Gaming UX Case Study: Redesigning a Mobile Gacha Menu to Improve Retention

Gaming · 5 min read

Players reported frustration with the old gacha screen: odds were hidden inside nested modals, reward calendars were out of sync, and special banners reused similar visuals that led to misclicks. The studio noticed churn after major events despite big marketing spends, indicating UX rather than monetization was the issue.

The redesign reorganized the menu into three distinct zones: featured pulls with clear odds and limited-time indicators, a persistent rewards calendar with claim status, and a budget-friendly bundle carousel. Visual hierarchy used color and motion sparingly to avoid attention theft. We added a small 'what you get' overlay that simulated pulls so players knew exactly what resources they might gain.

Post-launch, Day 1 retention improved by 7% and conversion for low-priced bundles rose by 12%. Player sentiment in the community improved because the UI reduced ambiguity about odds and rewards. The team learned that transparent information architecture and respectful framing of monetization can both protect the economy and improve retention.