GachaGames:ComparativeAnalysisofCostPerPulloniOS
Detailed analysis of cost per pull across 8 popular iOS gacha games. We compare Blue Archive, Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, NIKKE and more to determine which offers the best value.
Gacha Games: Comparative Analysis of Cost Per Pull on iOS
The $69.99 USD package doesn't exist in most of these games. The gacha industry standardizes its prices at $49.99 and $99.99, deliberately omitting the middle point. This analysis uses the $99.99 package as the main benchmark, comparing the value each game offers against Arknights Endfield ($1.33/pull) and the mainstream standard ($1.98/pull).
Blue Archive emerges as the most generous game at ~$1.20 per pull on initial purchase, while Honkai Impact 3rd proves to be the most expensive long-term at $4.24 per pull on recurring purchases. The difference between first-time bonus and repeat purchases is dramatic across all titles.
Comparative Table: 8 Gacha Games on iOS
| Game | Package | Currency (First-Time) | Cost/Pull | Pulls/Package | Pity | SSR Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Archive | $79.99 | 8,000 Pyroxene | $1.20 | 66.7 | 200 (spark) | 3% |
| Wuthering Waves | $99.99 | 12,960 Astrite | $1.23 | 81 | 80 | 0.8% |
| Genshin Impact | $99.99 | 12,960 Primogems | $1.23 | 81 | 90 | 0.6% |
| NIKKE | $69.99 | 12,400 Gems | $1.69 | 41.3 | 200 (mileage) | 4% |
| Honkai Star Rail | $99.99 | 8,080 Stellar Jade | $1.98 | 50.5 | 90 | 0.6% |
| Honkai Impact 3rd | $99.99 | 13,200 Crystals | $2.12 | 47.1 | 90 | 1.5% |
| Reverse:1999 | $99.99 | 8,080 Clear Drops | $2.23 | 44.9 | 70 | 1.5% |
| PGR | ~$69.99 | 600 RC → BC | ~$2.50* | ~24* | 60 | 0.5% |
*PGR uses indirect RC→BC conversion; actual value depends on available special packs.
Comparison Against Established Benchmarks
The Arknights Endfield benchmark ($1.33/pull) represents the new standard of generosity in gacha, while the mainstream benchmark of $1.98/pull reflects the industry average.
| Game | Cost/Pull (First-Time) | vs Endfield | vs Mainstream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Archive | $1.20 | +10% better | +39% better |
| Wuthering Waves | $1.23 | +8% better | +38% better |
| Genshin Impact | $1.23 | +8% better | +38% better |
| NIKKE | $1.69 | -27% worse | +15% better |
| Honkai Star Rail | $1.98 | -49% worse | Same |
| Honkai Impact 3rd | $2.12 | -59% worse | -7% worse |
| Reverse:1999 | $2.23 | -68% worse | -13% worse |
The Recurring Purchase Problem
The first-time bonus trap becomes evident when comparing initial versus repeat purchases. A game's real value is measured in recurring purchases, not the initial bonus.
| Game | First-Time | Recurring | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Archive | $1.20 | $2.00 | +67% more expensive |
| NIKKE | $1.69 | $3.40 | +101% more expensive |
| Wuthering Waves | $1.23 | $1.98 | +61% more expensive |
| Genshin Impact | $1.23 | $1.98 | +61% more expensive |
| Honkai Star Rail | $1.98 | $2.47 | +25% more expensive |
| Honkai Impact 3rd | $2.12 | $4.24 | +100% more expensive |
| Reverse:1999 | $2.23 | $2.78 | +25% more expensive |
NIKKE and Honkai Impact 3rd double the cost per pull after exhausting initial bonuses, transforming from "acceptable" options to extremely expensive ones.
Ranking: From Most Generous to Most Expensive
Tier S - Excellent Value
1. Blue Archive — The undisputed king of value
Blue Archive offers the best cost per pull both initially ($1.20) and recurring ($2.00). With a 3% base SSR rate and pulls at only 120 Pyroxene, the game rewards both whales and F2P players. The spark system guarantees any featured character in 200 pulls, and the game is notoriously generous with free currency.
2. Wuthering Waves — The new contender
Kuro Games matched Genshin's price structure but improved everything else: 0.8% base rate (vs 0.6%), pity at 80 (vs 90), and featured weapon guarantee without 50/50. Maximum 160 pulls for guaranteed character vs Genshin's 180.
3. Genshin Impact — The industry standard
Identical price structure to Wuthering Waves but with worse rates and higher pity. The Capturing Radiance system slightly improves the 50/50 to 55/45. Bonuses reset annually in September.
Tier A - Acceptable Value
4. NIKKE — High rates, brutal pity
The 4% SSR rate is the highest on the list, but the mileage system requires 200 pulls for guarantee. No soft pity or traditional hard pity. Excellent for casual pulls, terrible for "going for" a specific character.
5. Honkai Star Rail — Consistent but unremarkable
Standard HoYoverse pricing at $1.98/pull. Soft pity at ~74 pulls and guaranteed Light Cone at 80 pulls makes it predictable. The Express Supply Pass ($4.99/month) offers better value than direct purchases.
Tier B - Expensive But Functional
6. Reverse:1999 — Low pity, high price
The 70 pull hard pity is the lowest on the list with a traditional system, but the $2.23-$2.78 cost per pull makes it expensive. Soft pity starts at 60 pulls increasing the rate from 1.5% to 4%+. Limited characters become permanent 3 patches later.
7. Punishing: Gray Raven — F2P-friendly, whale-hostile
The 60 pull pity is exceptional, but the currency system (RC→BC) makes direct purchases inefficient. F2P players can get every new S-rank, but spenders receive less value per dollar than competitors.
Tier C - Avoid Large Purchases
8. Honkai Impact 3rd — The most expensive
At $4.24 per pull on recurring purchases, HI3 costs more than double Genshin from the same developer. The 1.5% rate and guaranteed pity without 50/50 don't compensate for the price. Only viable with monthly pass and events.
Pity Systems and Guarantees: What Really Matters
Cost per pull is only part of the equation. The real cost to obtain a specific character depends on the pity system.
| Game | Pity | 50/50 | Worst Case | Maximum Cost ($99.99 recurring) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGR | 60 | 70% rate-up | ~86 pulls | ~$215 |
| Reverse:1999 | 70 | Yes | 140 pulls | ~$389 |
| Wuthering Waves | 80 | Yes | 160 pulls | ~$317 |
| Genshin Impact | 90 | Yes | 180 pulls | ~$356 |
| Honkai Star Rail | 90 | Yes | 180 pulls | ~$356 |
| Honkai Impact 3rd | 90 | No | 90 pulls | ~$190 |
| Blue Archive | 200 (spark) | N/A | 200 pulls | ~$400 |
| NIKKE | 200 (mileage) | N/A | 200 pulls | ~$680 |
Honkai Impact 3rd paradoxically has the lowest guaranteed cost ($190) thanks to eliminating the 50/50, but the highest cost per pull makes averaging terrible.
Technical Details of Each System
Premium Currency Conversion
All HoYoverse games (Genshin, HSR, HI3) and Wuthering Waves use 1:1 conversion between premium and gacha currency. NIKKE and Blue Archive don't distinguish. Only PGR and Reverse:1999 use more complex systems.
Soft Pity (Rate Increase)
- Genshin/HSR: ~74 pulls
- Wuthering Waves: ~66 pulls
- Reverse:1999: 60 pulls (+2.5%/pull)
- NIKKE/Blue Archive: No soft pity
- PGR: "Floating guarantee" system after 80-100 pulls
Pity Carryover Between Banners
- Yes: Genshin, HSR, HI3, WuWa, Reverse:1999, PGR
- No: Blue Archive (converts to Keystone Pieces), NIKKE (mileage yes, but separated by banner type)
Duplicate Systems
- NIKKE: Requires 3 copies for max level (200)
- Blue Archive: Elephs for upgrade, farmable without dupes
- PGR: Ranks significantly affect power
- HoYoverse games: Constellations/Eidolons optional but powerful
Recommendations by Player Type
For strict F2P: Punishing: Gray Raven and Blue Archive offer the best experience without spending, with enough free currency to obtain meta characters.
For monthly card/light spender: Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail have the best monthly passes ($4.99 = ~18-19 pulls, equivalent to $0.26/pull).
For occasional whale: Wuthering Waves offers the best value for large purchases thanks to first-time bonuses that never reset (so far).
Avoid large purchases in: NIKKE and Honkai Impact 3rd, where recurring value drops dramatically.
Methodology
Data collected from iOS App Store listings (January 2025), official game wikis, Reddit r/gachagaming, and community soft pity analyses compiled with data tracking.
Calculations assume standard currency packs without special offers or limited bundles. Prices may vary by region; this analysis uses USD base from the US App Store.
Last updated: January 2025. Gacha games regularly modify their systems; verify recent changes before purchasing.
References and Sources
Official Wikis
- Blue Archive Wiki - Recruitment (Gacha)
- Blue Archive Wiki - FAQ
- Genshin Impact Wiki - Character Event Wish
- Genshin Impact Wiki - Genesis Crystal
- Wuthering Waves Wiki - Lunite
Specialized Guides
- Prydwen Institute - Wuthering Waves Gacha System
- Prydwen Institute - Reverse:1999 Introduction
- Nikke.gg - Soft Pity and Guaranteed Pull Mechanics
- BlueStacks - Wuthering Waves Gacha Guide
- Mobalytics - Wuthering Waves Gacha System Explained
Pity System Analysis
- Game Rant - How Does the Pity System Work in Wuthering Waves?
- Game Rant - Genshin Impact: How The Pity System Works
- Game Rant - 10 Gacha Games With The Best Pity Systems
- GosuNoob - Reverse 1999 Pity System Explained
- Touch, Tap, Play - Is There Gacha Pity in Punishing Gray Raven?
- Charlie INTEL - Honkai Star Rail Pity System Explained
- Honkai.gg - HSR Pity System And Drop Rates Guide
- Ultimate Gacha - How the Pity System Works in Nikke
Pricing and Currency Guides
- BitTopup - Getting Genesis Crystals in Genshin Impact 2025
- BitTopup - Genshin Impact Genesis Crystals 2025 Buyer's Guide
- BitTopup - How Many Oneiric Shards for 10 Pulls (HSR)
- BitTopup - Honkai Star Rail Stellar Jade Guide
- BitTopup News - Genshin Impact Pity System Guide
- TOPUPLIVE - Wuthering Waves Soft Pity Explained
Banner Resources and Simulators
- Pocket Tactics - Blue Archive Banners Global and JP
- Gyattcha - NIKKE Recruitment Simulators
- App Gamer - Reverse: 1999 Summon (Gacha System) Guide