Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact is a free-to-play open-world action RPG, developed and published by miHoYo (under the HoYoverse brand internationally). Set in the vast fantasy universe of Teyvat, it puts the player in the shoes of the Traveler, an adventurer searching for their lost twin, after being separated from them by an unknown god. This world is divided into seven nations, each governed by an Archon corresponding to an element: Anemo, Geo, Electro, Dendro, Hydro, Pyro, and Cryo. The story draws on certain motifs from real mythologies such as Gnosticism, while also drawing inspiration from various cultures around the world, such as ancient China for Liyue, or Industrial Revolution-era Europe for Fontaine.

The game's combat system is dynamic, using elemental reactions inspired by chemical reactions. Characters called "Travelers" can be swapped in real time to combine elements such as Vaporize (Hydro + Pyro) and Superconduct (Cryo + Electro) reactions to generate devastating effects on a strategic level. Exploration plays a central role in the experience: the player climbs, glides, and swims while solving puzzles in a semi-procedural world filled with quests, events, and secrets. The gacha system allows players to obtain new characters and weapons through "Wishes", which are regularly updated as part of a long-term live service.

Since its release, Genshin Impact has had a significant impact on the gacha RPG genre thanks to its anime-quality graphics, its orchestral soundtrack inspired by Beethoven, and also thanks to worldwide collaborations (themed cafés, HOYO-FEST). The anime adaptation of Genshin Impact by Ufotable has been in development since 2022. The game continues to evolve and expand with new regions and stories thanks to hundreds of developers at miHoYo/HoYoverse.