Pay to Win
A player can spend real money to purchase something that gives them an advantage in the game.
Many games have a system where you can purchase items by using in-game currency. This currency can be earned by performing certain actions, such as grinding and sometimes it can be purchased with real money, which makes it a premium currency. If earning the in-game currency through gameplay is so slow that it's almost impossible to realistically earn enough to buy the necessary items, then spending real money becomes necessary. The players who spend the most will have the biggest advantage and a free-to-play (F2P) player will be at a significant disadvantage.
If you can spend real money to give yourself an advantage over other players, then a game is exhibiting the "Pay to Win" dark pattern. In addition to accelerating the normal earning of in-game currency, you may also be able to purchase a "cheat" or unlock some otherwise unobtainable item that gives you an advantage.
Sometimes games give large incentives to be in the top ranks, but make it impossible to get into the top ranks unless you constantly spend money to purchase the latest items or upgrades. This dark pattern is sometimes called "Monetized Rivalries", and when its combined with another dark pattern, called depreciation, it can setup a player to be constantly needing to spend money to stay ahead of other players.
If you can spend real money to give yourself an advantage over other players, then a game is exhibiting the "Pay to Win" dark pattern. In addition to accelerating the normal earning of in-game currency, you may also be able to purchase a "cheat" or unlock some otherwise unobtainable item that gives you an advantage.
Sometimes games give large incentives to be in the top ranks, but make it impossible to get into the top ranks unless you constantly spend money to purchase the latest items or upgrades. This dark pattern is sometimes called "Monetized Rivalries", and when its combined with another dark pattern, called depreciation, it can setup a player to be constantly needing to spend money to stay ahead of other players.
Citations and Sources • Dark Patterns in the Design of Games
• What is a Dark Pattern in Video Games?
• What is a Dark Pattern in Video Games?
Examples
Asphalt 9: Legends"You can buy upgrades for cars with tokens"
The World of Magic"Extremely P2W, enchantments on weapons/armor can only be done with Cash Shop items available only for Premium Currency (they are also untradable so F2P players can't get them unless they spend money), Buff in form of EXP+, ATK+, Evade+(P2W ONLY) etc"
Soundmap: The Music Game"I guess??? Not an advantage but just gets you more of what you want? Unless youre mainly trading for songs/coins??"
GraalOnline Era+"You can usd to get good items in a usd server, or pay for the limited items I was talking about to get them. The only way to be good is to pay in this game."
GraalOnline Zone+"You can usd to get good items in a usd server, or pay for the limited items I was talking about to get them. The only way to be good is to pay in this game."
MONOPOLY GO!"Other gamers selling stickers on e eBay price ranges between £2 and £25 per sticker"
Arcaea"Song packs"
Lanota"You can purchase more songs"
Board Kings™️"upon every login into the game i am bombarded with 5+ popups with special offers for real money"
Magic: The Gathering - PQ"Cards are hard to get in this game"