How the Female Demographic is reshaping the Gacha mobile games market

In recent years, the gacha gaming industry has undergone a significant transformation, driven in large part by the growing influence of female players. Traditionally, the gacha market has been dominated by games targeting a predominantly male audience, with “waifu“-focused titles featuring attractive, often scantily clad female characters.

However, the success of games like Love and Deepspace in China has highlighted the untapped potential of catering to a female demographic, proving that inclusivity and diversity in male character design and storytelling can be a lucrative strategy. Let’s dive into how the female demographic is making an impact in gacha games and how Love and Deepspace has been the key catalyst to this.

Love and Deepspace has broken the conventional mold

As a female who loves gaming, I’ve always been drawn to gacha games. The thrill of pulling characters, building teams, and immersing myself in fantastical worlds is something I genuinely enjoy. But here’s the thing, I can’t help but notice how most gacha games prioritize male players and overlook the potential of catering to a female audience.

With the recent success of Love and Deepspace, I feel like this conversation is more relevant than ever. It’s proof that female players are not only here but that we’re passionate and willing to invest in games that resonate with us. So why aren’t more game developers focusing on us?

Love and Deepspace is a gacha game that has recently taken China by storm. Released earlier this year, it’s a fully immersive otome game that focuses on beautiful male love interests with stunning 3D modeling of the characters that even rivals most triple AAA games. The game is designed to pull players into a rich, character-driven world where emotional investment is key to immersion.

But what’s fascinating is how successful Love and Deepspace have been in just one year alone. According to the data from SensorTower, Love and Deepspace has consistently ranked #1 in the past months (September, October, and November of 2024). The game’s highest grossing was in November 2024 with a revenue of $59,290,000, surpassing big names like Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, Fate/Grand Order, etc. It’s hard to imagine how these games with a massive global following and well-established fanbase got outdone by an otome game! 

So what is the secret to such success? The answer is simple: it’s a game that knows how to cater to female players. The male love interests in Love and Deepspace aren’t just attractive, they’re deeply fleshed out with each character having intricate lore, engaging storylines, and nuanced personalities that make you want to spend time (and money) with them.

The 3D modeling is ultra-realistic and next-level, surpassing even most high graphics games. On top of that, the game’s narrative is centered around these characters, which gives players a reason to care about them beyond their designs. It’s immersive, emotional, and exactly what so many of us female players have been craving from gacha games.

The untapped potential of Female Demographic in gacha mobile games

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: why don’t more gacha games follow this formula? It’s not like female players are some niche audience. We’re everywhere, and we’re just as passionate about gaming as male players. Yet, most gacha games still focus heavily on waifu culture, creating games that are designed to appeal to male fantasies.

Take Genshin Impact, for example. While it does have some amazing male characters, it’s obvious that the game leans heavily into its female roster. In just 2024 alone, the male-to-female ratio is laughably sad, with 13 female characters being released while 4 male characters are released this year. And it’s not just Genshin Impact. Games like Honkai: Star Rail and Wuthering Waves follow a similar pattern.

In Wuthering Waves, there are currently 21 female characters and 8 male characters including future releases. Despite their existence, they’re not given the same level of attention or fanservice as their female counterparts. They sprinkle in a few male characters here and there, but the focus remains on the waifus. It’s as if game developers are afraid to fully commit to catering to a female audience, even though Love and Deepspace have proven that it can be incredibly profitable.

So, why is this happening? I think it comes down to outdated assumptions about the gaming industry. There’s this persistent belief that male players make up the majority of the market and that they’re the ones spending money. But that’s simply not true anymore. Female gamers are on the rise, and we’re just as willing to spend money on games we love. 

Fanservice for Women has been a key to success

One of the biggest misconceptions about fanservice is that it’s only for men. But the truth is, women love fanservice too, we just prefer it differently. While male players might be drawn to revealing outfits or suggestive poses, female players tend to gravitate toward emotional connections, compelling stories, and characters that feel real and relatable.

This doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate good character design. But for us, fanservice is about more than just looks. It’s about creating moments that make us feel something, whether it’s excitement, heartbreak, or pure joy. Developers who understand this have the potential to create games that resonate with a whole new audience.

By incorporating more male characters with depth and complexity, gacha games can attract female players in droves. Imagine a game like Genshin Impact with banners that focus on male characters more frequently. The possibilities are endless, and the rewards could be huge.

Call for inclusive game development in the Gacha sphere

As a female gamer, I can’t help but feel frustrated by how often we are overlooked in the gaming industry. We’re here, we’re passionate, and we’re ready to support games that cater to us. The success of Love and Deepspace is proof that when developers take the time to understand what we want, amazing things can happen.

I strongly believe that game developers are underestimating their female player base. We care about characters just as much as male players do, if not more. We want to see male characters that we can connect with, root for, and maybe even fall in love with. We want games that make us feel seen and valued, not just as players but as people. It’s time for the gacha market to evolve. Developers need to stop clinging to outdated ideas about who their audience is and start embracing the full potential of their player base. 

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Do you think due to the success of Love and Deepspace can instigate more gacha mobile games focusing on the female demographic in future? Do let us know in the comments below!

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