Developer: miHoYo
Release Date: September 28, 2020
Genre: Action role-playing
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, iOS, Android, PlayStation 5

What is Genshin Impact?

Genshin Impact is an action role-playing game developed by miHoYo, offering an anime-style open-world environment. It’s a free-to-play game, monetized through gacha game mechanics, and is part of the games as a service model, undergoing regular expansions through patches​​.

The World of Teyvat

The game is set in the fantasy world of Teyvat, comprising seven nations, each connected to a different element and ruled by a different god. Players follow “The Traveler”, an interstellar adventurer, who is on a quest across Teyvat’s nations to find their lost sibling. This journey unveils various mysteries and involves interactions with a myriad of characters​​.

Gameplay Mechanics

Players control one of four interchangeable characters in a party, switching between them for varied skills and attacks. Characters can be enhanced through leveling up, improving artifacts, and weapons. The game includes exploration, challenges, and bosses offering valuable rewards. Actions like running, climbing, swimming, and gliding are integral, with stamina as a limiting factor. Various fast travel points, items procurement methods, and special battle instances called “Domains” are key features​​.

Multiplayer and Character Acquisition

Genshin Impact includes a co-op multiplayer mode, allowing up to four players to join together. It also supports cross-platform play. New playable characters can be unlocked through quests, events, or the game’s gacha system, which involves in-app purchases or gameplay rewards​​​​.

Elemental Combat

The game features seven natural elements (Anemo, Geo, Pyro, Hydro, Cryo, Electro, and Dendro) that players can control. These elements interact with each other, producing various effects and combinations vital for combat strategies. Each character possesses unique combat abilities, including “Elemental Skill” and “Elemental Burst”, essential for engaging in the game’s dynamic battles​​.

Unique Elements and Updates

In December 2022, a collectible card game mode, Genius Invokation TCG, was added, offering turn-based battles and elemental mechanics similar to the main game. Players can compete against NPCs, playable characters, and other players in co-op mode​​.

Storyline and Nations

Teyvat’s story is rich, with each nation presenting unique challenges and narratives. The story is segmented into various chapters, each focusing on different nations and their corresponding Archons, unraveling the overarching plot of The Traveler’s quest​​​​​​​​.