
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!