Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact is a 2020 action role-playing game produced by miHoYo. The game features an anime-style open world environment and an action-based battle system using elemental magic and character-switching. A free-to-play game monetized through gacha game mechanics, Genshin Impact is updated regularly using the games as a service model; it was originally released for Android, iOS, PlayStation 4 and Windows, followed by the PlayStation 5 in 2021, with an Xbox Series X/S version in November 2024. In China, a native port for HarmonyOS NEXT was released in September 2025.
Genshin Impact takes place in the fantasy world of Teyvat, home to seven nations, each of which are tied to a different element and ruled by a different god called an "Archon". The story follows the Traveler, an interstellar adventurer who, at the start of the game, is separated from their twin sibling after the two land in Teyvat. Thereafter, the Traveler journeys across the nations of Teyvat in search of the lost sibling, accompanied by their guide, Paimon. Along the way, the two befriend myriad individuals, become involved in the affairs of its nations, and begin to unravel the mysteries of the land.
Development began in 2017 and takes inspiration from a variety of sources, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, anime, Gnosticism, and an array of real-world cultures and world mythologies. Genshin Impact has received generally positive reviews, with critics approving of its combat mechanics and its immersive open world. Conversely, some criticism has been directed at its simplistic endgame and its gacha-based monetization model. The game has also been subjected to controversy over censorship of content related to Chinese politics, and privacy and security concerns.
Gameplay
Genshin Impact is an open-world, action role-playing game that allows the player to control one of four interchangeable characters in a party. Switching between characters can be done quickly during combat, allowing the player to use several different combinations of skills and attacks. Characters may have their abilities enhanced in various ways, mainly through leveling them up and improving the artifacts and weapons that a character can equip. In addition to exploration, the player can attempt various challenges for rewards. Scattered across Teyvat are bosses and challenges that reward highly valuable resources, but claiming them uses up a currency called Original Resin, which slowly regenerates over time. Completing these challenges grants the player progress towards increasing their Adventure Rank, which in turn unlocks new quests, challenges, and raises the World Level. The World Level is a measure of how strong the enemies within the world are and the rarity of rewards that defeating them gives.The player can control their character and perform actions such as running, climbing, swimming, and gliding, all limited by stamina. Some characters possess abilities that can alter the environment, such as freezing water to create an ice path that can aid the player in traversing terrain. Many teleportation points exist throughout the world that players can warp to as a form of fast travel; among these are landmarks known as Statues of The Seven that can heal and revive characters, and provide benefits such as increasing player stamina. Items such as food and ore may be procured from the open world, while enemies and treasure chests drop other types of resources that may be used in enhancing a character's strength. Players can obtain food from hunting animals, gathering fruit and vegetables, or purchasing them from in-game shops. Furthermore, there are special battle instances called "Domains" that reward materials which increase character and weapon strength. Meals cooked from ingredients gathered in the overworld may also provide desirable effects, such as regenerating characters' health or boosting various stats. Players can also procure ore that can be refined and then used to create weapons or enhance their strength.
A multiplayer mode is available in the form of co-op, in which up to four players can play together. Player matching can either be done by requesting to connect with another player, or through an automatic search. The game features cross-platform play, so players on any platform can play with each other.
By completing certain quests or by participating in select limited-time events, the player can unlock additional playable characters. Most characters, however, are obtained through the character banners of the game's gacha system, called "Wishes". An ingame currency called "Primogems", obtainable through in-app purchases or as gameplay rewards, is required to pull on the game's banners. A pity system guarantees that the player will receive rare items after a set number of pulls.
Elemental combat
have control over one of seven natural elements: Anemo, Geo, Pyro, Hydro, Cryo, Electro, and Dendro. When these elements react with one another, they produce various effects. For instance, if a Hydro attack hits a target, the enemy will be inflicted with the "Wet" status effect, and if they are hit with a subsequent Cryo attack, these two status effects combine to freeze the opponent, temporarily preventing them from performing any actions.Each character also has two unique combat abilities: an "Elemental Skill" and an "Elemental Burst". Elemental Skills are attacks with a set cooldown, while Elemental Bursts are ultimate attacks with an energy cost. These require the player to amass sufficient elemental energy in order to use them. Manipulating the game's elements through the Skills and Bursts of a given party's four characters to produce various reactions increases the party's combat capabilities. Certain elemental abilities are also required to solve puzzles within the overworld.
''Genius Invokation TCG''
A tabletop-based collectible card game called Genius Invokation TCG was released in the game's Version 3.3 update in December 2022 as an additional optional gamemode. The game uses turn-based battles. Equipped with a deck of three characters and 30 supporting cards, players win by knocking down all the opponent's competing character cards. Each round requires a dice roll that forces the player to use their cards within the limitations of their roll. Similar to the main game, elemental reactions are included as a mechanic of the gamemode. Players are able to challenge NPCs, playable characters, and other real players in co-op mode.''Miliastra Wonderland''
A sandbox and game creation gameplay system called Miliastra Wonderland was released in the game's "Luna II" update in October 2025. The system lets players create and share their work using an array of assets, terrain, and enemies already within Genshin Impact, navigated by the Wonderland Manekin, a new customizable character obtained by unlocking Miliastra Wonderland. GamesRadar+ called it a user-generated content mode, comparing it to Roblox and The Sims.Story
Setting and characters
| Nation | Element | Capital City | Archon | Designation | Vessel | Ideal | Governing Faction |
| Mondstadt | Anemo | Mondstadt City | Barbatos | Lord Barbatos | Venti | Freedom | Knights of Favonius |
| Liyue | Geo | Liyue Harbor | Morax | Rex Lapis | Zhongli | Contracts | Liyue Qixing |
| Inazuma | Electro | Inazuma City | Beelzebul | Raiden Shogun | Raiden Ei | Eternity | Inazuma Shogunate |
| Sumeru | Dendro | Sumeru City | Buer | Lesser Lord Kusanali | Nahida | Wisdom | Sumeru Akademiya |
| Fontaine | Hydro | Court of Fontaine | Focalors | Regina of All Waters, Kindreds, Peoples, and Laws | Furina de Fontaine | Justice | Palais Mermonia |
| Natlan | Pyro | Stadium of the Sacred Flame | Haborym | Kiongozi | Mavuika | War | Speaker's Chamber |
| Nod-Krai | Nasha Town | Voynich Guild | |||||
| Snezhnaya | Cryo | Snezhnograd | Tsaritsa | Anastasya | |||
| Khaenri'ah |
Genshin Impact takes place in the world of Teyvat, composed of seven major nations, each of which is ruled by a god called an "Archon" and tied to a different element and ideal. Additionally, the floating island of Celestia hangs above Teyvat, which is described as home to the gods, as well as mortals who have ascended to godhood. Underground lies the ruins of Khaenri'ah, a mysterious nation which was destroyed by Celestia 500 years before the main events of the game.
Regardless of which nation they hail from, individuals who have great ambitions may be granted a Vision, a magical gemstone that allows them to control a specific element and gives them the potential to ascend to godhood and reside in Celestia. Archons, on the other hand, possess a Gnosis, which is a device similar to a Vision that affirms their authority as an Archon and allows them to "resonate" with Celestia.
The protagonists are the Traveler and Paimon, the Traveler's guide and companion. The Traveler and their twin sibling travel across worlds in the universe before being separated in Teyvat, forcing the Traveler to go on a journey to find them. The player may choose to play as either Aether or Lumine, though their account username is used throughout most of the game.
The primary antagonists are the Abyss Order, a legion of monsters made up of corrupted Khaenri'ahns who seek to overthrow the existing world order, and the Fatui, a delegation of diplomats from Snezhnaya who pursue an aggressive foreign policy throughout Teyvat and who also seek to overthrow the Heavenly Principles. The Heavenly Principles is the divine ruler of Teyvat. The Traveler's twin is the leader of the Abyss Order, while the Fatui are led by the Eleven Harbingers, the powerful lieutenants of the Tsaritsa who have been given special authority to carry out her will. Both factions seek to overthrow the Heavenly Principles.