Any games like this that aren't gacha?

[HopefullyHeroic]

I LOVE the art style, it reminds me of old Vanillaware games. I saw this game and thought it looked amazing til I saw it was a gacha and I just cannot be bothered now. Anyone have any recommendations for similar games that don't have ♥♥♥♥ monetization?

[Lord Torstein]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/886960/Dragon_Spear/

Originally a gacha, it was converted to a retail purchase when ported to PC.

No longer supports multiplayer. Grindy. 3 of 6 available characters require additional DLC purchases to play.

All of that said, it's the closest we're probably ever getting to a steam port of Dragon's Crown.

[Renl]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/904380/Vambrace_Cold_Soul/

[lilgirlcharlotte]

whats wrong with the Got cha genre?

[HopefullyHeroic]

Originally posted by lilgirlcharlotte:

whats wrong with the Got cha genre?

You mean other than the fact that it's sole design purpose is to drain as much money from you as possible in the most underhanded ways until you've spent $17k trying to get the exact waifu in the exact rarity that you want?
Or maybe it's the meticulously planned, extremely slow grinding systems that require 22 different currencies and have timed blocks so that you can only do so many so fast, with another currency thrown on top to bypass that block? and if you don't spend that currency it will take 10 years to max out 1 character, out of the 40+ characters you've spent a ♥♥♥♥ ton of money already to unlock?
It couldn't be that literally every gacha game is pay (excessively) to win by definition.

Basically everything is wrong with the gacha formula, unless you have enough disposable income to just not care about those things. Which if that's you, I applaud you, you are blessed. I am not. lol.

[HopefullyHeroic]

It's just sad because without the gacha, this game could've been great.
Just on artstyle ALONE it's almost up there with Vanillaware. But the ♥♥♥♥ monetization and the design philosophies behind getting you to spend consistently are 100% holding this game back from greatness. Not that the devs care really, they just tryna make a lot of bucks.

[lilgirlcharlotte]

the game is rather f2p/low spender friendly if you ask me. but ye if you expect to have a maxed legy character day 1 this is not the game for you. game will throw a lot of free gifts and events regulary. even the daily will give some gacha currencie. its more like pay to progress faster. like most other games that arent even gachas.

[De_faulty]

Originally posted by lilgirlcharlotte:

whats wrong with the Got cha genre?

It's gambling. Some people don't want to have to spend or grind to have a CHANCE to get what they want. It's also only really generous for the 1st month you play, I've gotten to a point in the game where the currency and pulls have essentially dried up.

Aside from the mail gifts, I get maybe 1 pull every 1.5 days, or round it up to 2 days. Knowing it often takes up to 70-90 pulls to get a character, that would mean 140-180 days. That might change depending on the frequency of events and the currency they give, but that's the "generosity" of the game once the honeymoon period ends.

[Blizzard]

All the games that are similar came out years ago, you are not gonna like them.
This kind of game is simply too niche to become a genre, so yeah this game is the only thing you can play for now, at least on Steam.

[ﾏｿｿｿ ₒ❤]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/598700/The_Vagrant/

this one too, but it's nowhere near Oboro Muramasa or Odin Sphere in term of combat, but the art style and price tag is reasonable enough.

been years waiting for Oboro Muramasa or Odin Sphere port to PC or at least nintendo switch, ffs vanillaware, do it!

[Phoenix (yes, another one)]

Originally posted by HopefullyHeroic:

Originally posted by lilgirlcharlotte:

whats wrong with the Got cha genre?

You mean other than the fact that it's sole design purpose is to drain as much money from you as possible in the most underhanded ways until you've spent $17k trying to get the exact waifu in the exact rarity that you want?
Or maybe it's the meticulously planned, extremely slow grinding systems that require 22 different currencies and have timed blocks so that you can only do so many so fast, with another currency thrown on top to bypass that block? and if you don't spend that currency it will take 10 years to max out 1 character, out of the 40+ characters you've spent a ♥♥♥♥ ton of money already to unlock?
It couldn't be that literally every gacha game is pay (excessively) to win by definition.

Basically everything is wrong with the gacha formula, unless you have enough disposable income to just not care about those things. Which if that's you, I applaud you, you are blessed. I am not. lol.

That's not about it being a gacha, it instead has everything to do with being a free to play game, as that's just how they tend to work. The standard thing with free to play is they purposely remove things from the game, or make the game otherwise worse, so they can sell you the means to make your experience better.

Then they also commonly monetize RNG systems, and I don't just mean loot boxes. RNG enhancement systems, then sell ways to improve your odds, protect your gear from negative effects of failing, or just more access to enhancement materials. There's rerolling RNG stats on equipment. Selling boosters for improved drop rates. Selling more entries into content that have RNG drops, and so on.

In the end, gacha systems are no better, or worse than a lot of the other things seen in the greater majority of free to play games these days.

[Geist]

Agree with Dragon Spear and Vagrant. Both are fun games. Magia could have been but the developer left the game unfinished after lying and charging for characters.

Gacha really does ruin games like this. Especially when weapons and characters are on the same rolls. So you generally get a bunch of stuff you didn't want or can't even use. Outside of that the game is really good though. But I had way more fun in the beta. If they had left the game that way rewards wise I would play it more. But alas. Its a not even a side game for me now despite having it on my wishlist since it was announced.

The game needs a better pity system at least. The way it is now I will not even spend money on it because I know I won't get what I want. You never want a gacha to feel that way.

[Khen]

Such a huge potential for a coop game. Honestly with a bit more complicated gameplay and good character and skill progression, i'd be willing to pay 60$ for a dragon crown like experience once again...
What a shame games trying to focus only on milking money shamelessly...
I'm not dumb enough to not just quit instantly.

[Lord Torstein]

Free to play is how you get people to pay hundreds of dollars for a twenty dollar title.

Gacha is how you get people to pay thousands of dollars for that twenty dollar title.

Retail is how you get people to wait for a sale to pay thirty dollars for a sixty dollar title.

Never trust anyone selling something for free. If they're honest, then they're bankrupting themselves with a bad business model. If they're not, then they're looking to bankrupt you.

[eaglefan20]

Gacha can be good when done well. Punishing Gray Raven is the best example imo. The only money I spend is on monthly pass ($5) and some costumes, which I feel are a fine expense considering I get the characters basically for free due to the games's very generous nature. But you can easily pay zero in that game and get almost anything you want. PRG is an example of literally paying for what you want extra and nothing more.

[Khrusayder]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/720560/Vigil_The_Longest_Night/

A Souls-like game, with a breathtaking art like this game.