike | See PS2, but with motion controls optional |
PS2 | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 | 2007 | Spike | An absolute ton of playable characters, but a bit of meat taken out of the story mode, as well as diminishing the RPG elements |
Wii | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 | 2007 | Spike | See PS2, but with motion controls optional |
N64 | Flying Dragon | 1998 | Culture Brain | Contains a mode with character progression and the ability to level your equipment (via fisticuffs of course) to increase your stats |
PSP | Gladiator Begins | 2010 | Goshow | Prequel to Colosseum: Road to Freedom (PS2), where you similarly make a come-up as a gladiator in combat and tweak your stats to become even more deadly |
Vita | Gladiator Begins (DL only) | 2012 | Goshow | See PSP |
PS4 | Granblue Fantasy: Versus | 2020 | Arc System Works | Contains an RPG mode that plays like a 2D brawler using the control scheme of the base fighting game; lots of equipment to manage |
Wii U | Medabots: Metabee/Rokusho (VC) | 2015 | Natsume | See GBA |
GBA | Medabots AX: Metabee/Rokusho | 2003 | Natsume | Much more of a fighting game, but you do level your robots to fight them in real-time |
JP GB+GBC | Medarot Kabuto/Kuwagata Version | 1997 | Natsume | First games in the Medarot/bot series, with the standard building and fighting robots |
JP PSX | Medarot R | 1999 | Natsume | It's a Medabots game! Destroy the enemy's parts to make them useless! |
Wii | One Piece: Unlimited Adventure | 2008 | Ganbarion | ARPG in which the Straw Hat Pirates are stuck on an island and need to forage for survival; crafted food increases statistics |
GB+GBC | Power Quest | 1998 | Japan System Supply | Model robot combat in a fighting game format, parts are upgradeable to increase stats |
JP Mega Drive | Rent-A-Hero | 1991 | Sega | Do errands for the local populace to upgrade your super suit! Fighting game-like battles, very tongue-in-cheek |
Sega CD | Revengers of Vengeance | 1994 | Micronet | Features a story mode where XP is gained by playing the actual fighting game and minigames in a top-down fashion |
JP PSP | Ys vs. Sora no Kiseki: Alternative Saga | 2010 | Falcom | A 3D arena fighting game- very Power Stone-like, where characters from Ys and Trails collide (and level while doing so) |