Is Wuthering Waves really worth the hype? Does Zenless Zone Zero really have the best combat? Do both actually suck? Is Aether Gazer more fun? What about Guardian Tales? or Tower of Fan-okay we all know Tower of Fantasy shouldn’t be included in a list of the best Action Gacha games.
But what should be? Let’s find out. These rankings aren’t solely based on combat – rather, the cumulative of a number of different features. Story, combat, graphics, character models, and free to play friendliness.

My experience with Neverness to Everness is based off of the first Chinese Closed Beta that took place towards the end of 2024. Neverness to Everness is an open-world RPG.
It features a decent combat system, pretty flashy but lacking weight.
Graphically, it looks beautiful. The world, the abilities. The character models are okay, not great but not bad at all.
The story is very good, and is told in a way that I haven’t seen done before – making it arguably the stand-out feature of the game. I was enthralled whenever a cutscene played. In terms of free to play friendliness? Unfortunately we can’t know until we get closer to release and the Gacha system is showcased.
I’d give Story a 7/10, combat an 3/10, graphics a 7/10, character models a 3/10, and free to play friendliness a 5/10 since I can’t properly rate it at present, but this seems fair. In total? 25/50.

Genshin Impact is an open-world RPG.
It features much slower, less complicated combat – with a strong focus on elemental reactions, the area of its combat that truly separates it from its competition.
Graphically, the world is absolutely stunning, but its character models are definitely beginning to show its age.
The story can be really good at its highs, and really bad at its lows. Most of the story seems to be mindless exposition and Paimon regurgitating information we already had. In terms of free to play friendliness? Genshin is horrible. Pity at 90, with a 50/50 present, including a weapon pity at 80 with a 50/50 present. Meaning it can cost you over $500 to get a character and their weapon.
I’d give Story a 5/10, combat a 7/10, graphics a 7/10, character models an 5/10, and free to play friendliness a 3/10. In total? 27/50.

Honkai Impact is a mostly instanced chapter and mission based RPG – with more freeing, open content being introduced over the course of its life cycle.
It features moderate paced combat.
Graphically, it’s a cute game with cute characters. Definitely doesn’t hold up in terms of degen-appeal that some of the other games have but it still does well!
The story goes up and down but is – for the most part – very good. In terms of free to play friendliness? I believe recently, with the Part 2 overhaul, several changes were made to the Gacha system. The guarantee was reduced from 100 to 90. A signature weapon is guaranteed at 60 pulls. Gear banners share pity and carry over to future banners. Probably one of the better HoYo games in terms of rates.
I’d give Story a 6/10, combat a 6/10, graphics a 6/10, character models an 6/10, and free to play friendliness a 4/10. In total? 28/50.

My experience with Duet Night Abyss is based off of the Technical test I particapted in earlier in 2024, but I have access to the first Global Closed Beta coming early 2025, which should give me a more concrete look at the game. This is a segregated-world RPG, with large areas you can freely explore and interact with, but loading screens separating them.
It has some of the best combat the genre has to offer – not in terms of complexity or fluidity, rather, in terms of variety. It’s both an action game and a third person shooter, bringing a Warframe-style of combat to the genre – that is desparately needed.
Graphically, it looks good. Great looking characters as well.
The story is decent. Nothing stand-out, but from what we got to play through during the test phase, it was fun and pretty light hearted. In terms of free to play friendliness? Unfortunately we can’t know until we get closer to release and the Gacha system is showcased.
I’d give Story a 4/10, combat an 8/10, graphics a 6/10, character models an 6/10, and free to play friendliness a 5/10 since I can’t properly rate it at present, but this seems fair. In total? 29/50.

Aether Gazer is an instanced chapter and mission based RPG.
It features full, fast, fluid combat, allows you to deploy 3 different characters at once – all occupying the field concurrently, something the majority of its competition doesn’t allow for.
Graphically, the game is pretty average, however, the character models are exceptional..ly degenerate. Seriously, some of these characters are just a little TOO good.
The story is decent, nothing fancy. In terms of free to play friendliness? Pity is 70 – which isn’t too bad. There is a 50/50 present, meaning it can take you up to 140 pulls to guarantee the limited banner character.
I’d give Story a 5/10, combat a 7/10, graphics a 6/10, character models an 8/10, and free to play friendliness a 6/10. In total? 32/50.

Guardian Tales is an instanced chapter and mission based RPG but not in the same way some of the other games here are. Instead, you select a mission, and you freely explore the region you deploy your units to. It’s very reminiscent of an old Zelda JRPG.
It has very simple combat – but isn’t inhibited by its graphical style, rather, presents a whole different style of gameplay all together, providing what is arguably one of the only unique feeling action games out there.
Graphically, it’s a very cute game. Characters are cute – but it has 0 degen appeal. Not that this game needs it.
The story is phenomenal – easily one of the best stories in Gacha. It’s fun, it’s silly, doesn’t take itself seriously – but has dark points, emotional points, and doesn’t feel like a Gacha game at all.
In terms of free to play friendliness? Much like NIKKE and Blue Archive, there’s no real “pity” ingame, rather, there’s a “Mileage” system, allowing you to purchase characters after 300 pulls. And they’re pretty generous when it comes to currency.
I’d give Story a 9/10, combat an 5/10, graphics a 6/10, character models an 5/10, and free to play friendliness a 7/10. In total? 32/50.

Punishing Gray Raven is an instanced chapter and mission based RPG.
It features what many people argue is the fastest, flashiest, most complex action combat in the genre. I’d personally say top 3, definitely.
Graphically, the world looks pretty average, but the character models look absolutely fantastic. Generous where they need to be, and lacking appropriate protection – from both damage, and the “male gaze,” as I’ve heard it referred to on Twitter.
The story starts off pretty slow, but picks up the further you progress into the game, becoming quite exceptional eventually. In terms of free to play friendliness?
Pity is at 60 – much lower than any other Gacha game here, and there is no 50/50 for characters, meaning you’re guaranteed the limited banner character by 60 pulls. The weapon banner will be undergoing changes, where after failing to obtain the limited banner weapon at pity – 30 pulls – you’ll be guaranteed it on your next Pity. The limited weapon rate is 80%, though, which is still very high.
I’d give Story a 6/10, combat an 8/10, graphics a 6/10, character models an 8/10, and free to play friendliness a 9/10. In total? 37/50.

My experience with Arknights Endfield is based off of the first Global Closed Beta that took place towards the end of January 2025. Arknights Endfield is an open-world RPG.
It features a relatively fast combat system, but not overly flashy. You have 4 total characters occupying the field together, with combos, ultimate abilities, utility, providing a lot of unique interactions.
Graphically, it looks absolutely stunning – easily one of the most incredible looking upcoming Gacha games. And the character models look even better. Perhaps some of, if not the best looking character models after Wuthering Waves.
The story is fantastic. It’s dark. It’s funny. There’s a lot of personality on display. In terms of free to play friendliness? There’s a 50/50 at 80 pulls, a guarantee at 120 pulls for your first character banner, and you can buy character dupes with tickets, in the same way as Mileage.
I’d give Story an 8/10, combat an 7/10, graphics a 9/10, character models a 9/10, and free to play friendliness a 8/10. In total? 41/50.

Now I think the top 2 are merely a matter of whether you prefer open-world games or instanced ones. The #1 and #2 spots are highly dependent on this singular point.

Zenless Zone Zero is a semi-instanced, semi-hub based RPG.
It has one of, if not the best combat the genre has to offer. It’s fast, it’s fluid, it’s flashy, it has weight, and there’s complexity to it.
Graphically, the game looks gorgeous. And the character models? Holy crap they look incredible. Especially the Waifu’s. The men tend to be pretty average.
The story is great – much less of a convoluted mess than other HoYo games, featuring one of the best cast of characters HoYo has to offer. In terms of free to play friendliness? Pity is 90, just like Genshin, with a 50/50 present, meaning a guaranteed character is 180 pulls. Weapons – W-Engines are 80 pity.
I’d give Story an 7/10, combat a 10/10, graphics a 9/10, character models a 9/10, and free to play friendliness a 4/10. In total? 43/50.

Wuthering Waves is an open-world RPG.
It has the best action combat in the genre. That’s my opinion – not everyone shares it, but I believe it has the most stunning visual effects, fluidity in terms of character movement, weight in terms of actions, and complex encounters. All while providing dodges, counters, and character combos in the form of intro and outro attacks.
Graphically, there isn’t a game that looks better. It has the most impressively detailed world, and even better character designs. For both men AND women.
The story – at its low point is pretty boring, but at its high point, is ridiculously addicting. In terms of free to play friendliness? Pity is 80 for characters with a 50/50 present, meaning a guaranteed character is 160 pulls. Weapon banners are 80 pulls for pity, with no 50/50 present, meaning a guarantee at 80 pulls.
I’d give Story an 7/10, combat an 10/10, graphics a 10/10, character models a 10/10, and free to play friendliness a 8/10. In total? 45/50.

And they’re the 10 best Action Gacha games to play right now, in 2025. The absolute best the genre has to offer. If you think I missed a game, let me know down in the comments below, it might help someone else out!