So you're interested in trying out Genshin Impact, but there's something you're a bit worried about. While Genshin Impact is a free download, you're told it makes money from something called "gacha." And judging from what you've heard about other free-to-play games, you assume gacha is suffering. You've witnessed tales of woe on social media, of people spending hundreds of dollars in hopes of obtaining rare characters with nothing to show for it. You're afraid of getting sucked into a vortex that invites you in for free but will proceed to empty your wallet and your soul.

Well, there's good news for you--it's very easy to enjoy Genshin Impact and take part in its gacha system without spending much, or anything at all! In fact, this may be one of the best gacha-driven free-to-play games for gamers on a budget. Even if you don't get the luckiest results, you can enjoy exploring and questing through the game for free. To help you figure out how best to spend your resources, we've made a guide explaining Genshin Impact's gacha mechanics and what to look out for. If you've any further questions about how it all works, be sure to leave them in the comments below. Otherwise, be sure to read our full thoughts about the game in our Genshin Impact review.

What is "Gacha"?

Gacha (named after popular toy-dispensing machines) is a popular monetization scheme that's akin to loot boxes and often found in free-to-play games developed in East Asia. In games with a gacha system, the base game is offered as a no-cost download and is playable without spending money. However, you can choose to buy special in-game premium currency and spend it to "roll" for randomized elements that have an effect on gameplay--usually weapons, equippable items, and even playable characters. The system is especially popular in mobile games like Fire Emblem Heroes, Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, and Fate/Grand Order.