Institute of Science Tokyo

First Contact with Dark Patterns and Deceptive Designs in Chinese and Japanese Free-to-Play Mobile Games

Free-to-play mobile games in China and Japan frequently employ sophisticated deceptive design strategies, commonly referred to as dark patterns, to manipulate player behavior during the critical onboarding phase.

• Top-ranked free-to-play mobile games in China and Japan utilize an average of over 21 distinct dark patterns per title to manipulate player behavior during onboarding.
• Developers frequently employ 'DP Combos' and 'DP Enhancers,' layering multiple manipulative elements with aesthetic choices like 'kawaii' designs to amplify psychological triggers.
• Chinese mobile games prioritize aggressive, persistent monetization lures and complex battle pass structures, while Japanese titles focus on fear-of-missing-out (FOMO) tactics and the exploitation of endowed value.