Goddess of Victory: Nikke

Goddess of Victory: Nikke combines gacha collecting of anime heroines with a cover-based action shooter, where characters rotate in trios, each with their own weapon, special ability and role in the team, and success in a mission depends on the right combination of squad. Touchscreen controls simplify aiming to automatic targeting with manual triggering of special attacks and dodges, so the main emphasis falls on assembling and upgrading the team rather than pure player reflexes. The visual side and character design from studio Shift Up, which is also behind other notable action titles, is among the things that earned the game considerable attention soon after release, along with an elaborate post-apocalyptic atmosphere.

The game came out in 2022 and quickly established itself among successful gacha titles thanks to a combination of an elaborate story about humanity's downfall on the surface of the Earth and its retreat into underground shelters, together with regular events bringing new characters and story chapters. Monetization relies on a gacha system for characters, weapons and costumes, while the game deliberately works with its striking character design as part of its marketing and community presence. For players familiar with the gacha shooter genre, this is one of the technically most polished and graphically most ambitious entries on the market, with regular major story updates and accompanying music from multiple composers.

Why play it: An interesting choice for fans of gacha games and anime styling looking for a more action-oriented alternative to turn-based gacha RPGs, keeping in mind the need to invest in collecting characters long-term.