Goten is the second and youngest son of the Earth’s defender Goku and his wife Chi-Chi, making him a Saiyan and human hybrid. He was born roughly nine months after the conclusion of the Cell Games, during which his father had died, meaning Goten did not meet Goku until he was seven years old. Unlike his older brother Gohan, who was pushed heavily in his academic studies by their mother, Goten was primarily trained in martial arts by Chi-Chi from a very young age, a decision influenced by Goku's absence.

As a young boy, Goten is characterized by a naive, fun-loving, and kind-hearted nature, much like his father. He is generally well-mannered and often serves as a surprising voice of reason when compared to his more impulsive best friend, Trunks, though he usually goes along with their shared mischievous ideas. Goten holds his older brother Gohan in high regard and is one of the few people who genuinely finds Gohan’s Great Saiyaman persona to be cool. He shares the typical Saiyan appetite and a love for wild animals, often getting distracted by them during training.

In combat, Goten displays exceptional natural talent, having achieved the Super Saiyan transformation at only seven years old, making him the youngest character to do so at that point in the series. The ease with which he accesses this form is presented as a point of surprise for his brother Gohan, as it took their father and Vegeta years to master. Ironically, despite his immense power, Goten initially does not know how to fly, a basic skill that Gohan must teach him alongside Videl in preparation for the World Martial Arts Tournament. His signature technique is the Kamehameha energy wave, though he is known for frequently mispronouncing it as "Kamekameha."

Goten’s primary role in the series begins during the Majin Buu Saga. His motivation is largely driven by a childlike desire for fun and competition, specifically to participate in the 25th World Martial Arts Tournament where he hopes to fight strong opponents. It is at this tournament that he finally meets his father, Goku, for the first time. He competes in the junior division, ultimately losing to his best friend and rival, Trunks, in the finals. Seeking greater challenges, the two boys disguise themselves as a single adult fighter named Mighty Mask to enter the main tournament. When the crisis with the wizard Babidi and the monster Majin Buu escalates, Goten’s motivation shifts to helping his friends and family, particularly after being told that Gohan and others have been killed.

The most significant relationship in Goten’s story is with Trunks, the son of Vegeta and Bulma. The two are inseparable, spending most of their time training and playing together, which rapidly increases their strength and battle experience. Their bond is so strong that they learn the Fusion Dance, a technique that allows them to merge into a single, immensely more powerful warrior named Gotenks. When their teacher, Piccolo, deems them ready, they fuse to fight Majin Buu. As Gotenks, the two boys combine their power and playful personalities, creating a fighter who is incredibly strong but also arrogant, cocky, and prone to inventing silly-named attacks. Goten’s development throughout the arc involves him maturing slightly from a boy who only play-fights to one who faces a genuine life-or-death threat, training seriously to avenge his loved ones. He, along with Trunks and others, is eventually absorbed by Super Buu and later killed when Kid Buu destroys the Earth, but he is brought back to life with the Dragon Balls after Buu's final defeat.