Source: hoyoverse.com
Genshin Impact is an open-world action role-playing game (ARPG) developed and published by Chinese company miHoYo. It was first released on September 28, 2020, for Windows, PlayStation 4, Android, and iOS, followed by a PlayStation 5 release in 2021. A Nintendo Switch version is currently in development.
Genshin Impact quickly became a global phenomenon thanks to its combination of beautiful anime-style graphics, a vast explorable world, a complex element-based combat system, and a free-to-play model with a gacha system.
Background and World of Teyvat Genshin Impact
Teyvat Genshin Impact Fantasy World
Genshin Impact’s world setting is Teyvat, a world consisting of seven major nations, each under the control of a different Archon (god). Each nation in Teyvat represents an element (Vision) and a cultural theme:
- Mondstadt – Ruled by the Anemo Archon (Barbatos), with a classic European theme, specifically German.
- Liyue – Under the Geo Archon (Rex Lapis), drawing inspiration from Chinese culture.
- Inazuma – Led by the Electro Archon (Raiden Shogun), reflecting Japanese culture.
- Sumeru – Ruled by the Dendro Archon (Nahida), incorporating Middle Eastern and South Asian influences.
- Fontaine – A nation of law and justice, under the Hydro Archon (Focalors), with a 19th-century French feel.
- Natlan – Not yet fully released (until 2025), representing Pyro and inspired by South American or African culture.
- Snezhnaya – Under the Cryo Archon (Tsaritsa), inspired by Russia.
Each nation has a Vision, an elemental power granted by the Archon to a chosen individual. There are seven elements in Genshin Impact:
- Anemo (Wind)
- Geo (Earth)
- Electro (Electricity)
- Dendro (Plants)
- Hydro (Water)
- Pyro (Fire)
- Cryo (Ice)
These elements form the basis of the game’s combat and exploration systems.
If you want to read articles like this, click here.
Genshin Impact Gameplay and Combat System
Genshin Impact Open-World Maps Exploration
Genshin Impact offers a vast world of secrets, puzzles, and challenges. Players can:
- Climb mountains
- Fly with a glider
- Swim in rivers and lakes
- Explore underground caves
- Interact with NPCs and the surrounding environment
The environment in Genshin Impact is also affected by the weather and time of day. For example, some enemies only appear at night or during rain.
Genshin Impact’s Elemental Combat System
Combat in Genshin Impact relies heavily on elemental combinations. Players can bring four characters into a team and switch characters in real-time to create elemental reactions, such as:
- Overloaded (Pyro + Electro): A massive explosion that deals area damage.
- Frozen (Hydro + Cryo): Freezes enemies and stops their movement.
- Swirl (Anemo + another element): Spreads an elemental effect to the surrounding area.
- Crystallize (Geo + another element): Creates a shield based on the component used.
This creates deep strategy and allows for variety in each fight.
If you want to know more about performance, or more specifically, click here.
Genshin Impact Character System and Progression
Genshin Impact’s Diverse and Unique Characters
Genshin Impact has dozens of characters, and the number of new characters increases every few months. Each character has:
- Element (Vision)
- Weapon (Sword, Claymore, Bow, Catalyst, Polearm)
- Elemental Skill
- Burst (Ultimate Skill)
- Unique Background Story
Some important characters that are very well known in the game
- Traveler – The main character who can switch elements.
- Venti – Archon of Mondstadt.
- Zhongli – Geo Archon of Liyue.
- Raiden Shogun – Electro Archon of Inazuma.
- Nahida – Dendro Archon of Sumeru.
Ascension, Talents, and Artifacts
Characters can be upgraded through the system:
- Leveling: Uses EXP materials.
- Ascension: Unlocks the character’s level cap.
- Talents: Skills can be upgraded to increase damage and effects.
- Artifacts: Special equipment that provides bonus stats and set effects.
Managing character builds is crucial to team performance, and artifact combinations can significantly change a character’s role.
Genshin Impact Gacha and Currency System
Wishes and Banners
Genshin Impact uses a gacha system called Wishes to obtain new characters and weapons. There are several types of banners:
- Character Event Wish: Displays a 5-star character with a rate-up.
- Weapon Banner (Epitome Invocation): Displays a 5-star weapon with a pity system.
- Standard Wish (Wanderlust Invocation): A fixed banner with a permanent character and weapon.
If you want to top up in the game, click the basket.
In-Game Currency
Main in-game currencies:
- Primogems: Obtained from missions, events, and exploration.
- Used for gacha. Genesis Crystals: Premium currency purchased with real money.
- Mora: Used for various purposes such as upgrading characters, weapons, etc.
- Resin: Used to obtain loot from bosses and domains.
Genshin Impact Story and Narrative
The Traveler’s Journey
Players control the Traveler, a wanderer from another world separated from their twin brother by a mysterious entity. Their primary goal is to find their brother, uncover the secrets of Teyvat, and discover who the “Sustainer of Heavenly Principles” truly is.
Genshin Impact’s story is told in chapters, each focusing on a single nation. Each region introduces new characters and profound political or spiritual conflicts.
Lore and the Deep World
In addition to the main story, there are many side quests and hidden lore that explain the long history of the world of Teyvat, including:
- Descendants of the Archons
- Relationships between nations
- Secret organizations such as the Fatui, Abyss Order, and Hexenzirkel
- Worlds before Teyvat, such as Khaenri’ah, Celestia, and the Old World
Genshin Impact’s lore depth is often compared to other major RPG games.
Community and Regular Updates
Events and Patch Updates
miHoYo (now known as HoYoverse) regularly releases updates every 6 weeks with:
- New characters
- Limited-time events
- Story quests, New regions, Additional gameplay systems
This keeps the community active and keeps the game feeling fresh.
Global Active Community
Genshin Impact has a large global player base, with active communities in:
- Discord
- YouTube
- TikTok
- HoYoLAB Official Forum
Fan-made content such as fan art, theorycrafting, and cosplay is widely circulated and contributes to the gaming ecosystem.
FAQ Genshin Impact
Q1. What is Genshin Impact?
Genshin Impact is an open-world action RPG (Role-Playing Game) developed by miHoYo (now HoYoverse). In this game, you explore the world of Teyvat, fighting using elemental magic (Anemo, Pyro, Hydro, Electro, Cryo, Geo, and Dendro), completing quests, and collecting new characters.
Q2. On which platforms can Genshin Impact be played?
You can play Genshin Impact on various devices:
- PC (Windows)
- PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5
- Android
- iOS A Nintendo Switch version is currently in development.
- In addition, Genshin Impact supports cross-platform play, meaning you can continue playing from one device to another using your HoYoverse account.
Q3. Is Genshin Impact free to play?
Yes, Genshin Impact is free-to-play. However, the game features a gacha system where you can spend real money to acquire rare characters or weapons more quickly. However, all of the main content is still available for free.
