Knowing which are the best gacha games to dive into is a must before choosing what to play, as picking the wrong title can translate to investing your time and hard-earned money on a journey that might either underwhelm or only last a couple of years.
In case you are currently facing that decision and need a guiding light, don’t worry. Here are the best gacha games to play in 2024 and what each of them brings to the table.
10. Solo Leveling: ARISE (PC / Mobile)
Solo Leveling: ARISE puts players in the shoes of both Its protagonist Sung Jinwoo, and a wide array of other hunters as they face the threat of the Gates.
Although featuring impressive visuals and a unique progression system, the main star of Arise is its fast-paced combat. The latter revolves around precise inputs and incentivizes the use of creative character builds. Players will also find a comprehensive story mode here, which holds tightly to its source material. The mode is the core of the experience and must be played to unlock key mechanics and features.
9. Honkai Impact 3rd (PC / Mobile)
Honkai Impact 3rd is HoYoverse’s golden child and allows players to take control of more than 70 battlesuits as they fight for all that’s beautiful in the world. Even if still dated for some, its combat can also be seen as the branch upon which Genshin Impact grew. In it, you can switch among up to three characters while performing groundbreaking attacks and being light on your feet.
The debut of its Part 2 in February 2024 also made the game more approachable than ever. Part 2 brought to HI3 a visual upgrade and a new storyline featuring both a fully explorable map and a new main cast
8. Reverse: 1999 (PC / Mobile)
A sleeping hit for many, Reverse: 1999 puts players in the role of the Timekeeper Vertin in her quest to stop the destruction caused by the Storm. During the story, she will then travel through multiple time periods. Each stop will present you with additions to the main cast and distinct settings.
The game also has in its combat system a huge plus by featuring a mix of card and turn-based mechanics. Its noir feel and intricate character models also help differentiate R1999 from its peers and make it a worthy pick for all.
7. Goddess of Victory: Nikke (PC / Mobile)
If you accept the game for what it is aesthetic-wise, Goddess of Victory: Nikke is one of the most approachable gacha games in the market. A courtesy of its above-average pull rates and generous rewards in the early/mid-game. Nikke also sets itself apart by being a shooter and allows you to take squads of up to five characters to the field. Although the game features many idle mechanics, you will need to be present for the best results in certain battles.
The title’s narrative also manages to score big hits when it counts and excels, given its production value. As an extra, Nikke is known for receiving crossovers with many popular franchises. The latest brought Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World’s Ram, Rem, and Emilia to the game.
6. Arknights (PC / Mobile)
Arknights is a highly technical tower defense game where character placement and an understanding of the terrain and enemies can make or break you. Thankfully, the game allows players to apply a multitude of different strategies by picking among its hundreds of Operators. Its narrative is another plus, as it feels engaging and succeeds in doing justice by its cast and making you feel like a part of it.
Like Nikke, Arknights can be considered F2P friendly. That can be seen in how select 4-star Operators like Myrtle can perform on par with premium and featured units. You can also clear late-game stages while using only low-star characters.
5. Punishing: Gray Raven ( PC / Mobile)
Punishing: Gray Raven puts players in the shoes of the Commandant of the Gray Raven squad, as they and the constructs under their command fight in the war against the Corrupted. The game is considered a standard, given its polished visuals and fast-paced combat style. The latter of which is focused on performing perfect dodges and well-timed combos.
Its overall style and the quality of its narrative also cause PGR to be constantly compared to Nier: Automata. So if you are a fan of PlatinumGames’ epic and are looking for an engaging narrative, you will feel right at home.
4. AFK Journey ( PC / Mobile)
A spin-off of the hugely popular AFK Arena, AFK Journey allows players to assemble squads of up to five heroes to take part in many modes. The latter is also where the game shines, as you can find options for fans of open-world exploration, standard PVP, and even roguelikes. As most modes do not demand many inputs, AFK Journey can also be seen as the ideal pick for all looking for a game to run in the background.
AFK Journey is the most F2P-friendly name in our list by a large margin given its generous rewards and daily mode availability.
3. Fate/Grand Order (Mobile)
Royalty in the genre, Fate/Grand Order continues to be a solid pick almost a decade after its release. As a branch of the Fate series, the game allows players to control more than 450 Servants as they take part in highly tactical turn-based battles. Players can also deepen their connection with each servant and unlock special interactions and quests by completing various activities.
Diving into FGO will demand a lot of catching up. Fortunately, the game’s community is known for being extremely receptive and it’s sure to offer a home to all, newcomers or seasoned masters alike.
2. Genshin Impact (PS5 / PS4 / PC / Mobile)
The title responsible for shaking up the market, Genshin Impact sits at the top as the current flagship of the gacha genre.
Genshin offers the full package to fans by providing an experience rivaling that of most current-gen AAA titles in both visuals and performance. Its open-world style and vast but not excessive cast of playable characters also set it apart as one of the most fun gacha games around for newcomers. On the other hand, its exploration-focused approach makes the game one of the most time-consuming picks on our list in the early and mid-game stages.
1. Honkai: Star Rail (PS5 / PC / Mobile)
A spin-off/sequel of Honkai Impact 3rd but by all means its own game, Honkai: Star Rail takes players on a journey across the universe. The game also mixes the exploration/character mechanics that made Genshin Impact such a success with an unbelievably polished turn-based combat system. Those looking for characters will also be pleased, as Star Rail features a roster of more than 40 unique ones.
HSR’s story is also praised for always delivering in the biggest moments and staying consistent. At the end of the day, HSR improves upon the best of its older siblings to deliver what I believe to be the best gacha experience currently available.
