What is Gacha?

The term “Gacha” is derived from Japan’s Gashapon vending machines. When you make a purchase from a Gashapon machine, you receive a capsule with a random prize inside of it. 

As a mechanic in a game, Gacha is very similar to the concept of loot boxes. Loot boxes typically contain a random assortment of in-game bonuses, such as additional cards in a turn-based card game,  in-game currency, skins, emotes, or other prizes. Many of these prizes have differing levels of rarity.

Gacha / Loot boxes can typically be given as daily bonuses for engaging in an activity or opening an app, purchased with in-game currency, or purchased with real world currency.