14 Best Gacha Games in 2025 (+ New & Upcoming Gacha)

Gacha games have a bad reputation, and I have a love-hate relationship with them, like I’m sure many people do. Yes, they are basically slot machines designed to make you spend money, but they’re also… well, fun. Unless RNGesus hates you. Like it hates me.

All that aside, there are some really bad eggs out there. But there are also good ones.

And because I’m such a fan (or a glutton for punishment, undecided), I played a bunch and created this list of the best gacha games. Yes, my luck with these was bad across the board, but I enjoyed them, and felt these… well, saying they respect your time and money would be pushing it, but if not that, then at least reward your effort (otherwise known as the pity system).

So, if you’re up for a bit of a dopamine rush, check these out.

What are Gacha games? Gacha games are a genre of video games, primarily on mobile platforms, that use a randomized reward system similar to capsule-toy vending machines (known as “gachapon” in Japan). You spend in-game currency (which you either earn or buy) to get random characters, items, or equipment. It’s a bit like gambling, with the goal to get the rarest or the most powerful item. But that aside, they often have elements like strategy, turn-based fighting, and more.

Solo Leveling: Arise 

As of late I’ve been really enjoying playing Solo Leveling: Arise and I’ve gotta hand it to them, they’re doing it right. Not only do they’ve a superb art style, animations, and story but also they somehow managed to balance the game. 

I played Solo Leveling for a while and even though there are few pop up purchase recommendations daily, I had no need/urge for buying them. Mainly because I feel like they’ve been showering me with resources, at least enough to keep me going as a F2P.

Besides that one, creating various teams, farming gear, trying to get right builds, and of course summoning is such fun. If you’re not careful, you’ll get carried away and spend the whole day playing it. 

Summoners War

I’ve poured so many hours into Summoners War that if I’d spent that time on any other game, I might’ve gone pro by now. And honestly? No regrets. Not now, not ever. Sure, the game’s been around forever and it’s definitely not for everyone—but I still think it’s worth giving a shot.

Besides summoning a large pool of monsters, there is various content in the game like runes (gear), events, TOA (it’s a tower where you fight different monsters and get juicy rewards), regular arena, and live arena where you fight other players in real time. It can keep you busy for years whether you play casually or hardcore. 

And lastly, I had nothing but a positive experience when it comes to the community. Everyone seems nice and willing to help with any advice that you need. 

Reverse: 1999

Okay, if you haven’t checked out Reverse: 1999 yet, you’re seriously missing out on one of the most stylish and weirdly captivating mobile games out there. It’s a turn-based, story-driven game where you hop through different decades, think 1920s jazz clubs one minute, post-war chaos the next, trying to fix time while wrangling a cast of beautifully unhinged characters. 

The art is straight-up stunning, like vintage postcards had a baby with a surrealist painting, and the voice acting? Full-on cinematic. 

The combat system blends strategy with a card-based mechanic that actually keeps things fresh, and the story’s got enough twists to keep you completely hooked. Check out my full review here.

Wuthering Waves

Initially I was torn about Wuthering Waves but once I took a short break, and came back to it, I ended up liking it more than I did before. This game hits you with a post-apocalyptic, high-concept sci-fi world that feels like NieR: Automata and Genshin had a very stylish, very emotional baby. 

What sets Wuthering Waves apart isn’t just its sleek visuals or the fluid movement system (double jump, wall run, aerial combos — yes please), but the atmosphere. The soundtrack is ridiculous in the best way, full of melancholic bangers that make every boss fight feel like the final act of an art-house anime. 

Combat-wise, it’s flashy but precise, with parries, dodges, and timing-based skills that feel way more responsive than the average gacha game. And the Echo system? Basically lets you absorb enemy abilities and go full Pokémon-but-edgy with your build.

Epic Seven

If you were ever tangled into Summoners War world, at some point you were bound to hear about Epic Seven and vice-versa. Or maybe you’re just a gacha fan that found it by yourself. And if this is your first time hearing about it, I got you covered.

If you’ve ever wanted a turn-based RPG that blends anime-level storytelling with PvP chaos and just the right amount of salt-inducing RNG, E7 delivers. And then some. 2D art? Gorgeous. The ult animations? Still some of the cleanest in the genre. And the character designs? Half of them look like they just stepped out of a light novel cover and the other half could ruin your life (in the best way).

What keeps this game alive, though, isn’t just the waifus, it’s the depth. Between gear grinding, PvE content like Abyss and Hunt, and PvP modes like Arena and Guild War (where the whales roam free), there’s always something to optimize, reroll, or yell about. Plus, the devs are constantly adding new units, side stories, and collabs that somehow make your bookmark stash evaporate overnight. 

Which makes the game lean more towards the whales side but hey this is still a gacha game. I’ve played it as F2P for a while and while the gap is noticeable, I had no big issues while clearing most of the content.

Arknights

If you’re a gacha fiend like me, Arknights might just be your next strategic addiction. Don’t let the “tower defense” label fool you. This game is a straight-up operator collector at heart, with banners that’ll have you refreshing your sanity (and wallet) faster than you can say “W.” The pull animations? Clean. The dopamine hit when you hear that 6-star jingle? Electric. And the best part? The rates are actually… fair. So you can still enjoy it as F2P.

Arknights runs on a 2% 6-star rate, which isn’t terrible by gacha standards, and it has a soft pity system that kicks in at 50 pulls, guaranteeing a 6-star at 90. Add in a built-in spark system for limited banners, and suddenly this game feels way more respectful of your time (and resources) than most of its genre cousins. Plus, every unit has use, you can clear most content without chasing meta like it’s your part-time job, which makes hoarding for favorites way more viable.

Check out my full review of Arknights here!

One Piece: Treasure Cruise

If you’ve ever wanted to collect every One Piece character (and then some), Treasure Cruise is the grand line gacha trip you’ve been looking for. This one’s a ride. It’s been out since forever, and somehow it’s still going strong, dropping new units like Oda drops lore bombs, consistently and with maximum hype. Whether you’re chasing Gear 5 Luffy, a busted Legends unit, or that one oddly specific version of Sanji in a suit, this game has you covered with a roster that’s really stacked.

The gacha system? Let’s just say it’s not the most generous ocean to sail on. Rates for top-tier units (especially Legends) can be brutal. But Bandai throws enough rainbow gems at you during events, logins, and campaigns to keep you pulling regularly without selling a kidney. 

Combat is rhythm-tap-based and deceptively deep team synergy, buffs, type matchups, specials… There’s a ton to think about, especially in high-end content. And honestly? The thrill of building squads around your favorite Straw Hats never really gets old.

If you love One Piece, and you’re down for a gacha experience that’s got legacy, depth, and a ton of fan service, Treasure Cruise is still one of the most iconic anime gachas out there. Just… pace yourself. The sea is vast, and your gem stash is not.

Genshin Impact

Still the undisputed king of open-world gacha, Genshin Impact proves that a free-to-play RPG can deliver console-level quality. With a sprawling map, cinematic storytelling, and addictive elemental combat, it’s become the gold standard for mobile and PC gacha games.

You explore the magical continent of Teyvat, unlock characters via banners, and build synergies across elements like Pyro, Hydro, and Electro. The gacha system can be punishing (especially if you’re aiming for meta units), but the game showers you with enough content and freebies to keep most players satisfied.

Updates are frequent and massive, and though it can be slow paced, it’s great if you love open worlds and more chill gameplay.

Persona 5: The Phantom X

Persona 5: The Phantom X is what happens when you take the style and swagger of Persona and repackage it into a gacha game that actually works. You play as Wonder, a new Phantom Thief with a brand-new crew, exploring cognitive dungeons and navigating daily life.

It’s stylish, fully voiced (in Japanese), and packed with that slick UI and jazzy soundtracks. Combat is classic turn-based Persona, with elemental weaknesses and All-Out Attacks. But make no mistake—this is a mobile-first game. While it dodges a lot of mobile gacha annoyances (like energy gates), it does lean into a monetized Confidant system that can feel grindy. Still, it’s shockingly faithful to the original and worth checking out for any Persona fan.

Blue Archive

Blue Archive is a tactical RPG that blends waifu collecting with surprisingly good storytelling. You play as a “Sensei” tasked with guiding squads of anime schoolgirls through the chaotic city of Kivotos, solving mysteries and fighting off armed delinquents.

Combat plays out in real-time with chibi 3D models and skill-based deployment. It’s more strategic than it looks, and the character synergy actually matters. What really sets it apart is the writing, surprisingly enough. Blue Archive’s storylines are often hilarious, sometimes emotional, and full of great character moments.

It also has generous freebies and a loyal fanbase that swears by its worldbuilding. Whether you’re here for the cute waifus or tactical battles, you’ll find depth in both.

Lost Sword

One of the more unexpected entries of 2025, Lost Sword: Tales of Britania quietly launched on July 10 and is already finding a niche among idle RPG fans. It’s a side-scrolling gacha RPG with slick 2D visuals, autoplay combat, and a fantasy-meets-anime story where you (as Ethan, a human from Earth) get isekai’d into a magical version of Arthurian legend. The goal is to recover Excalibur and fix a broken kingdom while pulling a bunch of anime knights along the way.

This one leans hard into idle mechanics: fights are automated, progression happens even while you’re offline, and team-building is more about power levels than strategy. Pull rates are fairly generous (3% base SSR rate), and the early game is friendly to free-to-play players. Don’t expect deep tactics or competitive PvP, but if you want a laid-back, good-looking gacha to check in on daily, Lost Sword might be worth adding to your rotation.

Umamusume

On paper, Umamusume sounds absurd: you train anime horse girls to race and become pop idols. But in practice it’s one of the deepest and most addictive gacha sims out there. You manage your “daughter” over a 70-week training arc, balancing speed, stamina, and skills before sending her to race against rivals.

The game is a mix of strategy, RNG, and emotional investment. It’s polished to a mirror shine, with slick animations, great music, and over 100 playable characters, each based on real racehorses. The global release in 2025 opened the floodgates, and streamers helped fuel its breakout moment. If you want a mix of long-term planning, gacha pulls, and idol anime vibes, Pretty Derby delivers.

Zenless Zone Zero

Zenless Zone Zero, is a sleek urban action-RPG that blends fluid combat with a VHS-fueled cyberpunk aesthetic. You play as a “Proxy” guiding agents through Hollow dimensions to fight monsters in real-time combo-based combat. Think Bayonetta meets Persona, but in gacha form.

It nails the vibe—chunky CRT menus, analog city tech, and banger music tracks. The gacha system revolves around characters and W-Engines (basically weapons), with some P2W pitfalls, but it’s fair compared to others. What keeps people coming back is how stylish everything feels. It’s the kind of game where every menu looks cool, every character oozes personality, and the action just feels good.

Check out my full review of Zenless Zone Zero here!

AFK Journey

AFK Journey takes the idle formula and turns it into a genuinely compelling tactical RPG. Set in the same universe as AFK Arena, it features full 3D visuals, grid-based combat, and a vast explorable world with puzzles, loot, and story quests.

Heroes are easy to collect and level thanks to generous systems, and the game’s terrain-based battles make team comp and positioning matter a lot more than in typical idle games. It’s also drop-dead gorgeous. This is one of the few gacha games where the chill pacing actually works in its favor—you can hop in, progress, and log off without feeling like you missed out. It’s friendly to F2P players and is winning a lot of love from strategy fans.

I have a full review of AFK Journey here, if you’re curious to find out more.

Most Anticipated Gacha Games in 2025

The gacha space is evolving rapidly, and 2025 is packed with high-profile releases that are pushing the genre forward. Whether you’re into open-world exploration, strategic combat, or fast-paced action, these upcoming titles are worth watching. Here are the most anticipated gacha games set to release in 2025:

Ananta (formerly Project Mugen)

Developer: NetEase Games
Platforms: PC, Mobile, PS5
Release Date: 2025 (TBA)

Ananta is an open-world action RPG that blends urban fantasy with high-speed traversal mechanics. Players step into the role of investigators working to maintain order in a supernatural cityscape teeming with anomalies. There’s grappling, parkour, wall-running, and striking, futuristic city environments. With real-time combat, a large playable cast, and a polished presentation, it’s shaping up to be one of the most ambitious gacha titles of the year. The game’s aesthetic and exploration systems draw comparisons to both Genshin Impact and Spider-Man, but with a stronger focus on modern sci-fi themes.

Azur Promilia

Developer: Manjuu (Azur Lane devs)
Platforms: PC, PS5 (mobile unconfirmed)
Release Date: Early 2025

Azur Promilia is a fantasy RPG from the creators of Azur Lane, focusing on character collection, exploration, and companion-based gameplay. It introduces a lush world filled with magical creatures that players can tame, train, and fight alongside. The visual style is high-end and cinematic, and while combat details are still emerging, early trailers suggest a mix of real-time and turn-based elements. With an emphasis on narrative and character development, Azur Promilia looks to deliver a premium RPG experience backed by a studio known for strong live service support.

Neverness to Everness

Developer: Hotta Studio (Tower of Fantasy)
Platforms: PC, Mobile, Console
Release Date: Q3 2025 (estimated)

Neverness to Everness is a large-scale urban action RPG built on traversal, supernatural combat, and open-world freedom. Set in a sprawling city filled with high-tech threats and chaotic anomalies, players explore using wall-running, grappling, and hoverboard-style movement. The game aims to blend cinematic storytelling with emergent sandbox gameplay, offering diverse character abilities and co-op features. Developed by the team behind Tower of Fantasy, this project is being positioned as a next-gen gacha sandbox with ambitious world-building and a dynamic event system.

Arknights: Endfield

Developer: Hypergryph
Platforms: PC, Mobile, Console
Release Date: Mid 2025

Arknights: Endfield is a real-time tactical RPG that expands on the Arknights universe with a fully 3D world and base management systems. Unlike the original’s tower defense gameplay, Endfield focuses on party-based exploration and strategic combat in an alien world called Talos-II. Players can build facilities, manage resources, and control operators in real-time battles. The game maintains the franchise’s signature art style while introducing a more immersive, hands-on gameplay loop. It’s poised to attract both longtime fans and newcomers looking for a deeper strategy RPG with strong production value.

Duet Night Abyss

Developer: Pan Studio
Platforms: PC, Mobile
Release Date: 2025

Duet Night Abyss is a combat-focused gacha RPG that emphasizes fast movement, fluid animation, and real-time action. The core mechanic revolves around dual protagonists—players switch between them mid-battle to perform skill chains, combo attacks, and high-mobility maneuvers. With systems like wall-running, bullet jumps, and seamless melee-to-ranged transitions, combat is designed to feel responsive and kinetic. The game’s art direction and world design take cues from dark fantasy and science fiction, offering a stylized backdrop to its high-speed action.

Conclusion

Now, time for my regular speech when it comes to gacha games. If you’re going to spend in one of those games, please spend responsibly. Remember, no matter how good these games look, they’re still gacha games. Designed to make you spend money. So even if you think your luck is bad, it’s not, it’s just the way the game is made.