Gacha games explained in 2025: Popular examples, mechanics, history & more

Whether you play gacha games or not, you’ve likely heard the term used before. Yet, while gacha games are commonplace in the video games industry, not everyone knows what they are, nor the history behind their creation. Even now, despite the controversy these games evoke, their popularity persists. 

From mobile gacha games to PC titles, these experiences are addictive in nature due to a combination of luck, risk and traditional video game elements. To better understand this growing genre, The Escapist will explore the history of gacha games, explain their game mechanics, and cover some of the most popular examples currently available. 

The Escapist recaps

• Gacha games refer to free-to-play video games that include options to purchase in-game items with real money. 
• Currently, the gacha games revenue projection is estimated to reach over $781,000,000 (in US dollars) by 2030. 
• The first gacha game was released in 2010 and was born from gachapon, aka toy vending machines, hence the name gacha games. 
• Offering unique gameplay, exclusive items, vibrant environments, and intriguing characters, the gacha games list continues to grow at a rapid pace. 
• Popular gacha games include Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, Infinity Nikki, Wuthering Waves, and Guardian Tales, to name but a few. 

What are Gacha games?

“What are gacha games?” is a commonly asked question. Despite the genre’s long history, there’s an air of mystery about these titles. One could argue that this is due to the themes, characters, worldscapes, etc varying from game to game. However, while there can be notable differences, the main mechanics remain the same.

Gacha games are typically free-to-play titles, in which players can purchase in-game rewards, though said rewards are randomised. It’s this exchange of money for unknown prizes that makes gacha titles so unique but also controversial. 

Gacha mechanics explained

As previously mentioned, gacha games involve exchanging real money for in-game goods. Even though you’re never forced to purchase anything, players are incentivised to pay in order to progress faster and with better items. 

Whatever you’re exchanging your money for – characters, cosmetics, equipment – the odds of what you’ll receive is based on a rarity system. The rarer the reward, the more difficult and less likely you are to get it, which then drives up its desirability. 

Free gacha games also hold time-limited events in which speed is of the essence if you’re to obtain these rarer rewards, which typically encourages real money to be used in a bid to succeed before time runs out. 

History of Gacha games

The first gacha game is often cited as Dragon Collection, which was released in 2010 and published by Konami. 

Having taken inspiration from gachapon, a type of randomised vending machine that dates back to the 1960s, Dragon Collection was the first digital game that built its gameplay around those mechanics. 

Some contest this, arguing that MapleStory is the first online gacha game, as it used gachapon tickets purchased with real cash in exchange for items. However, while gacha aspects were present, it wasn’t the primary gameplay mechanic, unlike Dragon Collection. 

Dragon Collection proved that in-game monetisation worked, and thus other developers soon followed suit. Once smartphones became a common, everyday item, the success of free gacha games increased. These games became readily accessible and free, allowing even the most inexperienced gamer to join in. 

Most popular Gacha games in 2025

It’s been 15 years since Dragon Collection paved the way for the genre, yet gacha games are as popular as ever. To show you just how much staying power these titles have, here’s a brief overview of the three most popular gacha games in 2025. 

Genshin Impact

Set in the fictional world of Teyvat, Genshin Impact is an open-world gacha game. The narrative follows the Traveler as they attempt to find their lost sibling. Although the title launched in 2020, the main character has yet to be properly reunited with their sibling, and thus the main storyline is ongoing. 

Honkai: Star Rail

Similar to Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail is an RPG, anime gacha game. Having launched in 2023, the story follows a familiar format seen across many RPGs, with the main protagonist suffering from amnesia. Known as the Trailblazer, the narrative is centred around recovering their lost memories.  

Zenless Zone Zero

New Eridu is the only city left standing against the Hollows in this post-apocalyptic online gacha game. Siblings, Belle and Wise (otherwise known as Proxy), are attempting to find out the truth about what really happened in the old city. This HoYoverse creation is a much newer IP, having launched in 2024, yet it already has a considerable following.

Most played Gacha games

Due to the size and scope of the gacha games market, we’ve compiled a list of the most played gacha games, according to the number of Google Play Store downloads. Even though the titles listed are all mobile gacha games, several are also available on PC.

• Genshin Impact – 100M+
• Zenless Zone Zero – 10M+
• Honkai: Star Rail – 10M+
• Wuthering Waves – 10M+
• Guardian Tales – 10M+
• Fire Emblem Heroes – 10M+
• Arknights – 5M+
• Another Eden – 1M+
• Etheria Restart – 1M+
• Umamusume: Pretty Derby – 1M+

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References

1. Gacha Games Market Size to Grow USD 781.5 Million by 2030 at a CAGR of 8.5% | Valuates Reports (PR Newswire)