Minecraft
CautionA$28.95
Addictive design
Player-built worlds and platform currencyPaid DLC and season passesMonthly subscription (one game)Game library subscriptionCosmetic-only purchasesPay once (premium)+1
Coin Master
Released 2016 Developer Moon Active
You spin a slot-machine-style wheel to win coins, attack or raid other players' villages and spend the coins building your own village, then move on to the next one. Collecting cards, caring for pets and joining teams of friends add more things to chase. It is a casual game designed for adults.
Money health
HarmfulChance, compulsion or exploitation
Addictive design
Very high5 of 5 — counts the hooks designed in
Average price
Freefree to download
Spending ceiling
No ceilingRepeat purchases, no limit
Australian rating
Simulated gambling, Online interactivity and chat, Chance-based in-game purchases
How it makes money
Harmful: chance, compulsion or exploitation
Coin Master is free to download but is classified R 18+ in Australia, where games with simulated gambling have been rated R 18+ since 22 September 2024. You spin a slot-machine-style wheel to win coins and attack or raid other players' villages; spins are limited (about five an hour) and extra spins are sold in packs (the Australian App Store lists packs from A$2.99 to A$30.99, and Google Play shows single items up to A$549.99). Cards, pets and more than 20 event currencies add more to chase. Moon Active's terms limit the game to adults and say the service is for amusement only, with no real-money prizes.
How you pay
- Free-to-play
The App Store AU lists spin packs from A$2.99 ('Small Spins pack') to A$30.99, and Google Play (AU) shows single items from A$0.69 to A$549.99.
- Loot boxes
Spin and card rewards pay out at random; the App Store description says purchases include randomized items, and the Google Play, ESRB, PEGI and USK labels all flag random items (Australia: 'chance-based in-game purchases').
- Ad-funded
The Android listing is labelled 'Contains ads'.
minor part of the game
Techniques it uses to keep you paying or playing
- Slot-machine
You spin a slot-machine-style wheel for coins, attacks, raids and shields. The Australian classification lists 'simulated gambling' and rates the game R 18+; Germany's USK cites gambling themes (USK 16) and PEGI rates it 18.
- Game currency
Spins and coins are bought and won in many forms; Wikipedia counts more than 20 currency types tied to events and promotions.
- Wait or pay
Spins are limited to about five per hour (rising as you advance); extra spins are bought, or gained through social media links, newsletter sign-ups and events (Wikipedia).
- Collect all
Collecting cards completes sets and unlocks the next village, and cards can be traded with other players (store description).
- Social nudges
You attack or raid friends' villages and can take revenge, link up with Facebook friends and join teams of up to 50; spins can be gifted to friends (Wikipedia, store description).
- FOMO timers
The store description promises an 'ever-changing lineup of special events' with unique challenges, and each event currency is tied to a specific event or promotion (Wikipedia).
- Never-ending
Wikipedia counts more than 600 levels (villages) by March 2026, and the store description talks about 'thousands of villages' still to build.
Fairer alternatives
Similar games with a healthier money model
What it costs
Free to start, then A$2.99–A$549.99 a purchase
| What | Where | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Spins pack (smallest listed pack) The App Store shows only a selection of the game's purchases. |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS ↗ | A$2.99 | Oct 2026 |
| Sofi Pack_19.99 (largest listed pack) Other listed packs: A$4.49, A$5.99, A$7.99, A$12.99, A$14.99 and A$22.99. |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS ↗ | A$30.99 | Oct 2026 |
| Largest single in-app item Top of the 'per item' range shown on the Google Play listing (A$0.69 to A$549.99); the item is not named. |
Google Play (AU) · Android ↗ | A$549.99 | Oct 2026 |
Store prices change often and sales are common; we record the regular price on the date shown.
Age ratings
Classification
Age ratings judge content (violence, language, gambling themes). They say little about how hard a game pushes spending — that's what the badges above are for. About rating boards
Safety & parental controls
Who can talk to your child, and what can they buy?
- Text chat
- Players can interact with strangers
- No user-made content
- Account: not recorded
- Terms of service minimum age: 18
Moon Active's terms limit Coin Master to people who are 18 or the age of legal majority, and say a parent or guardian is responsible for a minor's activity and purchases. Australia classifies it R 18+ (Apple AU also shows R 18+), partly because of simulated gambling. Teams and friend features allow messaging and contact with other players, and attacks and raids target other players' villages. In 2020 German media regulators took action over the game, after which Moon Active added double age verification and restricted minors from the app (Wikipedia). No publisher parental-controls page was found.
Platforms & release
Where you can play it
| Platform | Released | Store |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone and iPad | — | Store page ↗ |
| Android phones and tablets | 17 March 2016 | Store page ↗ |
Further reading
- Moon Active terms and conditions (18+, amusement only) ↗
- Australian Classification Board: simulated gambling games rated R 18+ from 22 September 2024 ↗
- Wikipedia ↗
Facts last checked 22 October 2026. Sources: apps.apple.com, play.google.com, play.google.com, play.google.com, play.google.com, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, static.moonactive.net, www.moonactive.com, www.metacritic.com. Spotted something wrong? Send a correction.