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 with an article of their own and which have been released in an English-language version.

Overview of gacha games
Name Genre English language availability Notes or short description Ref.
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 2020 Noted for its soundtrack featuring high-profile musicians. [5]
Artery Gear: Fusion Turn-based strategy 2021 [6]
Azur Lane Shoot 'em up 2019 Anthropomorphizes historic warships as young girls. [7]
BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Rhythm game 2018 Part of the BanG Dream! music franchise. [8]
Bleach: Brave Souls Beat 'em up 2016 Part 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 2021 Part of the Devsisters Cookie Run franchise.
D4DJ Groovy Mix Rhythm game 2021 Part of the D4DJ music media franchise. [12]
DanMachi: Memoria Freese Eastern role-playing 2017–2024 Part of the Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Light novel franchise.
Disney Twisted-Wonderland Adventure, Rhythm 2022 Part of a collaboration between Aniplex and Walt Disney Japan. [13]
Dragalia Lost Action role-playing 2018–2022 First Nintendo IP released only on mobile platforms. [14]
Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle Board / puzzle game 2015 Part of the Dragon Ball media franchise. [15]
Dragon Collection Card battle 2012 The first popular Japanese gacha game, released 2010 on GREE. [16]
Eggy Party Battle royale, Platform, Party 2023
Ensemble Stars! Life Simulation 2015 Spin-off to the Ensemble Girls! (2012) [17]
Epic Seven Eastern role-playing 2018
Fate/Grand Order Tactical role-playing 2017 Part of the Fate/stay night visual novel franchise. [18]
Final Fantasy All the Bravest Eastern role-playing 2013–2023 Part 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 2016 Part 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 2017 Spin-off of the Fire Emblem series. [21]
Genshin Impact Open-world action role-playing 2020
Girls' Frontline Turn-based strategy 2018 Anthropomorphizes firearms as young girls. [22]
Girls' Frontline: Neural Cloud Real-time strategy 2022 Spin-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 2020 Part of the Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA franchise.
Honkai Impact 3rd Hack and slash 2018 [26]
Honkai: Star Rail Eastern role-playing 2023 Spin-off to Honkai Impact 3rd (2018)
Identity V Multiplayer survival horror 2018 [27]
Kingdom Hearts χ Tactical role-playing 2016 Part 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 2021 Part of the KonoSuba Light novel franchise. [29]
Langrisser Mobile Tactical role-playing 2019 Part of the Langrisser franchise.
Limbus Company Dungeon role-playing 2023 Sequel to Library of Ruina (2021). [30]
Love Live! School Idol Festival Rhythm game 2014–2023 Part of the Love Live! franchise. Has a 2020 spin-off: Love Live! School Idol Festival All Stars. [31]
Magia Record Tactical role-playing 2019 Spin-off of the anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica. [32]
Mario Kart Tour Kart racing 2019 14th 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 2016–2020 Part of the Final Fantasy franchise.
Monster Strike Physics game 2014 Became 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 2016–2021 Spin-off of the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja fighting game series. [36]
Neverness to Everness Action role-playing TBD [37]
Nier Reincarnation Eastern role-playing 2021–2024 Part of the Nier franchise.
Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds Eastern role-playing 2021 Part of the Ni no Kuni franchise.
Onmyōji Eastern role-playing 2016 Part of the Onmyōji novel franchise.
Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent Role-playing game 2021 Part of the Octopath Traveler franchise.
One Piece Bounty Rush Beat 'em up 2018 Based on the One Piece franchise. Re-released in 2019. [38]
One Piece Treasure Cruise Tactical role-playing 2015 Based on the One Piece franchise. [39]
Pokémon Masters EX Pokémon 2019 Originally named Pokémon Masters. Based on the Pokémon franchise. [40]
Princess Connect! Re:Dive Eastern role-playing 2021 Sequel game to Princess Connect! (2015–2016). Received an anime adaptation. [41]
Punishing: Gray Raven Hack and slash 2021 [42]
Puzzle & Dragons Tile-matching 2012 Received spin-offs including Puzzle & Dragons X and Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario Bros. Edition. [43]
Raid: Shadow Legends Auto-battler 2019 Famous for its good graphics and now free-to-play player base. [44]
Reverse: 1999 Tactical role-playing 2023
Schoolgirl Strikers 2/Twinkle Melodies Visual novel-RPG 2014–2017–2018 Part of the Schoolgirl Strikers media franchise.
Seven Knights Eastern role-playing 2014–2023
Seven Knights 2 MMORPG 2020 Sequel game to Seven Knights (2014).
Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2 Eastern role-playing 2018 Part of the Megami Tensei franchise. [45]
Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight -Re LIVE- Rhythm game 2018-2024 Part of the Revue Starlight media franchise. [46]
SINoALICE Eastern role-playing 2020–2024 Directed by Yoko Taro (Drakengard). [47]
Solo Leveling: ARISE Action role-playing, Hack and slash 2024 Game adaptation to the Manhwa Solo Leveling. [48]
Sword Art Online: Integral Factor MMORPG 2017 Based on Sword Art Online Light Novel franchise. [49]
Tears of Themis Adventure, Visual Novel 2020 [50]
The King of Fighters All Star Beat 'em up 2019 [51]
The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross Eastern role-playing 2019 Part of The Seven Deadly Sins franchise.
Tokyo Afterschool Summoners Card battle 2018 One of the first commercial Japanese LGBT video games, with art by prominent bara artists. Partially translated into English. [52]
Touhou LostWord Turn-based strategy 2021 Based on the Touhou Project series. [53]
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 2020 Spin-off of Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. [54]
Warhammer Quest: Silver Tower Tactical role-playing 2020 Part of the Warhammer Fantasy franchise. [55]
White Cat Project Action role-playing 2015–2016 Released internationally under the name Colopl Rune Story. [56]
Wuthering Waves Action role-playing 2024
Zenless Zone Zero Action role-playing, Hack and slash 2024

References

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