Although gashapon games originated in Japan, they have become more and more popular around the world in recent years, which is undoubtedly due to the rise of mobile games. There are many gashapon games with immersive worlds, complete characters and exciting stories for you to explore. 

In this article, we will rank the best gashapon games in 2021. We make sure to include games that are compatible with Android or iOS. 

To understand what a gacha game is, you need to know the source of the gacha term: Japanese capsule toy vending machine (gachapon).

When you use the gashapon machine, it will provide you with a capsule containing a mysterious toy. The most valuable toys are the rarest.

Gacha is a video game that has and adapts to this process. They usually have a shop where you can buy loot boxes (capsules) that provide you with mysterious items. These include characters, weapons or skins. Just like the gashapon machine, the "best" items are the hardest to obtain.

Considering their roots, it is not surprising that most gashapon games have JRPG qualities, such as heavy story focus, turn-based gameplay, and a more stylized artistic style. 

Even if you have never played a gashapon game before, you may have heard of RAID: Shadow Legends. This fantasy RPG is notorious for its aggressive marketing strategy, and it has become an online meme.

Nevertheless, RAID: Shadow Legends is not "empty talk", nor is it without substance. This turn-based role-playing game takes you into a dark fantasy world, bringing you to life with stunning, delay-free graphics.

RAID has a variety of game modes for you to explore. These include battles, dungeons, faction wars, and arenas. In Faction Wars, you join a clan with your friends and fight against the fighting boss together. Arena is a PvP mode in which you can get some very rich rewards. 

There are multiple occupations in the game, and the number of characters is also increasing. Currently, there are more than 300 characters. Each character is beautifully designed and has its own unique ability and game style. You can upgrade these characters by collecting equipment and artifacts (buffs).

Although the graphics are jaw-dropping-making it suitable for those who value eye candy-the story is mediocre at best. It relies on ordinary fantasy metaphors, and the narrative is not memorable. 

Another problem with this gashapon game is that it constantly tries to persuade you to squander your cash. It regularly pops up "limited time offers" on purchaseable packaging. Advanced items can also bring significant energy peaks to your character. Therefore, this game is "freemium" in every sense.

Even so, if you don't pay much attention to the story and don't mind its freemium approach, RAID is still an excellent gashapon game. 

Marvel Strike Force is a turn-based gashapon game. It allows you to finally realize your dream of commanding a list of Marvel superheroes or super villains. Since its release, it has won several awards, such as "Best Breakthrough Game of 2019 (Google Play)".

The animation is smooth and exciting, and there are multiple game modes. Each mode is easy to learn. You can unlock new Marvel characters through spheres (gashapon components) and collecting fragments. You can use several other currencies to upgrade characters and items.

With more than 170 characters and countless rooster combinations, every battle feels unique. This makes it a gashapon game that is hard to get bored.

Azur Lane is a unique gashapon game; it combines JRPG elements and side-scrolling shooting games. You play the role of the commander of the naval fleet, and the whole story revolves around naval battles. 

The game was launched in 2017. It has become one of the most popular gashapon games, especially in Japan. In Japan, it attracted more than 5 million players in four months. In 2019, he also received his own anime adaptation and console game version (Azur Lane: Crosswave).

Although some gashapon games may be difficult to figure out at first, Azur Lane is very friendly to beginners. It will not get you into trouble (pun intended). The tutorial is fully fleshed out and clearly explains how the game works. 

The game is set in another WW2 era and incorporates various historical reference materials. This makes it very suitable for history lovers who like gacha. Although this story is not as fascinating as other gashapon games, most of the dialogue lines are vivid and colorful.

As we mentioned above, the core part of the game is its 2D shooting combat. In this mode, the characters are easy to control and their weapons will fire automatically. However, you can click the button to release more special attacks that cause damage.

There are hundreds of characters to choose and collect in the game (via gacha!). Characters have different levels and rarities, and you can also unlock equipment for them.

The character is the human form of a battleship inspired by World War II. As you might have guessed, this method produces some hilarious character designs. For example, USS Spence (destroyer class) has become a nervous and shy loli.

Azur Lane can be rough and sometimes feel repetitive. But it does update new content regularly.

Dragon Ball is one of the most successful anime ever. Not only did it affect the genre itself—especially the metaphors found in teenagers—but it also proved that anime can be popular in the West. With this in mind, it is not surprising that the gashapon games adapted from the series are so popular. 

Dragon Ball Legends has a real-time battle function in a 3D environment. The battle is fun, fast and fascinating. You control your character by swiping and tapping, and throw special moves and combinations at your opponent. You can even dodge attacks and counter them. It also has a card system that can determine your available capabilities. 

There are many game modes, including PVP and story mode. This story does feel procrastinating at times, but overall it's pretty good, and it will definitely make you invest. The visual effect is full of vitality, with a classic dragon ball style.

Arknights is a mobile tower defense game with anime beauty. The game is set in a dystopian world. The remaining survivors fought for a precious resource called the source stone.

Unlike ordinary tower defense, the turret is replaced by a character (operator). Operators have their own professions, abilities and special attack methods. There are a total of 8 classes, from snipers to medics. 

As the game progresses, Arknights will increase the difficulty and limit possible solutions. This means that you must be strategic where you place your character (turret). Therefore, this is an excellent gashapon game for those who are looking for the fun of brain teasers. 

Another important aspect of Arknights is that all the cards do not require you to squander cash. You can complete each level without the need for super rare characters. 

Although the gameplay is fairly simple, the story is fascinating and does not rely on clichés to push it forward. The game looks very attractive, with detailed textures and a 3D environment. Despite its impressive appearance, the game still runs well on low-end devices.

The gashapon experience provided by Arknights is also very generous. You have a 2% chance to get a 6-star rarity operator, and an 8% chance to get one of the 5-star rarity. Arknights also has a system that ensures that you will receive at least one high-rare operator for every 10 pulls.

Fire Emblem Heroes is a turn-based strategy battle game. You move your character on a chess-like board with the goal of destroying your opponent. This gashapon game is a derivative game of the popular Fire Emblem series. But you can feel fresh about the franchise and still enjoy the game. 

There are various maps to solve and plan your road. Designed specifically for portrait mode, all actions fit your screen. The touch screen control is smooth and one-handed friendly. The battle is also very short, with an average of 40 seconds to several minutes. All these factors make the game easy to play while traveling.

The single player campaign mode of the game does not have the most interesting story. But there are many other game modes available, including Arena Duel (PVP).

There is also a special map game mode. This mode has a rotating map (or event map), giving you a chance to get unique rewards. Each map also has special victory conditions, such as "All allies must survive." This makes some interesting games. 

There are more than 700 unlockable characters in the game, and you will never be able to collect and explore new things.

Fan of the Fire Emblem series? You will be happy to know that almost all franchise characters appear in this game.

You can get new characters through the "summon" gashapon mechanism. Character ratings range from 1 to 5 stars, with 5 stars being the best. Thanks to the 5-star markup system, the drop rate is very high. Every 5 rounds you do not get a 5-star character, the chance of getting one increases by 0.25%.

Epic Seven is a turn-based role-playing gashapon game with an extremely rich storyline. Although the overall story is simple, the characters and secondary plot add amazing depth. You will form a close connection, and as new truths are revealed, the story becomes more complex and attractive.

The full-frame animation sequence also helps to immerse you and bring the story to life. These animations are full of vitality, with characters and backgrounds full of details. Sometimes it really feels like you are watching anime. 

Even in terms of gameplay, games are still a visual enjoyment, especially special effects. They are smooth, clear, and gorgeous. The ultimate action of each character also has a special animation sequence.  

Although the game is turn-based, it is far from simple. In fact, it usually feels a bit too complicated, especially when you are just starting out. In addition to the basics, the tutorial does not cover everything. This means that you must solve the problem as you proceed and rely on the community’s online guide. Fortunately, Epic Seven has a thriving community. You can easily find players who are willing to help.

The game's gashapon system allows you to summon new heroes or upgrade equipment and levels. It provides users with a free "volume" every day. Reaching a certain level of milestone also allows you to get a special gashapon.

Genshin Impact exceeded $1 billion in box office revenue within six months of its release, and this is for good reason. This is a fantasy role-playing game with an open world environment and fascinating battles.

Although most gashapon games do not have interactive combat, Genshin uses real-time action. This allows you to control all aspects of the character. Each role has its own abilities. In addition, there are a lot of different combinations of elements to learn.

The battle even interacts with the environment. Fighting opponents in nearby waters, they will become vulnerable to electric shocks.

The world of Genshin Impact will keep you addicted for hours on end. There are so many things to see and explore, and each area is full of content. Wandering around in one place, you will undoubtedly encounter various battle events, missions and puzzles.

The soundtrack is beautiful and immersive, and the game looks amazing. It has an anime style, the feel of the Legend of Zelda, and 23 playable characters with charming designs. 

In addition, the gashapon system "Wish" allows you to unlock powerful characters and weapons. Although the chance of getting the best item is low, you can use the gashapon system without spending a penny. The non-payment method requires some refinement. But thanks to the gorgeous world and characters, it has never been a chore.

Although it has only been more than a year, the developers have already had more updates and content.

AM Reid is a content writer from the UK with a passion for technology and games. Her favorite game of all time is League of Legends. When she is not in Rift to fight her enemies, she spends time baking, reading, and binge watching the latest Netflix shows.

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