List of gacha games

Last updated

Gacha games are video games that implement the gashapon mechanic. Gashapon is a type of a Japanese vending machine in which people insert a coin to acquire a random toy capsule. In gacha games, players pay virtual currency (bought with real money or acquired in-game) to acquire random game characters or pieces of equipment of varying rarity and usefulness. This is a variant of the loot box mechanic where players spend currency to acquire an entire set of random game items.

Gacha games are typically mobile games made in China, Japan, South Korea, or other Asian countries, where they are very popular. They are typically free-to-play games which can be played using only the currency or characters received for free through gameplay and grinding. They are financed through the sale of virtual currency to the players who want to spend real money to progress faster or be better at competing with others. So-called "whale" players may spend significant amounts on gacha games, leading to concerns about gambling addiction.

This list is limited to notable gacha games which have been released in an English-language version.

Overview of gacha games
NameGenreEnglish language availabilityNotes or short descriptionRef.
Action Taimanin Action role-playing 2019 Hack and slash game based on the Taimanin Asagi visual novel series. [1]
Alchemy Stars Tactical role-playing 2021 [2]
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Social simulation 2017 Animal Crossing mobile game [3]
Another Eden Tactical role-playing 2019 [4]
Arknights Tower defense 2020Noted for its soundtrack featuring high-profile musicians. [5]
Artery Gear: Fusion Turn-based strategy 2021 [6]
Azur Lane Shoot 'em up 2019Anthropomorphizes historic warships as young girls. [7]
BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Rhythm game 2018Part of the BanG Dream! music franchise. [8]
Bleach: Brave Souls Beat 'em up 2016Part of the Bleach media franchise based on Tite Kubo's manga. [9]
Blue Archive Eastern role-playing 2021 [10]
Brave Frontier Eastern role-playing 2013–2022 [11]
Cookie Run Kingdom City-Building / RPG 2021Part of the Devsisters Cookie Run franchise.
D4DJ Groovy Mix Rhythm game 2021Part of the D4DJ music media franchise. [12]
DanMachi: Memoria Freese Eastern role-playing 2017Part of the Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Light novel franchise.
Disney Twisted-Wonderland Adventure, Rhythm 2022Part of a collaboration between Aniplex and Walt Disney Japan. [13]
Dragalia Lost Action role-playing 2018–2022First Nintendo IP released only on mobile platforms. [14]
Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle Board / puzzle game 2015Part of the Dragon Ball media franchise. [15]
Dragon Collection Card battle 2012The first popular Japanese gacha game, released 2010 on GREE. [16]
Epic Seven Eastern role-playing 2018
Fate/Grand Order Tactical role-playing 2017Part of the Fate/stay night visual novel franchise. [17]
Figure Fantasy Strategy game 2021 [18]
Final Fantasy All the Bravest Eastern role-playing 2013–2023Part of the Final Fantasy franchise. Widely criticized for its lack of gameplay, after which a producer said that it was in fact not a game. [19]
Final Fantasy Brave Exvius Tactical role-playing 2016Part of the Final Fantasy franchise. Not to be confused with its spin-off War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. [20]
Fire Emblem Heroes Tactical role-playing 2017Spin-off of the Fire Emblem series. [21]
Food Fantasy management role-playing 2017
Genshin Impact Open-world action role-playing 2020
Girls' Frontline Turn-based strategy 2018Anthropomorphizes firearms as young girls. [22]
Girls' Frontline: Neural Cloud Real-time strategy 2022Spin-off and prequel game to Girls' Frontline (2018).
Goddess of Victory: Nikke Third-person shooter / RPG 2022 [23] [24]
Granblue Fantasy Eastern role-playing 2016 Browser game with music by Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy). Generated various spin-offs. [25]
Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage! Rhythm game 2020Part of the Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA franchise.
Honkai Impact 3rd Hack and slash 2018 [26]
Honkai: Star Rail Eastern role-playing 2023Spin-Off to Honkai Impact 3rd (2018)
Identity V Multiplayer survival horror 2018 [27]
Kingdom Hearts χ Tactical role-playing 2016Part of the Kingdom Hearts series. Released on mobile devices as Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ. The "χ" character is a lower-case Greek chi. [28]
KonoSuba: Fantastic Days Eastern role-playing 2021Part of the KonoSuba Light novel franchise. [29]
Langrisser Mobile Tactical role-playing 2019Part of the Langrisser franchise.
Limbus Company Dungeon role-playing 2023Sequel to Library of Ruina (2021). [30]
Love Live! School Idol Festival Rhythm game 2014–2023Part of the Love Live! franchise. Has a 2020 spin-off: Love Live! School Idol Festival All Stars. [31]
Magia Record Tactical role-playing 2019Spin-off of the anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica. [32]
Mario Kart Tour Kart racing 201914th game in the Mario Kart series. Unusually for a gacha game, a subscription is needed for many features. Gacha elements were removed in a 2022 update. [33] [34]
Mobius Final Fantasy MMORPG 2016–2020Part of the Final Fantasy franchise.
Monster Strike Physics game 2014Became the basis of its own media franchise in Japan, including an anime series and several films. [35]
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Blazing Action role-playing 2016–2021Spin-off of the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja fighting game series. [36]
Nier Reincarnation Eastern role-playing 2021Part of the Nier franchise.
Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds Eastern role-playing 2021Part of the Ni no Kuni franchise.
Onmyōji Eastern role-playing 2016Part of the Onmyōji novel franchise.
Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent Role-playing game 2021Part of the Octopath Traveler franchise. [37]
One Piece Bounty Rush Beat 'em up 2018Based on the One Piece franchise. Re-released in 2019. [38]
One Piece Treasure Cruise Tactical role-playing 2015Based on the One Piece franchise. [39]
Pokémon Masters EX Pokémon 2019Originally named Pokémon Masters. Based on the Pokémon franchise. [40]
Princess Connect! Re:Dive Eastern role-playing 2021Sequel game to Princess Connect! (2015–2016). Received an anime adaptation. [41]
Punishing: Gray Raven Hack and slash 2021 [42]
Puzzle & Dragons Tile-matching 2012Received spin-offs including Puzzle & Dragons X and Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario Bros. Edition. [43]
Raid: Shadow Legends Auto-battler 2019Infamous for its pervasive advertising on social media and aggressive monetization. [44]
Reverse: 1999 Tactical role-playing 2023
Revived Witch Eastern role-playing 2021 [45]
Schoolgirl Strikers 2/Twinkle Melodies Visual novel-RPG 2014–2017–2018Part of the Schoolgirl Strikers media franchise.
Seven Knights Eastern role-playing 2014–2023
Seven Knights 2 MMORPG 2020Sequel game to Seven Knights (2014).
Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2 Eastern role-playing 2018Part of the Megami Tensei franchise. [46]
Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight -Re LIVE- Rhythm game 2018Part of the Revue Starlight media franchise. [47]
SINoALICE Eastern role-playing 2020Directed by Yoko Taro ( Drakengard ). [48]
Sword Art Online: Integral Factor MMORPG 2017Based on the anime and manga series Sword Art Online. [49]
The King of Fighters All Star Beat 'em up 2019 [50]
The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross Eastern role-playing 2019Part of The Seven Deadly Sins franchise.
Tokyo Afterschool Summoners Card battle 2018One of the first commercial Japanese LGBT video games, with art by prominent bara artists. Partially translated into English. [51]
Touhou LostWord Turn-based strategy 2021Based on the Touhou Project series. [52]
Tower of Fantasy Open-world Action role-playing 2021
Vindictus Action MMORPG, Hack and slash 2010
War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius Tactical role-playing 2020Spin-off of Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. [53]
Warhammer Quest: Silver Tower Tactical role-playing 2020Part of the Warhammer Fantasy franchise. [54]
White Cat Project Action role-playing 2015–2016Released internationally under the name Colopl Rune Story. [55]

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<i>Tales of the World: Tactics Union</i> 2012 video game

Tales of the World: Tactics Union is a tactical role-playing game released for Android mobile devices by Bandai Namco Games. It is a spinoff of the Tales series of video games. It was released on July 2, 2012 in Japan, with no announcement towards release in English speaking regions. In January 2013, the game was ported to the iOS platform, and in October 2014, a 3DS version entitled Tales of the World: Reve Unitia was released as well.

<i>Monster Strike</i> 2013 video game

Monster Strike is a mobile Japanese role-playing physics game with elements of puzzle, strategy and cooperative multiplayer. It is developed by Mixi for iOS and Android platforms. The game was created by former Capcom game designer Yoshiki Okamoto. In Japan, its name is often shortened to MonSt. The game can be summed up as a cross between Nintendo's Pokémon and Capcom's Metal Walker; the former in that it centers around monster collecting and the latter in that battles take place using catapult mechanics.

<i>Trails</i> (series) Video game franchise

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<i>Dragon Coins</i> 2012 video game

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<i>White Cat Project</i> 2014 video game

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<i>Raid: Shadow Legends</i> 2019 freemium video game

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<i>Arknights</i> 2019 video game

Arknights is a free-to-play tactical RPG/tower defense mobile game developed by Chinese developer Hypergryph. It was released in China on 1 May 2019, in other countries on 16 January 2020, and in Taiwan on 29 June 2020. Arknights is available on Android and iOS platforms and features gacha game mechanics.

<i>Bravely Default: Fairys Effect</i> 2017 mobile game

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<i>Touhou LostWord</i> Free-to-play video game

Touhou LostWord is a free-to-play mobile Touhou fangame developed in 2020 by NextNinja, and published by Good Smile Company. The game is licensed by Team Shanghai Alice, the publisher of the official Touhou games.

<i>Punishing: Gray Raven</i> 2019 video game

Punishing: Gray Raven is a mobile action role-playing game developed and published by Kuro Games. It was first released in China on December 5, 2019 and a year later on December 4, 2020 in Japan. The game was released globally on July 16, 2021.

<i>Tales of Luminaria</i> 2021 video game

Tales of Luminaria was a 2021 mobile game developed by Colopl. The game is published by Bandai Namco Entertainment and released on iOS and Android. An anime adaptation by Kamikaze Douga premiered on January 20, 2022. The game was shut down on July 19, 2022.

<i>Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia</i> 2017 video game

Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia was a free-to-play role-playing video game set in the Dissidia universe of fighting games. Opera Omnia was published by Final Fantasy franchise owner Square Enix, and was co-developed by Square Enix and Team Ninja, who also developed Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, for iOS and Android. Opera Omnia launched on February 1, 2017, in Japan, and was released worldwide on January 30, 2018.

<i>Artery Gear: Fusion</i> 2021 video game

Artery Gear: Fusion is a turn-based mobile gacha game developed by Access and published by bilibili on Android and iOS platforms. The game was released in China in May 2021, in Japan on November 18, 2021, and globally on June 14, 2022.

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