Macrotransactions
Monetisation in games can be unethical, predatory, and exploitative. This website highlights monetisation practices in popular games.π
Premium currencies come in quantities that do not match the price of regular shop items, forcing you to spend more for less.π
Some in-game services can only be purchased with real money (e.g. server transfers, character appearance changes, name changes, etc.).π
Includes mechanics that are intentionally slow or inconvenient, but can be bypassed with real money purchases.π
Contains premium currencies that can only, or almost exclusively, be purchased with real money.π
In-game currencies can be purchased with real life money.π
Often features "discounts" that still force you to purchase premium currencies for the same amount you would without the discount.β
Features unique cosmetic rewards for pre-ordering the game.β
Frequently makes use of limited time events which reward free in-game items.β
Has a "deluxe" edition of the game which features (almost) nothing but in-game cosmetic items.β
Free to play. Requires no up front payment.![](/image/games/yexi5nvcz9e.jpeg)
This game is not yet released and not all details are known
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You can (or could) gain early-access to the game by spending more money.β
You can (or could) gain early-access to the game by pre-ordering.β
Has a "deluxe" edition of the game which features (almost) nothing but in-game cosmetic items.![](/image/games/bvw42qhjm5.jpeg)
This game is not yet released and not all details are known
π
The "Deluxe" edition(s) of the game are very expensive while offering very little in comparison to other similar games.π
Contains one or multiple Season Passes, encouraging the purchase of unknown DLC you might never have purchased otherwise.π
You can (or could) gain early-access to the game by spending more money.β
Features unique cosmetic rewards for pre-ordering the game.![](/image/games/zycnanjig1.jpeg)
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There are no additional purchases other than a "deluxe" version of the game. No microtransactions, no DLC.![](/image/games/bgrl6yqd19.jpeg)
This game is not yet released and not all details are known
π
You could pre-order DLC at a time when no details were known about that DLC.π
Contains premium currencies that can only, or almost exclusively, be purchased with real money.π
Battle Pass levels can be purchased with real life money.π
This is a full priced game yet features microtransactions like you'd expect from a free-to-play game.π
The base game is priced significantly higher than games in comparable price brackets.β
Contains one or multiple Battle Passes.β
You can (or could) gain early-access to the game by pre-ordering.β
Features unique cosmetic rewards for pre-ordering the game.![](/image/games/cytg7806sn9.jpeg)
π
Premium currencies come in quantities that do not match the price of regular shop items, forcing you to spend more for less.π
Contains items that only come in bundles and can not be acquired on their own.π
Includes mechanics that are intentionally slow or inconvenient, but can be bypassed with real money purchases.π
Battle Passes are timed exclusives. If you don't finish it in a given time you do not get what you paid for.π
Includes a limited-time always rotating store with exclusive discounts and/or cosmetics.π
Often features items that can only be purchased during a limited time.π
Contains premium currencies that can only, or almost exclusively, be purchased with real money.π
Battle Pass levels can be purchased with real life money.π
Often features "discounts" that still force you to purchase premium currencies for the same amount you would without the discount.β
Contains one or multiple Battle Passes.![](/image/games/lynpltx5ivq.jpeg)
π
Premium currencies come in quantities that do not match the price of regular shop items, forcing you to spend more for less.π
Contains items that only come in bundles and can not be acquired on their own.π
Battle Passes are timed exclusives. If you don't finish it in a given time you do not get what you paid for.π
Includes a limited-time always rotating store with exclusive discounts and/or cosmetics.π
Often features items that can only be purchased during a limited time.π
Contains premium currencies that can only, or almost exclusively, be purchased with real money.π
Battle Pass levels can be purchased with real life money.π
This is a full priced game yet features microtransactions like you'd expect from a free-to-play game.β
Features unique cosmetic rewards for pre-ordering the game.β
Frequently makes use of limited time events which reward free in-game items.![](/image/games/x4ovgb82g0f.jpeg)
π
Premium currencies come in quantities that do not match the price of regular shop items, forcing you to spend more for less.π
Contains items that only come in bundles and can not be acquired on their own.π
Includes mechanics that are intentionally slow or inconvenient, but can be bypassed with real money purchases.π
Battle Passes are timed exclusives. If you don't finish it in a given time you do not get what you paid for.π
Includes a limited-time always rotating store with exclusive discounts and/or cosmetics.π
Often features items that can only be purchased during a limited time.π
Contains premium currencies that can only, or almost exclusively, be purchased with real money.π
Contains one or multiple Season Passes, encouraging the purchase of unknown DLC you might never have purchased otherwise.π
Battle Pass is extremely grindy and requires considerable time investments to complete.π
Battle Pass levels can be purchased with real life money.![](/image/games/izet88box8q.jpeg)
π
Contains one or multiple Season Passes, encouraging the purchase of unknown DLC you might never have purchased otherwise.π
This is a full priced game yet features microtransactions like you'd expect from a free-to-play game.π
Contains an unreasonably large amount of optional DLC, costing an extraordinarily high amount in total.β
Contains free lootboxes that can not be purchased with real money.β
Features unique cosmetic rewards for pre-ordering the game.![](/image/games/4wi61sqkl67.jpeg)
![](/image/games/6l1xn9w2cyb.jpeg)
![](/image/games/gwvktvm4v1d.jpeg)
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There are no additional purchases other than a "deluxe" version of the game. No microtransactions, no DLC.![](/image/games/2h7ww6ck1uy.jpeg)
π
There are no microtransactions or DLC, but there are plans for DLC later down the line.![](/image/games/lxnklbb7xt.jpeg)
π
You buy it and that's it. No paid DLC. No microtransactions.![](/image/games/0rznfe36f01.jpeg)
π
Premium currencies come in quantities that do not match the price of regular shop items, forcing you to spend more for less.π
Includes a limited-time always rotating store with exclusive discounts and/or cosmetics.π
Contains premium currencies that can only, or almost exclusively, be purchased with real money.β
Features unique cosmetic rewards for pre-ordering the game.β
Free to play. Requires no up front payment.![](/image/games/mpmbqpfko8j.jpeg)
π
The game contains many smaller DLC packs that contain (almost) nothing but cosmetics.π
Contains one or multiple Season Passes, encouraging the purchase of unknown DLC you might never have purchased otherwise.β
Features unique cosmetic rewards for pre-ordering the game.β
Has a "deluxe" edition of the game which features (almost) nothing but in-game cosmetic items.![](/image/games/f3dhkyt3f69.jpeg)
π
There are no additional purchases other than a "deluxe" version of the game. No microtransactions, no DLC.![](/image/games/vazptahrrj.jpeg)
π
There are no additional purchases other than a "deluxe" version of the game. No microtransactions, no DLC.![](/image/games/xcfesiitfe.jpeg)
π
You buy it and that's it. No paid DLC. No microtransactions.![](/image/games/r7s11adnd9q.jpeg)
π
You buy it and that's it. No paid DLC. No microtransactions.![](/image/games/lu0418efkn8.jpeg)
π
Pay-to-win elements. This games contains purchasable items that make your character stronger.π
Includes mechanics that are intentionally slow or inconvenient, but can be bypassed with real money purchases.π
Microtransactions were added only a few weeks after launch in order to dodge negative review scores and prevent reviews from talking about microtransactions.π
In-game currencies can be purchased with real life money.π
This is a full priced game yet features microtransactions like you'd expect from a free-to-play game.β
Features unique cosmetic rewards for pre-ordering the game.β
Has a "deluxe" edition of the game which features (almost) nothing but in-game cosmetic items.![](/image/games/17aky624xuu.jpeg)
π
Premium currencies come in quantities that do not match the price of regular shop items, forcing you to spend more for less.π
Includes a limited-time always rotating store with exclusive discounts and/or cosmetics.β
Contains one or multiple Battle Passes.β
Features unique cosmetic rewards for pre-ordering the game.β
Has a "deluxe" edition of the game which features (almost) nothing but in-game cosmetic items.π
The original purchase contains all future content, but there are some small optional cosmetics and/or services you can purchase.![](/image/games/pby0vbak7km.jpeg)
π
There are no additional purchases other than a "deluxe" version of the game. No microtransactions, no DLC.![](/image/games/rgn2f1z48qe.jpeg)
π
You buy it and that's it. No paid DLC. No microtransactions.![](/image/games/k1bucgmhu0m.jpeg)
π
Contains items that only come in bundles and can not be acquired on their own.π
Frequently rewards in-game items for external purchases (e.g. Twitch Prime subscriptions).π
Battle Passes are timed exclusives. If you don't finish it in a given time you do not get what you paid for.π
Contains premium currencies that can only, or almost exclusively, be purchased with real money.π
Contains premium currencies that expire with time, forcing you to either spend them or lose them.π
Battle Pass levels can be purchased with real life money.π
This is a full priced game yet features microtransactions like you'd expect from a free-to-play game.π
You can (or could) gain early-access to the game by spending more money.β
Contains one or multiple Battle Passes.β
Has a "deluxe" edition of the game which features (almost) nothing but in-game cosmetic items.![](/image/games/pjfe6fzugkp.jpeg)
![](/image/games/p53eagqqgxb.jpeg)
π
Premium currencies come in quantities that do not match the price of regular shop items, forcing you to spend more for less.π
Contains premium items that give you advantages in a singleplayer mode.π
Contains items that only come in bundles and can not be acquired on their own.π
Contains premium currencies that can only, or almost exclusively, be purchased with real money.π
Contains one or multiple Season Passes, encouraging the purchase of unknown DLC you might never have purchased otherwise.π
The game is singleplayer yet features microtransactions (not referring to DLC or extra content).π
This is a full priced game yet features microtransactions like you'd expect from a free-to-play game.π
The base game is priced significantly higher than games in comparable price brackets.β
Has a "deluxe" edition of the game which features (almost) nothing but in-game cosmetic items.![](/image/games/dohpsgfbjv9.jpeg)
π
Premium currencies come in quantities that do not match the price of regular shop items, forcing you to spend more for less.π
Contains items that only come in bundles and can not be acquired on their own.π
Frequently rewards in-game items for external purchases (e.g. Twitch Prime subscriptions).π
Battle Passes are timed exclusives. If you don't finish it in a given time you do not get what you paid for.π
Contains premium currencies that can only, or almost exclusively, be purchased with real money.π
Battle Pass levels can be purchased with real life money.π
Dark patterns. This game includes design choices that are intentionally deceptive to try and get you to spend money.β
Contains one or multiple Battle Passes.β
Free to play. Requires no up front payment.π
Completing the Battle Pass will earn you enough Premium Credits to purchase the next Battle Pass.![](/image/games/2d5akg8jiqd.jpeg)
π
Premium currencies come in quantities that do not match the price of regular shop items, forcing you to spend more for less.π
You could pre-order DLC at a time when no details were known about that DLC.π
Includes a limited-time always rotating store with exclusive discounts and/or cosmetics.π
Often features items that can only be purchased during a limited time.π
Contains premium currencies that can only, or almost exclusively, be purchased with real money.π
Contains one-time use premium cosmetics.π
Contains one or multiple Season Passes, encouraging the purchase of unknown DLC you might never have purchased otherwise.π
This is a full priced game yet features microtransactions like you'd expect from a free-to-play game.π
Some DLC cost as much, or almost as much, as the full game, yet feature no where near the same amount of content.π
You can (or could) gain early-access to the game by spending more money.![](/image/games/d976l6h3ok.jpeg)
π
Contains items that only come in bundles and can not be acquired on their own.![](/image/games/cd5roxpaiib.jpeg)
π
You can (or could) gain early-access to the game by spending more money.β
You can (or could) gain early-access to the game by pre-ordering.β
Has a "deluxe" edition of the game which features (almost) nothing but in-game cosmetic items.π
There are no additional purchases other than a "deluxe" version of the game. No microtransactions, no DLC.![](/image/games/0d22q0d3uy7.jpeg)
π
Contains no direct microtransactions, but does contains some small cosmetic packs or DLC![](/image/games/8nrs1tg3zmj.jpeg)
π
There are no additional purchases other than a "deluxe" version of the game. No microtransactions, no DLC.![](/image/games/0hbokfw8dbrm.jpeg)
π
Premium currencies come in quantities that do not match the price of regular shop items, forcing you to spend more for less.π
You could pre-order DLC at a time when no details were known about that DLC.π
Contains premium currencies that can only, or almost exclusively, be purchased with real money.π
The game is singleplayer yet features microtransactions (not referring to DLC or extra content).π
You can (or could) gain early-access to the game by spending more money.β
Features unique cosmetic rewards for pre-ordering the game.![](/image/games/yarsy1jowzq.jpeg)
π
Content that is usually expected with the initial purchase is instead locked behind other purchases.π
There are no additional purchases other than a "deluxe" version of the game. No microtransactions, no DLC.![](/image/games/6uzryt1pcbx.jpeg)
π
Contains no direct microtransactions, but does contains some small cosmetic packs or DLC![](/image/games/64sqsm2ucf.jpeg)