Genshin Impact
HoYoverse
Visually impressive action RPG with one of the most aggressive gacha systems in gaming.
Which child are you assessing?
Not recommended
Very strong addictive design + Very aggressive dark patterns — clear parental rules needed.
What matters
Gambling
Gambling-like mechanics (social casino, loot boxes)
Addictive design
Mechanics designed for prolonged use and return visits
In-app purchases
Purchases within the app possible (e.g. items, coins, subscriptions)
Tracking
Usage data is collected and shared
Not present: Chat, User content, Ads, Violence, Stranger contact, Voice chat
How this game captures attention
These mechanics are no accident — they're intentional. No moral judgment, but important knowledge for you.
Random Rewards (Loot Boxes)
The game gives randomly good or bad rewards — the uncertainty is intentional.
Why it works: Unpredictable rewards generate 3× more dopamine than predictable ones (variable-ratio reinforcement, B.F. Skinner). The exact same principle as slot machines — Klicksafe calls it 'the strongest known learning principle'. An Arte documentary dedicated an entire episode of 'The Dopamine Trap' to Candy Crush.
Zufallsbelohnungen sind für diese Altersgruppe besonders motivierend und schwer zu widersetzen.
Rule before the first play session: 'We don't buy anything for chests/crates.' Explain together why it still feels tempting — knowing the mechanic takes away some of its power.
Daily Login Requirement (Streaks)
The game rewards daily logins — and punishes not logging in.
Why it works: The brain evaluates losses twice as heavily as gains (loss aversion). Klicksafe calls this FOMO — 'Fear of Missing Out': the constant pressure to always be there. Breaking a streak feels like real pain for children — that's intentional, not a side effect.
In diesem Alter beginnt das Gehirn Verluste besonders stark zu bewerten — Streaks erzeugen echten Stress.
Try it together: deliberately skip a day and discuss how it feels. Show: the game continues afterwards.
Sources: Klicksafe.de · Arte: Die Dopamin-Falle · All sources
Understanding store ratings
PEGI rules 2026: This game contains paid random items
Under PEGI rules effective June 2026, newly submitted games with paid random items (loot boxes, gacha, card packs) will be rated at least PEGI 16. Existing labels are not automatically updated — the displayed rating may underestimate the current risk.
App Store (Apple)
12+
Google Play
Ab 12
PEGI
PEGI 12
Normalized risk score: 0 = lowest risk, 100 = highest risk. NUNIVIA weights App Store (55%) and Google Play (45%).
Why NUNIVIA rates additionally
Official labels (USK, PEGI) primarily refer to content such as violence or language. Purchase pressure, loot boxes, addictive mechanics and manipulative UI designs (dark patterns) have only been gradually included since 2023 — older ratings do not yet fully reflect this. NUNIVIA therefore additionally evaluates real everyday risks, including UI tricks such as countdown timers, virtual currencies, FOMO events and hidden decline options.
Random element + real money, but often formally not classified as gambling (loot box grey area).
Assessment for game
PEGI 12 (formally), but regulatorily one of the strongest gacha cases in the market. The Wish system is gambling: very low probabilities for rare characters, massive psychological pressure through time-limited banners and pity mechanics. FTC proceedings confirm: this is not a fringe issue. New (November 2024): The vzbv filed a complaint with the EU Commission — the gacha system is classified as an illegal gambling simulation under the DSA (insufficient transparency for virtual currencies).
Regulatory measures
FTC-Einigung Januar 2025: HoYoverse zahlt 20 Mio. Dollar. Verbot, an unter 16-Jährige Lootboxen zu verkaufen ohne nachgewiesene Elternzustimmung. Das ist eines der wichtigsten Verbraucherschutzsignale für Gacha-Spiele.
Why this score?
These 4 factors are behind the risk score above — they show where the risk comes from. Protection is inverted: higher = better.
Severity
How severe is the risk in the worst case?
Frequency
How often does the child encounter the risk while playing?
Manipulation pressure
How aggressively does the game push toward risky behavior?
Protection
How effective are the available protection measures?
Protection: Higher = better (more parental controls available). The other three: Higher = more guidance needed.
What you get after signing up
Companion guide
First steps + agreements for your home
Practical tips
What you should set up on the technical side
Conversation starters
Ready-made openers for difficult moments
Safe alternatives
Games with lower risk
Unlock companion guide & tips
Free — unlock once for all games.
War diese Einschätzung hilfreich?
Want to go deeper?
The NUNIVIA parent course shows step by step how to set rules that actually work — with an AI coach for your specific questions.
The NUNIVIA assessment is based on publicly available data and AI-supported analysis. It represents an editorial guide and does not replace professional media education advice. No liability accepted.
Protect your home network — not just individual games
The Internet Shield at the router protects all devices simultaneously — Smart TV, consoles and smartphones. Set up in 30 minutes.
Set up Internet Shield