Bloody Hell, a Free Dragon Ball MOBA Just Dropped on Steam – And It's Actually Decent?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Steam's new free-to-play Dragon Ball MOBA, *Gekishin Squadra*, is surprisingly well-received with 'Mostly Positive' reviews, offering cross-platform play and a growing roster, making it a compelling new entry for fans despite a few familiar F2P monetization quirks.
Right, so sometimes you just stumble across a gaming story that makes you pause, scratch your head, and then dive headfirst into the rabbit hole. This particular gem of a find was first spotted by Mohsen Baqery over at Game Rant – massive thanks for the heads-up on this one, mate!
Apparently, there's a new Dragon Ball MOBA called *Dragon Ball Gekishin Squadra* that's not only arrived on Steam but it's completely free-to-play. Now, hold your horses, I know what you're thinking: "Another F2P MOBA? From a massive IP? Sounds like a recipe for a cash-grab disaster, Jeff!" And honestly, my initial digital wizardry radar was pinging with gentle skepticism too. But stick with me, because this one seems to be pulling a few surprises.
Bandai Namco Entertainment, with developer Ganbarion, dropped this bad boy on September 9th, and it's already garnered a 'Mostly Positive' rating on Steam from over 250 reviews. 'Mostly Positive'? For a free-to-play MOBA from a beloved franchise? That, my friends, is rarer than finding a perfectly balanced loot drop after accidentally polymorphing a dragon into a rubber duck. It suggests that, despite our collective wariness, something here is actually *working*.
Now, the article calls *Gekishin Squadra* the "first of its kind" for the Dragon Ball series. And yeah, I reckon a dedicated, team-based, free-to-play MOBA does feel like a fresh take for the franchise. It’s not just another fighting game or RPG, which, let's be fair, the Dragon Ball universe has in spades. This is all about those 4-player squads, pitting iconic characters like Goku, Vegeta, Krillin, and Piccolo against each other in strategic brawls. Fighters are sorted into your usual MOBA fare: Damage, Tank, and Technical classes. So, you'll need to actually strategise with your mates, which is a nice touch for a F2P game – encourages proper teamwork rather than just button-mashing through your opponents like a mad Saiyan.
Speaking of free-to-play, we've gotta talk about the elephant in the room – or should I say, the Capsule Corp. microtransaction store. The base game is, indeed, completely free. But, as with most F2P titles, there are customisation options. You can change the appearance of your favourite characters, snagging personalised skins and styles. The current top-tier offering seems to be an $80 bundle of Dragon Gems, which is the premium currency. Eighty quid (or dollars, or whatever digital gold you're hoarding) for cosmetics? It's a price point that always makes my eyebrow twitch a bit. Are these skins truly transformative, or just a new shade of gi? That’s the kind of question a curious gamer always asks. It's a prime example of how even a 'mostly positive' free game can still have those moments where you wonder, "is this *really* what players want to spend that much on, or is it just 'because we can'?" Still, it’s not pay-to-win, which is a huge relief and a genuinely good sign for the player experience.
Here’s where things get properly exciting, though. Despite being fresh out of the digital oven, *Gekishin Squadra* has already hit over 12,000 concurrent players on Steam. That’s a respectable number for any new title, let alone a free one! But the real magic, the true spatial anomaly, is its multi-platform presence. This game isn't just on PC; it's also on PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, Android, *and* iOS. And the kicker? Full crossplay support. Bloody hell! Players from every corner of the digital multiverse can team up or face off against each other. Mobile MOBAs are huge, so that crossplay truly broadens the potential player base beyond what SteamDB shows, creating a proper unified community. That's genuinely serving players, allowing everyone to get in on the action, no matter their preferred device.
Even better, Ganbarion isn't just dropping it and running. Before the global release, they added five new fighters: Cell, Android 17, Hit, Kale, and Gamma 1 & 2. That’s a chunky update right out of the gate, suggesting a commitment to expanding the roster and keeping things fresh. More beloved heroes and villains from the Dragon Ball saga? Sign me up for more digital fisticuffs!
So, what do we make of all this, mate? *Dragon Ball Gekishin Squadra* looks like a surprisingly solid entry into the F2P MOBA space, leveraging a beloved IP with genuine cross-platform and crossplay ambition. While the microtransaction pricing might raise a wizard's eyebrow, the overall package – especially with its 'Mostly Positive' reviews and active player base – is definitely worth a look for any curious gamer. It’s a bit like casting a new spell and having it actually, unexpectedly, work wonders. Who’d have thought?
This article was originally published by Mohsen Baqery on Game Rant. Many thanks for the excellent find!
Tags: MOBA, Dragon Ball, Free-to-Play, Bandai Namco, Steam
Original article: Game Rant