Wander Stars

Words by Conor Woods for Levelhead Gaming

Attack names take centre stage in this charming, Dragon Ball-inspired turn-based fighter.

Calling out your attack instantly boosts its cool factor. Whether it is a spell, a punch, or an energy blast, anime has long relied on dramatic declarations to elevate action. For Western audiences, this vocal flair has become iconic from Bruce Lee’s legendary yells to arcade shouts of “Hadouken!” and “Sonic Boom!”, all the way to modern anime classics like My Hero Academia (hello, “Detroit Smash!”).

But for me, nothing hit quite like Dragon Ball Z.

When DBZ first aired in Australia, it took schoolyards by storm. Thanks to the Cheez TV pipeline, you could not walk across an oval without hearing someone screaming “Kamehameha” or arguing over who got to be Goku (and who had to be Krillin).

I would not be surprised if the creators of Wander Stars were among those kids. Because they have channelled that exact feeling, the boldness, the nostalgia, the joy, into something fresh and clever.

 Wander Stars is bright, playful and full of heart. Locations are vivid, characters are memorable, and the combat is both intuitive and satisfying. The attack-name mechanic is more than a gimmick. It invites creativity and strategy.

One of my favourite elements is the Pep-Up system, where you are rewarded for sparing enemies with bonuses in future battles. 

It reminded me of the old-school anime message: the strongest fighters do not always finish the fight, they earn respect.

Another great touch? The food. From healing items like arepas to sly nods to culture and character, Wander Stars does not miss a detail.