pay-to-win
Money buys victory
Pay-to-win describes games where spending real money provides competitive advantages unavailable to non-paying players.
The term is derogatory, implying the game rewards wallets over skill: That mobile game is totally pay-to-win—you can't compete without buying premium gear.
Often shortened to P2W.
The concept extends to any system where money buys success that should be earned.
Small payments within software
- freemiumHybrid monetization approach
- in-appWithin the software itself
- gemsCut precious stones
- coinsMetal money units
currency · boosters · power-ups · premium · DLC · paywall · gacha · skins
Exploiting the vulnerable
- exploitativeUnfairly using others' vulnerabilities
- unfairUnjust or partial
- riggedFraudulently arranged beforehand
- greedyExcessively wanting more
manipulative · unethical · anti-consumer · gambling · addictive · deceptive · aggressive · controversial
Huge sea mammal
- dolphinEcholocating marine mammal
- minnowSmall freshwater fish
- free-to-playNo-cost base game model
- spenderOne who disburses money
Excessively dominant or conquered
- boostUpward push or increase
- edgeBoundary or sharpness
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- imbalancedUnevenly distributed or proportioned
unbalanced · meta · shortcut · time-saver · head-start
microtransactions
Small payments within software
coins · currency · boosters · power-ups · premium · DLC · paywall · gacha · skins · packs
predatory
Exploiting the vulnerable
- exploitativeUnfairly using others' vulnerabilities
- unfairUnjust or partial
- riggedFraudulently arranged beforehand
greedy · manipulative · unethical · anti-consumer · gambling · addictive · deceptive · aggressive · controversial · backlash
whale
Huge sea mammal
- dolphinEcholocating marine mammal
- minnowSmall freshwater fish
- free-to-playNo-cost base game model
overpowered
Excessively dominant or conquered
imbalanced · unbalanced · meta · shortcut · time-saver · head-start
- gamingvideo games, buff, games, PlayStation 4, gameplay
- gaming businessmicrotransactions, loot boxes, DLC, battle pass, season pass
- gaming commercemicrotransaction, in-app purchase, loot box, battle pass, premium currency
- gaming problemsbugs, glitches, lag, crashes, cheaters
- Mobile AppsClash of Clans, Fortnite, Spotify, Duolingo, Pokemon Go
- video gamesvideo games, gameplay, Fortnite, mobile game, arcade
pay-to-winskill-based
Dependent on acquired abilities
merit-based · level playing field · fair competition · git gud · practice makes perfect
pay, win, pays, paid, paying, payable, payment, repay, repayment