Zanerdin: The Unbound is a New PS5 Gacha Game with No Microtransactions

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Sanctuary Games, a new South Korean studio founded in April 2025 by former NEOWIZ manager Hyunduk You, has announced its first game: Zanerdin: The Unbound. This collectible, turn-based strategy RPG will be available on PlayStation 5 and PC. Unusually for the genre, it uses gacha elements to acquire characters and items, but promises no in-game purchases or microtransactions. NEOWIZ, the company You previously worked for, is known for popular games like DJMax and Lies of P.

Okay, so when I first heard “gacha game,” I usually brace myself – it often means free-to-play games where you basically spend money to get random characters or items. But Zanerdin: The Unbound is doing things differently, and honestly, it’s pretty interesting. If it works out, it could really change how gacha games are made.

Gacha RPG Without Paywalls Announced

The release date and price of Zanerdin: The Unbound haven’t been announced yet, but it’s shaping up to be a popular gacha game. Players can wishlist it now on Steam and the PlayStation Store to stay updated. According to Hyunduk You, founder of Sanctuary Games, the team is committed to making a gacha game that’s fun without requiring players to spend extra money. Instead of paying for characters or items, players will unlock everything by playing the game – earning rewards through battles, raids, and exploration. Sanctuary Games wants players to focus on skillful strategy and building a collection through gameplay, not on spending money.

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Zanerdin: The Unbound takes place in Kalatos, a fantasy world defined by six elemental powers: Water, Fire, Earth, Metal, Wind, and Electric. You play as Zanerdin, a character who starts out as an outcast in a lawless region. The story unfolds across over 60 battles, each with beautifully hand-drawn scenes that help move the plot forward and provide strategic information. You’ll build teams of over 25 unique characters, each connected to a specific element and role on the battlefield. Like Cookie Run: Kingdom, the game is designed so you can unlock everything without spending any extra money. The developers plan to add more story content and characters through downloadable content, though prices haven’t been announced yet.

Gamers are generally excited about the new game, relieved that it doesn’t rely heavily on pay-to-win tactics or random purchases. The game blends the fun of collecting characters with a traditional RPG progression system, which could attract both longtime RPG fans and players who enjoy earning rare items through gameplay. Unlike many modern games that use in-game stores and currencies to encourage spending, this game feels more like a classic RPG. This approach is a welcome change, as some other games, like Heartopia, have recently faced criticism for their spending requirements.

Players of Heartopia have pointed out areas for improvement in its free-to-play gacha system, and Zanerdin: The Unbound is taking a different approach. A major challenge for the developers will be creating a balanced game where players can progress without needing to spend extra money. If Sanctuary Games succeeds, this independent game could encourage other developers to reconsider how they use gacha elements in popular games. If you’re interested and have a PS5 or PC, you can wishlist the game to stay updated on its release date.

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2026-02-19 12:04