"Gacha Games Are Soulless Copies Of Actual Games"

Summary

The video examines the accusation that gacha games are “soulless copies” of conventional games. The creator clarifies that this phrase is the subject of discussion, not his own blanket opinion. The debate intensified after a HoYoverse trailer drew comparisons to Elden Ring and Monster Hunter.

Why the reputation persists

Some games have been accused of blatant copying. For example, Tower of Fantasy allegedly reused an indie animator’s work, while Duet Night Abyss is described as borrowing heavily from Warframe. Because many free-to-play anime games already seem alike to some audiences, accusations involving one title can reinforce the impression that the whole genre is derivative.

Copying versus inspiration

The creator argues that resemblance alone does not make an entire game a rip-off. Some character comparisons may be superficial or coincidental, while near-identical animation sequences or compositions are harder to explain as coincidence. He distinguishes small, recognizable homages from reproducing a full scene so closely that it can look like a shortcut.

A reference may reflect developers’ genuine enthusiasm for another work, but that does not automatically make close imitation effective or appropriate. The creator says references should be obvious or limited, rather than reproducing another work’s entire composition.

Examples and context matter

Individual borrowed moves, designs, animations, or minigames can be criticized without concluding that a whole game is copied. At the same time, repeated examples of uncredited or overly close reuse can make audiences less willing to interpret later similarities charitably.

Gacha tribalism and genre perceptions

The creator criticizes fans who use plagiarism accusations to argue that their preferred game is superior. He encourages players to enjoy the games they like rather than treating corporate revenue or online arguments as personal causes.

People outside the genre may group gacha titles together because they share free-to-play anime aesthetics and gambling-based monetization. The creator says players generally enjoy these games despite the gacha systems, which can affect storytelling, gameplay, and the pressure to log in. He recognizes that the model funds free access and frequent updates, but says this does not excuse plagiarism.

Conclusion

Gacha games as a whole are not simply copies of other games; they also contain original work and can deliver impressive content over long periods. But studios with substantial resources should not tolerate copying. The creator argues that clear cases should be called out because they make games look cheap and cast doubt on more legitimate inspiration.

Games and works referenced

The video’s comparisons and examples include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tower of Fantasy, Warframe, Duet Night Abyss, Ananta, Grand Theft Auto, Spider-Man, Uncharted, Elden Ring, Monster Hunter, Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, Zenless Zone Zero, Punishing: Gray Raven, Honkai Impact 3rd, Arknights, Granblue Fantasy, Silent Hill f, and Rainbow Six Siege.

It also mentions Frieren, Mushoku Tensei, Black Clover, Chainsaw Man, Hotel Transylvania, One Piece, Fate, and Metroid. Several character and animation comparisons are raised as allegations or examples, not all as confirmed plagiarism.

People and sources mentioned

The video is by Tsunul. It also refers to Hidetaka Miyazaki, the developers of Warframe, Hypergryph, Bungie, and an unnamed indie developer whose work was allegedly reused.