Jump Force is a fast-paced fighting game that brings together an all-star lineup of characters from popular Shonen Jump manga series. This title, developed by Spike Chunsoft and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, offers fans the chance to create dream matchups between heroes and villains from beloved anime franchises. With a roster that spans multiple generations of manga, the playable characters in Jump Force provide a thrilling mix of fighting styles, signature abilities, and visual flair. Whether you’re a fan of Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, or lesser-known series, there’s a character in this game that can match your preferences and fighting style.
Main Roster Overview
Base Game Characters
Jump Force launched with a strong base roster consisting of characters from multiple Shonen Jump titles. Each character was carefully crafted to mirror their abilities from the original source material, complete with flashy animations and special moves. Below is a breakdown of the characters included at launch:
- Dragon Ball: Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Frieza, Trunks, Cell
- Naruto: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake, Gaara, Kaguya Otsutsuki
- One Piece: Monkey D. Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, Sanji, Blackbeard, Boa Hancock, Sabo
- Bleach: Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, Sosuke Aizen
- Hunter x Hunter: Gon Freecss, Killua Zoldyck, Kurapika, Hisoka
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Yusuke Urameshi, Toguro
- Saint Seiya: Pegasus Seiya, Dragon Shiryu
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Jotaro Kujo, Dio
- My Hero Academia: Izuku Midoriya (Deku)
- Rurouni Kenshin: Himura Kenshin, Shishio Makoto
- Yu-Gi-Oh!: Yugi Muto
- Fist of the North Star: Kenshiro
- City Hunter: Ryo Saeba
- Black Clover: Asta
- Original Characters: Galena, Kane, Glover, Navigator (non-playable in most cases)
Downloadable Content Characters
DLC Pack Additions
Post-launch, Jump Force expanded its roster with additional characters through DLC packs. These additions introduced fighters from even more anime and manga universes, as well as alternate versions of existing characters. Here’s a list of DLC characters released across Character Passes 1 and 2:
- All Might (My Hero Academia)
- Biscuit Krueger (Hunter x Hunter)
- Majin Buu (Good) (Dragon Ball Z)
- Madara Uchiha (Naruto)
- Seto Kaiba (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
- Hitsugaya Toshiro (Bleach)
- Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez (Bleach)
- Law (One Piece)
- Bakyu (My Hero Academia)
- Meruem (Hunter x Hunter)
- Hiei (Yu Yu Hakusho)
- Yoruichi Shihouin (Bleach)
- Shoto Todoroki (My Hero Academia)
- Majin Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z)
- Yota (Hunter x Hunter)
- Giorno Giovanna (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
Highlights of Popular DLC Characters
All Might
Known as the symbol of peace in My Hero Academia, All Might brings overwhelming power and iconic moves like Detroit Smash and Carolina Smash to the battlefield. He’s a strong, tanky character with crowd control capabilities.
Madara Uchiha
A fan-favorite from Naruto, Madara’s powerful Susanoo and devastating ninjutsu make him a force to be reckoned with. His combat animations are flashy and intimidating, just like in the anime.
Giorno Giovanna
Giorno, the charismatic protagonist of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 5, stands out with his unique ability Gold Experience Requiem. His technical playstyle rewards players who are patient and strategic.
Combat Styles and Archetypes
Character Categories
In Jump Force, characters are not only divided by their source series but also by their combat styles. The three primary types include:
- Power: Focuses on brute strength and high damage. Examples: Goku, All Might
- Speed: Agile characters with fast combos. Examples: Killua, Rukia
- Technical: Characters with specialized or tricky abilities. Examples: Yugi, Kaiba
Special Abilities and Awakenings
Each playable character has a set of unique abilities drawn directly from their anime powers. Most also have an ‘Awakening’ transformation, which boosts their stats and unlocks powerful finishing moves.
Team Composition and Strategy
3v3 Battle System
Jump Force uses a tag-team 3v3 system, where players select a team of three characters. However, you control one fighter at a time, switching between them during the match to combo or escape pressure.
Synergy Between Characters
Some characters complement each other better than others. Pairing a fast character with a power-based fighter can create opportunities to juggle enemies or recover stamina when needed.
- Pair Sasuke with Asta for high-speed combo potential
- Use Frieza or Cell as zoning supports to slow down aggressive enemies
- Include a character with long-range attacks to control space
Visual and Customization Options
Create-A-Character
In addition to the core and DLC rosters, Jump Force features a custom character creator. You can use moves from various characters and build a fighter tailored to your playstyle. Appearance, fighting type, and ability loadouts are fully customizable.
Unlockable Costumes
As you play through the game, you unlock outfits, accessories, and skills that further expand your fighter’s look and combat effectiveness. Dressing your avatar in Luffy’s hat or Naruto’s cloak adds an extra layer of personalization.
Legacy and Community Impact
Cross-Series Fan Service
The game’s roster serves as a massive celebration of Shonen Jump history. For longtime fans, the ability to pit Goku against Kenshiro or have Asta team up with Ichigo is a dream come true. It blends nostalgia with high-energy combat.
Competitive and Casual Appeal
Jump Force was designed for both anime fans and fighting game enthusiasts. While the mechanics may not be as deep as traditional fighting titles, the flashy visuals and easy-to-learn controls make it accessible and fun.
The Jump Force playable character list represents one of the most diverse and imaginative collections in fighting game history. With dozens of iconic heroes and villains across the base game and DLC, players can relive anime rivalries or create new ones with characters they love. From the Saiyan powerhouses of Dragon Ball to the mind-bending strategies of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, every character brings something special to the fight. Whether you’re in it for the nostalgia, the flashy battles, or the pure joy of anime mayhem, Jump Force delivers an unforgettable experience through its robust and ever-expanding roster.