Nearly One in Five Young Japanese Adults Face Financial Hardship from Gacha Game Spending

A recent survey by SMBC Consumer Finance has shed new light on the deepening impact of gacha game mechanics on young Japanese adults, revealing that nearly one in five individuals in their 20s have spent so much on in-game purchases that they struggled to meet their living expenses.

The findings, part of SMBC’s annual survey conducted in February 2025 with a sample size of 1,000 people aged 20 to 29, underscore growing financial concerns tied to the country’s thriving gacha game market. Gacha games, which use randomized “lottery” systems to deliver in-game rewards, continue to drive significant player spending through psychologically exploitative design.

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Key Findings from the 2025 Survey

• 18.8% of young adults reported experiencing financial strain due to excessive in-game spending.
• 23.9% of respondents expressed regret over their gaming-related purchases.
• 17.9% of all participants said they were willing to pay for competitive advantages in-game. Among men, this figure rose to 23.8%, up significantly from 16.2% in 2024.
• 20.8% felt they couldn’t enjoy games without spending, an increase of 2.7 percentage points from the previous year.
• While more people are spending on gacha games overall, the average monthly spend has dropped from 5,138 yen in 2024 to 4,247 yen in 2025—a 17.3% decrease.

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The Allure and Trap of Gacha Mechanics

The gacha system is structured to encourage repeated spending through randomized rewards. Players often attempt to obtain rare characters or powerful items through paid “pulls,” which can cost anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of yen per attempt.

This system is widely recognized as being similar to gambling, particularly because of its low odds and absence of guaranteed outcomes even after significant spending. Players are often lured into a cycle of purchases, chasing after a prize that may never materialize.

A respondent described the system starkly: “The entire gacha system is rigged against you. To give you an idea of how absurd it is, you could technically spend $200 and still not get the character you want.”

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Men Lead in Spending, But Female Engagement Rising

The data indicates that male gamers are still more likely to engage in and justify in-game purchases. However, the gap between genders is narrowing. For instance, 18.4% of women reported they couldn’t enjoy games without spending—an increase of 2.6% compared to 2024. The corresponding figure for men also rose by 2.8%.

These increases reflect a broader normalization of microtransactions in mobile and online gaming among both genders.

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Teen Spending Lower but Not Insignificant

Among teenagers aged 15 to 19, 12.7% reported having spent money on in-game purchases. Though their average monthly spend is significantly lower at 1,512 yen (approximately $10.50), the early onset of spending habits raises questions about long-term exposure to gacha mechanics and their potential financial risks.

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Gacha Games in the Japanese Market

Japan remains one of the world’s largest markets for mobile games, especially those employing gacha mechanics. Popular titles like Genshin Impact, Fate/Grand Order, and Uma Musume Pretty Derby contribute billions of yen in revenue annually through microtransactions.

Aggressive marketing, frequent content updates, and limited-time offers are commonly used strategies to drive engagement and spending. While these games are often free to play, they are designed to incentivize repeated purchases in order to stay competitive or experience the full scope of content.

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Summary Table: Gacha Spending Among Japanese Youth (2025)

Age Group	% Who Spent Excessively	Avg. Monthly Spend	% With Regrets	% Who Can’t Enjoy Without Spending
20s	18.8%	4,247 yen (~$29.63)	23.9%	20.8%
Teens (15–19)	12.7% (any spending)	1,512 yen (~$10.50)	N/A	N/A

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A Growing Need for Consumer Protection

With increasing reports of financial hardship and regret, the 2025 survey results add urgency to ongoing discussions around consumer protection in digital gaming. The addictive nature of gacha games, especially among young adults still building financial literacy, is raising alarms among researchers, lawmakers, and parents alike.

As spending habits among Japanese youth continue to shift, industry observers suggest a need for stricter regulations, better transparency in game odds, and tools for players to monitor and control their spending.

For now, the question remains: how many more young players will fall into financial distress before significant action is taken?