Gacha games get a lot of hate, and I mean… it’s not not deserved, seeing as how most of them see your wallet as their personal property. But I have to admit — they’re also so much fun. Unless RNGesus hates you like it hates me. Then it’s still fun, but also frustrating.
Anyways, it’s not about me. It’s about you. And you, apparently, want to play a gacha game. Good for you, you little masochist!
Me and my terrible luck decided to test some out. And while Mrs. Luck abandoned me pretty much immediately, I still enjoyed a lot of them. Here are the best gacha games out there, if you ask me.
Quick Overview of Best Gacha Games We Played
- Genshin Impact — Probably the best gacha experience out there; open world, clear pity mechanics, and overall beautiful game.
- Wuthering Waves — Similar to Genshin, but different; some fan-service, more traditional RPG aspects, and pretty F2P.
- Umamusume: Pretty Derby — A unique concept, but so much fun.
- Arknights — Gacha with tower defence, and a bit darker overall.
- Reverse 1999 — One of the best-looking games out there, heavy on the narrative.
- Zenless Zone Zero — Managing a VHS store + brawling with monsters? Yes please.
- Summoners War — Many fun collabs with popular media (Witcher, Demon Slayer, LoTR, etc.), and plenty to summon.
- Epic Seven — A good-looking gacha with heavy PvP elements.
- Solo Leveling: Arise — If you love the anime, you’ll love this one.
- AFK Journey — Gacha and AFK/idle mechanics in one fun package.
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.
Note: I update this list periodically to add more games or remove some if they are no longer good or dead. All of the games on this list have been tested and played by me personally. Last updated to offer more context on my experience.
If you’d like a game played/tested/considered for this list, drop a comment below!
Genshin Impact
| Developer | HoYoverse |
| Platforms | PC, iOS, Android, PS4/PS5 |
| Release | 2020 |
| F2P Viability | Medium |
Genshin Impact is probably the most popular and widely-played gacha game, so I’m not discovering a new continent here, but it’s still worth mentioning in case you’ve heard of it, but haven’t played it yet. Seriously, give it a go. It’s fun and you can summon a ton, but it’s not going to force you to forfeit your kidney to get a good mob. There are open-world mechanics, a pity system (guaranteed a 5-star character after 80 or 90 pulls without getting a 5 star), and it feels like a real adventure game instead of just a gacha.
Wuthering Waves
| Developer | Kuro Games |
| Platforms | PC, iOS, Android |
| Release | 2024 |
| F2P Viability | Moderate |
Wuthering Waves, at a first glance, seems a lot like Genshin Impact, but once you actually start playing, you realize it’s not all that similar. It’s a bit more melancholy, a bit more fan-service-y, a bit more like a traditional RPG with gacha elements. Still, I enjoyed it a lot and it has a solid pity system. The only issue is the resource farming. Leveling up characters, weapons, and echoes (its unique equipment system) requires significant grind, which can get frustrating in the long haul.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby
| Developer | Cygames |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, PC |
| Release | 2021 (JP), 2023 (Global) |
| F2P Viability | Medium-High |
Umamusume: Pretty Derby is probably one of the strangest gachas I’ve ever played. The concept is this: you’re collecting horse girls, training them and racing them competitively. But trust me on this one, this game grows on you. From such a wild concept comes a pretty neat little game with beautiful visuals and quite a learning curve. You get to do training arcs (each of which feels like a mini-campaign). And the gacha component is basically rolling for new characters and support cards. I have a guide here if it’ll help you figure it out, but all in all, I highly recommend!
Arknights
| Developer | Hypergryph / Yostar |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, PC |
| Release | 2019 (China), 2020 (Global) |
| F2P Viability | High |
Arknights is more like a tactical tower defense and less like a JRPG, but it works. You’re leveling characters and deploying your operators across the maps, while also doing defense and resource management. It’s quite challenging, but it’s also fun. The setting is also really interesting and much darker and more mature than you normally get in gachas. You get a clear pity system too, so no worries about your lack of luck or your wallet.
Reverse 1999
| Developer | Bluepoch |
| Platforms | PC, iOS, Android |
| Release | 2023 |
| F2P Viability | High |
Reverse: 1999 is one of the prettiest games I ever played. It has beautiful visuals, a great, jazzy vibe, and a fully voice-acted cast of characters. The battles are done via a card system, so it’s a bit slower in pace, and it’s more narrative in style. It’s a generous gacha as well. After 70 pulls with nothing, you get a 6 star, you get premium currency often and you don’t need to spend anything on it. The only thing I’d note is that you have to pay attention to the story itself, more so than in other games.
Zenless Zone Zero
| Developer | HoYoverse |
| Platforms | PC, iOS, Android, PS5 |
| Release | 2024 |
| F2P Viability | High |
Zenless Zone Zero is one of the games on this list I played the most. It lived on my phone for ages as my main daily game, and I loved it. You work in a VHS store (which is fun) and the aesthetics of it (city lights, neon, corporate intrigue), are a surprise. Combat is built on tight action mechanics, and feels like an arcade brawler at times. For the gacha part, you get banner rotations and clear pity systems. Honestly, you don’t need to spend a dime on ZZZ, it’s entirely F2P friendly.
Summoners War
| Developer | Com2uS |
| Platforms | iOS, Android |
| Release | 2014 |
| F2P Viability | Medium |
If there’s a “classic” in the gacha space, it’s Summoners War, at least for me. I played it with my wife when we just started dating and now we have 3 kids and we still play it at times, so you can see why. At its core, Summoners War is about building and optimizing teams from a massive roster of monsters, each with their own skills and evolutions. Combat is turn-based, but the real depth comes from rune customization, synergy across monster families, and the sheer amount of stuff you can do.
The gacha system is more old-school than modern titles like Honkai or Wuthering Waves. Pull rates can feel harsher than in most games, and progressing without spending takes patience. Still, the game has matured to the point where generous events, collaborations, and long-term resource systems make free-to-play progress achievable — especially if you’re willing to grind. It’s not the most newcomer-friendly gacha, but if you love depth and routine, it’ll fit like a glove.
Epic Seven
| Developer | Super Creative / Smilegate |
| Platforms | iOS, Android |
| Release | 2018 |
| F2P Viability | Medium |
Epic Seven is pretty quick to pick up but hard to master. Characters have clearly defined roles, unique personalities, and the synergy between them determines whether you succeed in PvE dungeons, PvP arenas, or guild wars. Pity mechanics exist, but rates can still be tough if you’re unlucky. If you’re free-to-play, you can progress through the story and farm gear at a steady pace, but if you’re aiming to keep up in PvP, the grind is significant. That said, there are regular events and collaborations (including anime crossovers) which help make it easier.
Solo Leveling: Arise
| Developer | Netmarble |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, PC |
| Release | 2024 |
| F2P Viability | Medium |
Solo Leveling: Arise had hype baked in from the start — adapting one of the most beloved webtoons and anime in recent memory will do that to you. Where many gachas lean on turn-based systems, Arise has fast-paced, real-time combat that puts you directly in control of Sung Jinwoo and other hunters (what are their names exactly?). The game follows the story beats you already know — Jinwoo’s rise from the weakest hunter to the most powerful — but layers in a gacha system where you summon and build other hunters to join your team.
Mind the spoilers, though!
AFK Journey
| Developer | Hothead Games |
| Platforms | iOS, Android |
| Release | 2023 |
| F2P Viability | High |
AFK Journey is an idle gacha, so it’s very approachable. Instead of demanding hours of your time, it lets you progress automatically while you’re away. Combat and progression are largely automated. You create the team and do hero upgrades, and equipment optimization, while the game runs battles in the background. There are occasional tactical choices — like which heroes to invest in or which stages to push — but the primary gameplay loop is easy-going and forgiving.
Gacha Games Comparison
| Game | Pity System | Why Give it a Try? |
|---|---|---|
| Genshin Impact | 5-star guaranteed every 90 pulls (with a 50/50 chance for the featured character) | Expansive open world, deep exploration, elemental combat, and constant content updates make it a must-play for RPG fans. |
| Wuthering Waves | 5-star guaranteed every 80 pulls | Stylish, precise combat combined with exploration; great for those who like action-oriented gameplay. |
| Reverse: 1999 | 6-star guaranteed every 70 pulls; 50% chance for the rate-up character | Unique card-based combat with a surreal, narrative-driven world; ideal for story-focused players. |
| Zenless Zone Zero | 5-star guaranteed every 90 pulls; 50% chance for the rate-up character | High-energy urban action RPG with snappy combat; appealing to players who love fast, arcade-style battles. |
| Summoners War | No pity system | Deep monster collection, long-term progression, and competitive PvP; classic gacha longevity. |
| Epic Seven | 5-star guaranteed every 120 pulls | Gorgeous 2D visuals and fast-paced turn-based combat; perfect for players who enjoy stylish battles and team synergy. |
| Solo Leveling: Arise | 5-star guaranteed every 90 pulls; 50% chance for the rate-up SSR | Cinematic, action-packed gameplay tied to a beloved IP; great for fans of high-octane combat. |
| Umamusume: Pretty Derby | 5-star guaranteed every 200 pulls | Unique raising sim and racing mechanics; perfect for players who enjoy management + collection games. |
| Arknights | 6-star guaranteed every 60 pulls; 5-star guaranteed every 10 pulls | Strategic tower defense with a mature dystopian story; rewarding for players who love tactical challenges. |
| AFK Journey | 5-star guaranteed every 40 pulls | Casual, idle-friendly gacha; perfect for newcomers or players with limited time. |
FAQs
Yes! All the games in our list are free-to-play. While in-app purchases can speed up progression or unlock exclusive characters, you can enjoy the core gameplay, story, and events without spending a dime. Some even provide generous free currency and regular login rewards for long-term players.
Many gacha games are optimized for a wide range of devices, but performance can vary. Games like Epic Seven and AFK Journey run smoothly on older phones, while more graphically intense titles like Genshin Impact may struggle on low-end hardware. Always check the official system requirements for your device.
Not necessarily. While spending can give faster access to rare characters, most gacha games provide ways for free-to-play players to gradually build strong teams through events, missions, and free summons. Patience and strategic play often go a long way.
Many popular gacha games now offer cross-platform play or official PC clients. Titles like Solo Leveling: Arise, Reverse: 1999, and Wuthering Waves let you play seamlessly on both PC and mobile, making it easier to switch between devices without losing progress.
Pavle is the founder of PlayForge and its lead writer and reviewer, covering PC, PS5, and mobile games, a with a focus on RPGs, MMOs, FPS games, and more. He’s been gaming since the PS2 days and now writes in-depth reviews and guides to help players find their next obsession and get gaming insights from real players, not just critics. His reviews are honest and transparent, but he always tries to stay positive, because in his opinion, almost any game can be fun if you look at it the right way.
In his free time, he likes to (obviously) play more games, spend time with his family, theorycraft about various media with his wife, and watch anime. So yes, he’s a complete nerd, even if he’ll never admit it.
