Genshin Impact is a live service, free-to-play action-RPG set in an open world inspired by anime and The Legend of Zelda.
Easy to Play
Great Characters
Great Graphics/Art
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Story & Themes
Genshin Impact is set in the fantasy world of Teyvat, home to seven nations, each of which is tied to a different Archon and Element. At launch, only two nations are available to explore and quest in, with more nations added over the months and years to come.
Players play as a newcomer to the world in the form of the Traveler (can choose between a boy or girl), who becomes separated from their sibling. Along the journey they'll meet many allies, most of whom can become party members through Genshin's signature gacha system.
As a free-to-play game, Genshin Impact is monetized through random "pulls," spending hard-earned Primogems and Wishes on a chance to get characters and weapons. More characters are constantly added, along with rotating banners for increased chances at getting the new arrivals. Collecting favorite characters (and the controversial gambling system) is a major part of the game.
The stories and quests evoke classic anime themes of melodrama and heroism, while the art style and character designs are very impressive for fans of the genre.
Combat is real-time, with characters able to form a party of four characters and swap between them at the flick of a button.
Save Points
As an online-only game designed for mobile, Genshin Impact cannot be manually saved, but progress is constantly auto-saving in the background.
Difficulty
The World Level automatically increases after reaching certain milestones, raising the level and difficulty of all enemies. However, players can temporarily reduce their World Level in the settings menu.
Heads Up!
Violence Players battle colorful, monstrous enemies in a third-person perspective using swords, bows, and other fantasy weapons. There is no blood or wounds, and bodies instantly disappear.
Sex & Nudity Some characters have revealing outfits, including cleavage, but there's no sexualization in the game.
Substance Use Alcohol is mentioned in dialogue, including references to underage drinking, and characters can visit a winery in the first region.
Consumerism Gacha games are among the most insidious of free-to-play titles. Instead of purchasing what they want, players earn (and purchase) "pulls" that offer chances at getting the characters and items they want. As with many freemium games, players can gradually earn premium currency (in this case, Primogems and Wishes) by playing the game and participating in events. Or players can purchase premium currency with real money.
Online Community
As a free-to-play gacha game, Genshin Impact must be played online and constantly synced with the game's servers.
Up to four players can join a host's game world (controlling fewer characters so the total never exceeds four) where they can do non-main story missions together. Everyone must achieve Adventure Rank 16 before co-op multiplayer is unlocked.
Conversation Starters
- As a free-to-play gacha game, how does Genshin Impact compare to a more traditional RPG?
- Who are your favorite characters in Genshin Impact, and what's your dream team look like?
- Can you make decent progress without spending any money in Genshin Impact?
- What is your favorite region to explore in Genshin Impact, and which regions are you looking forward to?
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