Goten is the second and youngest son of Goku and Chi-Chi, making him a half-Saiyan, half-Earthling hybrid and the younger brother of Gohan. Born shortly after the Cell Games, he was named after Goku's adoptive grandfather, Grandpa Gohan. As a young adult in Dragon Ball GT, Goten has grown from the carefree child he was in Dragon Ball Z into a teenager with a noticeably more relaxed and less combat-focused lifestyle.

In terms of appearance, Goten in GT has aged significantly. He no longer sports the bowl-cut hairstyle of his childhood, opting instead for a shorter, more modern cut. He is often seen wearing casual, contemporary clothes rather than traditional martial arts gi, reflecting his shift away from constant training. While he still bears a strong resemblance to his father, his overall presentation is that of an ordinary young man of his era.

Personality-wise, Goten in GT has become laid-back, somewhat lazy, and far more interested in socializing than fighting. Inheriting Goku's naturally pure and kind heart, he is not a violent person and does not seek out combat for its own sake. Unlike his father's insatiable love for battle or his brother Gohan's sense of duty, Goten is content to live a peaceful life. This has manifested as a distinct lack of interest in martial arts, and he spends the majority of his time on dates. He has a girlfriend named Valese, and he is so preoccupied with his romantic life that he often neglects his training and family duties. While he can be serious when the situation demands it, his default demeanor is cheerful and unconcerned. A significant flaw inherited from his father is a tendency to drop his guard during a fight, leaving him vulnerable to attack even when he possesses the power to win.

Goten's motivations in GT are largely driven by the need to protect his loved ones rather than a personal desire for glory or self-improvement. He has no ambition to be the strongest fighter or to win tournaments. His primary drive is reactive; when a villain like Baby or Super 17 threatens the Earth and his family, he will step up to fight. However, his preference is to let others, like Goku and Vegeta, handle the major threats. This contrasts sharply with his childhood self, who was eager to prove his strength and fight powerful foes like Majin Buu.

His role in the story of Dragon Ball GT is that of a supporting character who provides assistance to the main fighters. Despite being a powerful Super Saiyan, he is largely sidelined from the main adventure. Initially, Goten was intended to join Goku and Trunks on the quest for the Black Star Dragon Balls, but Pan accidentally launches the spaceship without him, leaving him behind on Earth. This moment sets the tone for his role throughout the series: he is a capable warrior who is often absent from the central conflict's front lines. When the Earth is threatened by the parasitic alien Baby, Goten is one of the first to confront him. However, his lack of focus proves costly. After a brief battle, Baby possesses him by entering a scratch on Goten's arm. As a possessed pawn, Baby-Goten fights his brother Gohan, and Baby ultimately uses Goten's body as a vessel to facilitate his transfer into the stronger Gohan. Later, after being freed from Baby's control, Goten participates in the final battles against the android Super 17 and the evil Shadow Dragons, most notably by lending his energy to power up Goku and by helping to hold off Omega Shenron to allow Goku and Vegeta to fuse.

Goten's key relationships define much of his character. His relationship with his father, Goku, is one of deep trust and faith. Even when others believe Goku has perished, Goten remains confident that his father will return, demonstrating a profound belief in him. His dynamic with his brother, Gohan, has matured; Gohan is now a family man with a wife and daughter, and Goten looks up to him, though their interactions are typical of adult siblings. His most important relationship remains with Trunks, the son of Vegeta and Bulma. The two are best friends and, in many ways, partners. They grew up together as prodigies and learned the Fusion Dance to create the mighty warrior Gotenks. As teenagers in GT, they remain close, though their paths have diverged; Trunks is more involved with the family business and Capsule Corporation, while Goten is more focused on his girlfriend. Their bond is still evident when they fight alongside one another, coordinating attacks without the need for fusion.

In terms of character development, Goten undergoes a significant shift from GT to his childhood persona in Dragon Ball Z. As a child, he was a powerful prodigy who could transform into a Super Saiyan before the age of seven. He was eager to train and fight, helping to save the world from Majin Buu. By GT, he has lost his fighting edge. He is portrayed as a young man who has chosen a normal life over one of combat, prioritizing dating and relaxation over martial arts mastery. While he loses none of his inherent power, his lack of practice and focus means he does not fulfill the immense potential he showed as a child. He is content to be a supporting figure, and his arc is about answering the call to duty when necessary, rather than seeking out strength for its own sake.

Goten remains a naturally gifted fighter with abilities far beyond a normal human. He can effortlessly transform into a Super Saiyan, a state which multiplies his power and is indicated by golden hair and turquoise eyes. Unlike his father, he never achieves the higher Super Saiyan forms of 2 or 3 in his own body, reserving those for his fused state. He is highly proficient in ki manipulation, able to fly using Bukujutsu and project energy blasts. His signature technique is the Kamehameha wave, a powerful energy attack he learned from his family. In GT, he still uses this technique but does not develop any new or unique moves of his own. He retains the knowledge of the Fusion Dance, the technique he learned as a child to merge with Trunks and become Gotenks. However, in GT, the need for him to fuse is minimal, as the threats are often beyond even the combined power of Gotenks.