Matches take place in a broad horizontal arena viewed from the side. Players can walk, jump, fly, guard, use physical attacks, and launch ki techniques while managing distance from the opponent.

Story mode follows battles drawn from the Dragon Ball Z narrative, with different scenes and encounters depending on the selected character. Versus mode is designed for two-player matches or single-player practice against the computer. Winning battles advances the scenario, but the game does not use a persistent character-level progression system.

Maintain enough distance to react to projectiles, but avoid spending all of the arena near an edge. Use flight and movement to change the angle of approach rather than repeatedly trading attacks.

Ki techniques are most useful when the opponent is grounded or recovering. Learn each fighter's timing, conserve opportunities to attack, and punish missed special moves instead of rushing constantly.