In today’s gaming world, if a developer wants to make serious money, two models seem to dominate: gacha games and loot boxes. Despite their often-criticized pay-to-win (P2W) mechanics, these games are not just surviving—they’re thriving. But how does this impact players? Are they an elaborate scam, or is there more to it? And why do people keep playing them?
As someone who got hooked on gacha games pretty badly, I intend to answer all these questions—and many more.
What Are Gacha Games?
For those unfamiliar, gacha games implement mechanics inspired by Japanese gachapon machines—those toy vending machines where you insert money and receive a random capsule with a toy inside.
In the gaming world, gacha games are typically free-to-play mobile RPGs that revolve around team-building and heavily promote purchasing in-game items. These purchases usually involve a summoning system where players obtain characters, gear, or other collectibles through a randomized process. These items are divided into tiers—often determined by stars, grades, colors, elements, or rarity. The higher the tier, the lower the chances of obtaining it.
At first glance, this might seem fair. You pay for something and receive a reward, right? Well, not exactly.
The Problem with Gacha Games
Unlike traditional purchases, gacha games operate on luck-based mechanics. No matter how much time or money you invest, there’s no guarantee you’ll get what you want.
As a free-to-play (F2P) player, you can grind and accumulate enough in-game currency to summon. But if luck isn’t on your side, you might walk away empty-handed. That means weeks—or even months—of effort wasted. Of course, there’s an easy solution: the game conveniently offers packs ranging from $0.99 to $99.99, allowing you to summon as much as you want.
Here’s where the real issue begins. If you’re someone who can afford to spend money and control yourself, great—go for it. But many players with addictive personalities spend entire paychecks chasing the rarest characters or items, convinced that just one more purchase will make them the best in the game.
And even if you do get what you want, there’s always an “oil prince” in the game—someone who spends the equivalent of a yearly salary in a week. This often leads to disillusionment, with players either running out of money or getting bored, eventually selling their accounts for a fraction of what they spent.
“Just Don’t Spend Money” – Easier Said Than Done
Many people argue that if gacha games are a problem, you should either avoid spending money or stop playing entirely. While that sounds simple, it’s much harder in practice.
For one, these games can be genuinely fun once you look past the money-grab mechanics. They often involve deep strategy, theory-crafting, and team-building. That’s just the surface of their appeal.
Then comes the spending trap. If you have strong self-control, that’s great. But most gacha games are meticulously designed to extract money from players. They operate like manipulative partners—at first, they shower you with free rewards and make you feel powerful. But once that honeymoon phase ends, progress slows, and your team starts struggling. Suddenly, those convenient, limited-time packs look awfully tempting. And guess what? Most of them won’t actually solve your problem—they just keep you chasing the next fix.
Loot Boxes: The Same Problem in a Different Package
Loot boxes function similarly to gacha mechanics but are often used for cosmetic items like skins. They come in different tiers, and the more desirable the reward, the lower the chances of obtaining it.
Some games even ensure that no matter how much money you spend, you may never get what you want. I’ve been there—I’ve opened countless loot boxes in various games, and 99.99% of the time, I walked away disappointed. It’s frustrating and, honestly, depressing.
But after years of playing these games, I’ve learned my lesson. I’ve realized that it’s not personal—it’s just good business. Nowadays, I play for fun and avoid loot box pages whenever possible. That doesn’t mean I don’t get tempted—games like Apex Legends, League of Legends, and Marvel Rivals certainly know how to lure players in. But at the end of the day, I remind myself that it’s all designed to keep us spending.
And I’d rather keep my money.
Final Thoughts
Gacha games and loot boxes aren’t inherently evil, but they do prey on human psychology. They create a cycle of hope, disappointment, and more spending. If you can play responsibly, that’s great. But for many players, these systems can become a financial and emotional sinkhole.
So, is it a scam? Maybe not in the legal sense, but it sure feels like one sometimes.
