Survey Finds 1 in 10 Japanese Young Adults Skip Meals to Spend on Gacha Games
A recent survey conducted by SMBC Consumer Finance examined spending habits of 1,000 young adults aged 20-29 in Japan. The results revealed that in 2025, roughly 10.5% of respondents admitted to spending heavily on in-game purchases and gacha mechanics, sometimes at the expense of their daily lives. This figure marks a decline compared to 18.8% in 2024, indicating a slight improvement in financial self-control among younger gamers.
Spending Patterns
While fewer young adults are topping up their accounts, the average monthly spending per active player has increased. About 19.2% of respondents reported regularly purchasing in-game items, with an average spend of 5,080 yen (approximately 1,150 THB) per month. Compared to the previous year, although the number of spenders decreased by 2.4%, the average expenditure per person rose by roughly 175 yen. This shows that the remaining active players are investing more heavily to secure desired characters and items.
The Dark Side of Mobile Gaming
The survey also revealed that 18.8% of players expressed regret after making in-game purchases. Japan continues to maintain one of the highest ARPU (average revenue per user) rates in the world. According to Sensor Tower, while new downloads in the Japanese mobile game market are plateauing, overall revenue remains stable. Many players are willing to spend significant sums to support their favorite games.
The popularity of foreign titles in Japan further underscores this trend. For example, The Goddess of Victory: NIKKE generated 58% of its total global revenue from Japanese players as of March 2025. This highlights how effectively engaging Japanese players can result in substantial revenue from high-spending “whale” players, often motivated by the desire for short-term dopamine rewards.
Expert Observations
Psychologists note that excessive spending on gacha games can stem from stress relief and dopamine-seeking behavior, especially in demanding work environments. Coupled with carefully designed game marketing and FOMO-driven mechanics, some players struggle to maintain financial control. While some companies now implement spending alerts, the desire to obtain rare 5-star characters continues to exert a strong influence.
