miHoYo
Gameplay
In Genshin Impact, players explore the vast, open world of Teyvat, filled with diverse landscapes, intricate lore, and engaging quests. As a Traveler, you embark on an epic journey to find your lost sibling, battling foes and uncovering secrets along the way. The game features a dynamic elemental combat system where players can switch between different characters, each with unique abilities tied to one of the seven elements: Anemo, Geo, Electro, Dendro, Hydro, Pyro, and Cryo. This allows for strategic team compositions and combos during battles.
Key Features
Monetization
While Genshin Impact is free-to-play, it includes a gacha system for acquiring new characters and weapons. Players can spend real money to purchase in-game currency, but all content can also be obtained through gameplay. This ensures that while spending can enhance the experience, dedicated players can enjoy the game without paying a dime.
Based on publicly available reviews and community feedback for Genshin Impact.
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Our editorial assessment of monetization practices in Genshin Impact
How much paying affects actual gameplay power and competitive advantage
Players report that spending money on Genesis Crystals allows for more gacha pulls, which can lead to acquiring stronger characters and weapons. Community feedback indicates that while free players can access all content, paying players have a significant advantage in roster strength and progression speed. Many users note that the ability to refresh Resin with Primogems further enhances the power gap.
Genshin Impact has a P2W score of 5.2/10, which is significant. Paying provides substantial advantages. Free players face challenges. Players who spend money will have noticeable advantages over free players.
Yes, Genshin Impact is free to play. You can download and play the game without any upfront cost, though it may offer optional in-game purchases.
Genshin Impact is available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, iOS and Android.
Genshin Impact is a Action, Adventure, RPG, Gacha, Open World, Third-Person, and Co-op game.
Genshin Impact was developed by miHoYo.
Genshin Impact has a pay-to-win score of 5.2 out of 10. This score is calculated based on 9 factors including gameplay impact, progression pressure, and monetization ethics. A lower score means the game is fairer for non-paying players.
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According to community feedback, Genshin Impact lacks PvP elements, meaning there's no direct competition between players. Many users indicate that while spending can make certain PvE challenges easier, it doesn't translate to dominating leaderboards or competitive play, as there's no formal ranking system.
Many users indicate that while all content is technically earnable, the strongest characters and weapons are often tied to gacha mechanics. Players report that spending money increases the likelihood of obtaining limited-time 5★ characters, which can create a perception that the best content is locked behind paywalls.
How aggressively the game pushes players to spend money to progress
Veterans of the game note that while progression is possible without spending, it can be slow and frustrating. Players report needing to invest significant time, often 40+ hours, to achieve what paying players can access more quickly through cash purchases.
Players report that purchasing Genesis Crystals allows for immediate access to more gacha pulls and Resin refreshes, significantly speeding up progression. Community sentiment suggests that while F2P players can eventually catch up, spending money provides a shortcut to endgame content, making it feel like a pay-to-skip scenario.
Many users indicate that limited-time banners and events create a sense of urgency to spend money. Forum discussions suggest that missing out on featured characters or weapons during these events can lead to frustration, as they may not return for a long time, if at all.
Fairness and transparency of the monetization practices
Players report that Genshin Impact's gacha system operates similarly to a lottery, with random pulls for characters and weapons. Community feedback highlights the frustration with low drop rates for 5★ items, making it feel like a gamble rather than a straightforward purchase, which many users find off-putting.
While players can see the prices of Genesis Crystals and the associated Primogem values, many users report confusion over the overall value of spending versus grinding. Community sentiment indicates that the complexity of the gacha system can obscure the true costs of acquiring desired characters and items.
Players report that while there are affordable options like the Welkin Moon subscription at $4.99/month, spending can escalate quickly for those chasing multiple characters or weapons. Many users indicate that serious collectors may end up spending hundreds monthly to stay competitive, which can be a barrier for casual players.
Our assessment of Genshin Impact is based on the following publicly available sources:
Disclaimer: The P2W analysis for Genshin Impact represents our editorial opinion based on publicly available information and community feedback as of January 2026. Game monetization systems may change over time. We encourage players to research current in-game purchases before making decisions. This analysis is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered definitive or exhaustive.
If you believe any information is inaccurate or outdated, please contact us with corrections.
Free to play — but check our P2W rating above before diving in!
