If you are a mobile game fan, you have probably played most of the popular titles like Call of Duty and Mobile Legends. And if you are raring for something new, then gacha games is a genre that you might be interested in. Find out what this genre has to offer and what are the best titles to play.
What are gacha games anyway?
Gacha games are a type of game that originated in Japan. Their main feature is a lottery system that lets players draw different characters and items for use within the game. The name itself is a reference to the popular gashapon, or gacha, machines found in the country. These vending machines dispense capsules containing prize items or toys after you insert a token into them.
The gacha game mechanic is similar to the loot box mechanic found in games like Overwatch or Call of Duty. However, their main difference is the kind of items that each offers. With loot boxes, you generally get only cosmetic items, like alternate character skins or insignias, which do not affect the gameplay.
On the other hand, the items you get in gacha games directly influence the gameplay. For instance, you can get characters that have different game abilities, or support items that boost these characters. These different items allow for a wide variety of gameplay styles that will get players invested.
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Most gacha games are free and players can earn tokens for rolling by completing various in-game quests. However, they can also purchase token packs to get more spins on the gacha system. Players who are into collecting all the characters can often spend several hundred dollars to get more chances. However, F2P (free to play) gamers still find these games a fun challenge as they try to progress using whatever characters and items they get.
But whichever gameplay you prefer, here are some of the best gacha titles that you should check out.
Gacha game no. 1: Fate/Grand Order
Launched in 2015 (2017 for the North American/international server), Fate/Grand Order is part of the popular Fate/Stay Night multimedia franchise. In the game, you take on the role of the Master, a novice mage tasked to prevent the destruction of humanity. Aiding you in your quest are the Servants, personalities from history and mythology that you summon into battle.
The first thing that will definitely draw you to the game is the story. Being part of the sprawling Fate franchise, you get a large amount of lore to follow. There are also a ton of mini-quests that flesh out the many characters you encounter in the game.
FGO’s gameplay is relatively simple. It uses a turn-based system where you and the AI enemies take turns attacking. However, what makes it engrossing is how you use your team of servants for each battle. Each servant has advantages and disadvantages over specific enemies. They also come with unique skills that you have to mix and match to win.
A common challenge for players is to use a single servant character, or solo, the most difficult quests. Meanwhile, others will try to clear these missions using only low-ranking units. All of these add plenty of replay value for the game.
Gacha game no. 2: Azure Lane
Azure Lane is one of the older gacha games that remain popular among players. It was launched in China and Japan in 2017, while the international version went live in 2019. The game has been well-received for its unique gameplay.
In the game, you collect characters representing various World War II battleships. You then organize these “ship girls” into fleets to take on missions patterned after the events of WW2. A fun aspect of the game is strategizing how to build your fleets based on the categories of ships you have. What more, you have over 450 ship characters to collect.
The combat is fairly simple, using a side-scrolling shooter format. You control your fleet through a virtual joystick, with the attacks being done automatically based on the ships you have. This intuitive control will make it easy for first-time players to jump in.
Beyond the battle, this gacha game comes with other fun game modes where you get to interact with your collected characters. In the dormitory mode, you get to “feed” your ship girls to help them gain more experience points. You can even buy virtual furniture sets for the dormitory through earning quest points. Then, there’s the Marriage mode, where you give “promise rings” obtained through missions or bought with in-game currency to your favorite characters. These “married” characters get stat boosts during missions, as well as wedding dress sprites.
Gacha game no. 3: Marvel Strike Force
If you are not into anime-style mobile games, then Marvel Strike Force is a gacha game that is probably more up your alley. In the game, you control a team of superheroes and villains from the different Marvel titles and battle against invaders. There are over 200 characters to collect and new characters are added to the roster every few months.
The gameplay is turn-based, with two rounds for each battle. Here, you need to create a team of five. In each turn, you can have characters buffing, or powering up, your teammates, while weakening enemy units. You can also use special attacks to increase the damage against enemy units.
There are several modes that you can play in, including multiplayer modes. In Arena, you battle other squads for daily prizes. With Raids, you team up with up to 24 other players to complete a quest. The game also routinely releases special events based on various Marvel titles like Avengers Infinity War.
Gacha game no. 4: Raid: Shadow Legends
If you have been following popular YouTube channels, chances are that you have already come across Raid: Shadow Legends. The game has been memefied due to its rather aggressive promotional campaign on so many channels. But it also turns out to be a fairly fun gacha game in its own right.
The game’s biggest draw is the sheer amount of characters that you can collect. As of now, there are over 400 unique units in the game. There are also a large number of options to customize your characters’ skills. However, you do need to grind a lot to upgrade your units.
Fortunately, the game has an auto-play feature that lets you run it on its own. The graphics are also fairly good, reminiscent of other popular western RPGs. But do take note that their monetization schemes can get rather annoying.
Have fun spinning the gacha in these games
As these titles show, gacha games offer a lot for those looking for a fun game to play during lazy days. But be ready, as they can get engrossing after a while. And as a last piece of advice, just stick to free-to-play. You will enjoy these games a lot more that way.