What are gacha games? Why are they so popular?

The nature of gacha games makes them mostly unsuitable for children to play. While it’s possible to complete many different types of gacha game without ever spending any real-life money, the addictive nature of the games and the heavy encouragement towards in-game spending makes this a very difficult task indeed. However, many popular games do operate using gacha elements, which means it’s not always possible to know if a game your child is playing is a gacha game or not. 

There are several things you can do to help minimize the impact of gacha games on your child:

1. Set time limits on games

To help your child create the ideal online-offline balance, setting limits is key. Video games are best enjoyed in moderation, just like most of the finer things in life! Set limits on certain games, or let them decide how they want to spend their time playing video games for an allocated period of time. This can get tricky as children get older and their cell phones go everywhere with them, or if you have to manage individual timers for each of your children. 

Parental control tools like Qustodio can help you to set time limits on individual apps or app categories, so your child’s game usage stays consistent day after day, no matter where they are.

2. Turn off in-game purchases

Make sure your child has no opportunity to be tempted by in-game purchases in gacha games, or anywhere else for that matter. In-app purchases can be turned off in settings on iOS and Android phones, and on individual game consoles. We’d also recommend not saving your card on any device, whether it’s your own or your child’s, so there’s no way for your billing information to be used again at any point. 

3. Co-play new games your kids download

After you or your child has bought a new game, or after they’ve downloaded a free-to-play game, get to know it with them by playing it together. Not only is this an opportunity for you to understand if it has any riskier elements or gameplay you’re not comfortable with, it’s also a great way to bond with your child. By getting involved in something they enjoy, you’ll understand their interests better, while also clocking up some quality family time. A win-win for everyone!