Genshin Impact Review 2026

3+ Years Later - Still Worth It?

Genshin Impact launched in September 2020 and has grown into one of gaming's biggest phenomena. With 6 regions now explorable and Version 6.3 live, is it worth playing in 2026?

📊 Quick Verdict

Bottom Line: Absolutely worth playing if you enjoy action RPGs!

🌍 Content in 2026

6 Regions to Explore

Hundreds of Hours of Content!

⚔️ Combat Review

What Works

Action Combat:

• ✅ Fluid and responsive
• ✅ Elemental reactions are satisfying
• ✅ Character variety
• ✅ Team building depth

Elemental System:

• 7 elements with reactions
• Strategic team composition
• Visual feedback is excellent

Combat Evolution

The combat has improved significantly since launch:

• More complex enemy AI
• Better boss designs
• New character mechanics
• Smoother animations

🎨 Visuals & Audio

Graphics

Stunning Art Style:

• Anime-inspired visuals
• Beautiful environments
• Excellent character design
• Runs on many devices

Music

Soundtrack is Legendary:

• Orchestral compositions
• Region-specific themes
• Boss battle music
• Ambient exploration

📖 Story Assessment

Main Story

Pros:

• ✅ Interesting world-building
• ✅ Memorable characters
• ✅ Improved with each region
• ✅ Voice acted

Cons:

• ⚠️ Slow start
• ⚠️ Some filler content
• ⚠️ Archon quests can be long

Character Stories

Individual character quests add depth and personality. Some are emotional masterpieces.

💰 Monetization (The Hard Truth)

Gacha System

How It Works:

• Pull for characters and weapons
• Pity system guarantees 5-star at 90 pulls
• ~$100-200 for guaranteed limited character

Is It Predatory?

Pros:

• ✅ All content beatable with free characters
• ✅ Generous free currency
• ✅ Pity carries over
• ✅ No PvP advantage

Cons:

• ❌ Limited characters are expensive
• ❌ Constellation system encourages duplicates
• ❌ FOMO tactics with limited banners

F2P Assessment

Completely playable free-to-play! The starter characters and free 4-stars can clear all content.

🆕 Starting in 2026

Is It Too Late?

No! Here's why:

1. Story recap available - Catch up quickly
2. Newer regions are better - Good progression
3. Events rerun - Don't miss everything
4. Power creep is minimal - Old characters viable

New Player Tips

1. Don't rush - enjoy the journey
2. Build main DPS first
3. Save primogems for favorites
4. Don't stress about meta early
5. Explore everything!

📱 Platform Comparison

🆚 Genshin vs Competitors

vs Honkai Star Rail

vs Wuthering Waves

❓ Should You Play?

Play If:

✅ You like exploration ✅ You enjoy action combat ✅ Anime aesthetics appeal ✅ You have time to invest ✅ You can resist gacha

Skip If:

❌ You hate gacha/FOMO ❌ You want quick sessions ❌ You need competitive PvP ❌ You dislike anime style

🎯 Final Verdict

Genshin Impact earns an 8.5/10 in 2026.

Despite its gacha monetization, Genshin Impact offers one of the most polished and content-rich free-to-play experiences in gaming. The world is beautiful, the combat is fun, and there's simply nothing else like it.

Start your adventure - Teyvat awaits!

Last Updated: January 4, 2026