gacha

plural gachas

1. countableuncountableA small toy sold in a plastic capsule in a vending machine, especially toys sold in or associated with Japan.

   Gacha, from the Japanese word gachapon, refers to capsules sold in vending machines and containing random toys inside

   2018, Ennio De Nucci, Adam Kramarzewski, Practical Game Design, page 54

   Synonyms: gachapon

2. countableuncountableThe vending machine that sells such toys.

   And if you’re looking for something that’s cute, compact, and affordable, you can’t go past the country’s gacha capsule toy vending machines.

   2018 October 24, Oona McGee, “Pokemon cosplay for cats”, in Japan Today

3. countableuncountablevideo gamesA mechanism in certain video games, especially mobile games, whereby in-game items or characters are purchased randomly with real or in-game money.

   Gacha mechanics are a powerful advantage monetization strategy in free-to-play games that have also been integrated into many premium titles on mobile devices, PCs, and consoles.

   2020, Christopher A. Paul, Free-to-Play: Mobile Video Games, Bias, and Norms, MIT Press, →ISBN, page 112

   1 more example

   Since a loot table with ten rewards won’t last for long, the very first step in gacha design is to ensure that you have enough content to make gacha a viable monetization strategy.

   2018, Ennio De Nucci, Adam Kramarzewski, Practical Game Design, page 394

4. countableuncountablevideo gamesA game which features this mechanic as its central feature.

   Synonyms: gacha game

plural gachas

1. A village-level administrative division in Inner Mongolia.