Genshin Impact released last week on September 28, and since then it’s gained great reviews. Lately I’ve been in the mood for a fantasy Role-Playing Game (RPG), but I tried not to get my hopes up too high. Prior to this I’d seen rave ratings for Monster Hunter: World and was extremely disappointed that I didn’t enjoy it as much as the reviews had built it up. This time though, my experience lived up to the hype.
Genshin Impact has everything I was looking for: fantasy lore, intriguing characters, and a huge map with gorgeous aesthetics. Somehow the developers at miHoYo packed all this into a FREE game with a very satisfying progression system and a relatively low learning curve. If you’re an experienced gamer then many of the systems will feel familiar (but fresh), and if you’re a newer player then you’ll have an opportunity to ease into the game at your own pace.
You start the game by choosing between one of two twins as your main playable character. Shortly thereafter the twin you don’t choose is kidnapped, and thus begins your journey to find and rescue your sibling.
Over the weekend I finished the Prologue, which is easily 5+ hours depending on how much you explore. Already I’m amazed at how much there is to do. Like a true Open World game, Genshin Impact doesn’t force you into the story missions. The world is yours to explore once you pass the basic “Select your character” and “Here’s how you move around” tutorials. However the story is suspenseful enough that I found myself pushing forward to see what would happen next.
Dragons!? Sign me up. 
Assemble a team where each character has complimentary skills. 
My biggest grievance so far is that you can’t pet the dog.
Things I love about the game:
- It’s FREE! This could have easily sold as a full-price game and been worth it.
- The art style and anime aesthetic, openly inspired by Breath of the Wild.
- Interesting characters with fun side missions.
- The fantasy lore. Early in the game you gain access to a library where you can read about the history of the Genshin Impact world.
- Fresh combat mechanics. Switch between four characters to maximize damage and create elemental impacts.
My grievances:
- You can’t pet the dog. Totally unacceptable in 2020!
- There is a cross-platform multiplayer option, but you can’t complete story missions together.
Overall I greatly enjoy Genshin Impact, and I highly recommend to anyone who is interested in RPGs or who is a fan of games with an anime aesthetic. It’s free on multiple platforms, so check it out!
Weekend Play is a weekly Monday post sharing about what game I played over the weekend. Each post is a 5-minute read that covers one game. Follow me on Twitter to receive notifications of new posts!
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