If you’ve heard about Genshin Impact, you might think it’s just another Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW) copycat. While it does borrow elements like cooking, gliding, and exploration, Genshin Impact carves out its own identity as a fantastic open-world gacha RPG.
With over 17 million downloads and $60 million in mobile sales during its first week, this game has become a massive hit across mobile, PS4, and PC platforms.
What makes Genshin Impact stand out is its colorful characters, exciting gameplay, and a breathtaking world. Though not perfect, it’s undeniably fun and visually stunning. While it encourages in-game purchases, the system doesn’t overshadow the overall experience.
Story Overview
The adventure begins with two siblings battling an evil witch. You pick one sibling to play as your main character, referred to as the Traveler. After being separated, the Traveler wakes up in Teyvat, a magical world filled with mysteries. Alongside Paimon, a quirky and talkative guide, you explore the city of Mondstadt.
The story kicks off when the city is attacked by a dragon named Stormterror. After saving the day, you join the Knights of Favonius and meet playable characters like Amber, Lisa, and Kaeya. These characters introduce you to the game’s elemental mechanics, each specializing in different elements like fire and ice.
The story evolves, with new chapters and side quests added regularly, ensuring players always have fresh content to enjoy.
Gameplay
The gameplay shines with its dynamic combat system. You can switch between four characters during battles, each with unique elemental abilities. Combining these elements is key to success. For example, you can use fire attacks to light enemies up and then follow with a wind-based tornado for a devastating flaming vortex.
Players can explore a vast world filled with enemies, treasures, and puzzles. Adventure Rank determines your progress, unlocking new quests and areas. Once you reach Rank 16, you can team up with friends through co-op mode, making battles even more fun.
However, advancing the Adventure Rank can feel like a grind, as some quests remain locked until you level up. Completing random missions or challenges helps but can get repetitive.
Characters
With 24 characters available at launch, players can experiment with team setups. Characters like Venti, an S-tier bard who uses wind magic, or Razor, a sword-wielding werewolf, are fan favorites. Some characters are unlocked through story progression, while others are acquired via gacha pulls, which rely on in-game currency.
For newcomers, online guides rank characters based on their abilities, making it easier to decide who to focus on upgrading.
Visuals and Audio
Teyvat is a visual masterpiece, especially for a mobile game. Each region offers a unique atmosphere. Mondstadt, inspired by Germany, is airy and open, while Liyue, modeled after China, features intricate landscapes and stunning architecture.
The game runs smoothly on mobile, though console players report occasional issues. The soundtrack, available on Apple Music, enhances the immersive experience. While some voice acting is hit-or-miss, most characters have well-developed backstories and engaging dialogue.
Final Thoughts
As someone who usually avoids mobile games, I was pleasantly surprised by Genshin Impact. Despite its gacha mechanics, the game offers a rich experience without requiring you to spend money. Whether it’s the engaging combat, beautiful visuals, or ever-expanding story, Genshin Impact has plenty to keep players hooked.
This is one of the few free-to-play games that feels truly rewarding. If you’re looking for a new adventure, give Genshin Impact a try—you might just find yourself hooked.