Best Games Like Genshin Impact

2020 saw the release of MiHoYo’s Genshin Impact, and within a mere two weeks, the title became the most successful new IP by a Chinese developer. As a “gacha-style” action RPG that borrows its genius combat from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it’s no wonder why this PlayStation, PC, and mobile release is so popular.

With tons of characters to unlock and a map that regularly expands to include new regions, Genshin Impact isn’t a game that can be fully enjoyed in a short time. However, some truly committed players may have already built the teams they want and achieved everything that they feel the game has to offer. So, for any Genshin overachievers, here are some titles that will help the comedown and scratch the same itch, whether that itch is for a mobile gacha RPG or a sprawling open-world console adventure. What are the best games like Genshin Impact?

Updated on August 11, 2024 by Mark Sammut: The open-critic scores of each game have been added, provided the data is available. A Bandai Namco action JRPG has also been introduced as a recommendation.

1

Zenless Zone Zero

miHoYo’s Latest Action RPG

At this point, a new miHoYo game is an event. Genshin Impact has maintained its popularity, and Honkai: Star Rail managed to scratch a similar itch despite belonging to a fairly different genre. Heck, even Honkai Impact 3rd has its positives and fans. Therefore, Zenless Zone Zero was always going to be a big deal, and the free-to-play title built up quite a bit of momentum in the lead-up to its debut. Naturally, Genshin Impact fans should, at least, give this project a try, be it the PC, PS5, or mobile versions. At the minimum, they will find a relatively polished game with strong character designs and gameplay, two things that have become standard for miHoYo. However, ZZZ is very far from a Genshin Impact clone, even more so than Honkai.

Story-wise, Zenless Zone Zero is set in a world called New Eridu where portals to other dimensions are popping up, forcing Agents to head into these locations to eliminate any threats. Players are cast as the Proxy, who essentially directs the team of Agents as they explore the Hollows. As with all miHoYo games, ZZZ has a decent story, one that will expand as new updates are released.

Starting with the similarities with Genshin Impact, both games push their gacha mechanics to the forefront, with Agents representing Zenless Zone Zero‘s unlockable characters. The fighters are split into different factions and attributes, and they control very differently from each other. During missions, players need to select three Agents, and they should focus on creating a balanced party. The combat is fast-paced, responsive, and flashy, even more so than Genshin Impact. While not identical, the games have relatable gameplay.

Now, about the differences. Unlike Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero is not open-world nor does it emphasize exploration. Although the latter is not completely absent, it is mostly limited to the somewhat small New Eridu hub area and occasional Hollows. Missions are fairly linear and mostly emphasize combat (although some quests shift to exploration), creating a gameplay loop that rewards short bursts of commitment. While certainly capable of keeping players busy for a long time, ZZZ seems to be designed with 30-minute sessions in mind.

2

Honkai: Star Rail

HoYoVerse’s Turn-Based Sci-Fi JRPG

The uninitiated might be tempted to dismiss HoYoverse’s new big free-to-play RPG as just sci-fi Genshin Impact, which would not be a terrible decision in and of itself; however, Honkai: Star Rail is very much its own thing, while nevertheless sharing a few common traits with the developer’s popular gacha game. It is also a follow-up to Honkai Impact 3rd, which was the fourth game in the Honkai series. Star Rail is set up to be the first entry in the saga to fully blow up in the West in a way that might allow it to live alongside Genshin.

Released in April 2023, the game casts players as the Traveler, a being with a spaceship and a crew. Honkai: Star Rail‘s campaign is split across planets, each of which comes with a unique ecosystem, politics, missions, and enemies. At launch, players can visit two planets that are wildly different from each other, and together they provide a fair amount of initial content. Star Rail uses a dynamic turn-based combat system that is flashy and smooth, so while not real-time, battles are still a sight to behold.

Star Rail and Genshin Impact utilize essentially the same gacha system to unlock characters. The former emphasizes the importance of building a robust party that can adapt to different enemies depending on their vulnerabilities, so players will want to grind to increase their chances of unlocking characters.

3

Granblue Fantasy: Relink

Awesome Combat, Along With Great Visuals & Fun Story

Granblue Fantasy: Relink

Systems

Released

February 1, 2024

Developer(s)

Cygames

Pros

• Fantastic Real-Time Combat
• Very Good Endgame
• Wide Roster Of Playable Characters

Cons

• Cannot Swap Characters In The Middle Of Fights

Starting on mobile devices before debuting on consoles and PC via a spin-off fighting game, Granblue Fantasy has had a strange life so far, although Cygames’ franchise has been generally successful. While Granblue Fantasy Versus is quite good, Relink was the license’s proper coming-out party, and the action RPG made an impeccable first impression that will hopefully lead to even more projects later down the line. Unlike Genshin Impact, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a traditional single-player experience rather than a live-service project, although it does support co-op for those who wish to play with a few people. While this major difference is not the only thing separating these two titles, Relink is nevertheless a stellar option for fans of miHoYo’s beloved RPG.

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If nothing else, Cygames’ RPG is worth playing solely for its combat. Relink offers fast-paced action that is very satisfying, and the battle system does not lack variety either. Players can unlock a plethora of playable characters that have their strengths and weaknesses, and they come with unique playstyles that cater to different preferences. Similar to Genshin Impact, Relink allows players to build parties consisting of four playable characters, and a large part of the experience is finding compositions that complement each other. However, characters can be swapped on the fly in the middle of battles, so that element is not the same.

4

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

The Open-World Game That Changed The Genre’s Landscape

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Systems

Released

March 3, 2017

Developer(s)

Nintendo EPD

Pros

• Exploration Perfected
• Ageless Art Style (That Is Similar To Genshin Impact)
• Puzzles Are Pretty Great

Cons

• Not Much Of A Story
• Combat Is Just Fine

It is no secret that MiHoYo’s Genshin Impact was heavily influenced by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, even going as far as to make Genshin’s combat a direct replica of the combat system. But how could it not be, when the influence in question is also one of the greatest achievements in video game history.

What is there to even say about this game that hasn’t already been said? It’s one of the most sprawling and alive open worlds ever, full of secrets, enemies, characters, weapons, armor, and hours of spellbinding fun. If players haven’t played Breath of the Wild before, then they probably already know they’re missing out.

5

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Expands On BOTW’s Blueprint

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a massive step up from Breath of the Wild, which is insanely impressive on its own. Nintendo knocked it out of the park with this sequel, giving players a larger Hyrule to explore while simultaneously giving them access to an array of new abilities and the power to piece together Zonai devices (which act much like vehicle and tool parts) to create practically anything.

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With new and returning characters and an interesting look at the land of Hyrule during its beginnings, Tears of the Kingdom is one of the best titles on the Switch. That said, the core gameplay is fairly similar to BOTW, so if someone did not enjoy the latter, they will probably not get too much out of the sequel. Furthermore, the combat does not feel at all like Genshin Impact‘s system, despite both being real-time and blending melee and ranged options.

6

Ys 8: Lacrimosa Of Dana

Fast-Paced Hack And Slash Combat

Even if the studio’s games have not experienced the same level of commercial success as Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest in the West, Nihon Falcom has been steadily crafting some of the best action RPGs of the last couple of decades. While not the most recent entry in the franchise, Ys 8: Lacrimosa of Dana is the best pick for Genshin Impact fans or anyone remotely interested in hack and slash JRPGs.

The game delivers fantastic fast-paced combat, a party system that allows characters to be swapped on the fly, and takes place on a large fantasy-themed island shrouded in mystery. Each playable character has its own style, skills, strengths, and weaknesses, and they come together to craft a battle system that is simultaneously accessible and deep.

7

Tokyo Xanadu eX+

Great Combat & Even Better Story

From the same studio responsible for the stellar Trails franchise comes Tokyo Xanadu eX+, an action JRPG packed to the brim with content. Over the course of a storyline spanning roughly 40 hours, players will split their time between character-driven story sections and dungeon missions, the latter of which incorporates some puzzle elements to break up the combat.

Tokyo Xanadu eX+ takes place in an alternate version of Earth overrun with portals to a terrifying reality called the Eclipse, forcing a select few heroes to take on the task of closing these connections. Split into chapters, Tokyo Xanadu eX+ dedicates a great deal of time to developing its characters, and each unlockable fighter is unique.

8

Tower Of Fantasy

Flashy, Weapon-Based Combat

When Tower of Fantasy debuted, the free-to-play MMORPG naturally attracted comparisons to Genshin Impact. After all, they are both gacha-driven anime RPGs with hack and slash combat – a player would be forgiven for assuming they are essentially the same game. While certainly cut from a similar cloth, Tower of Fantasy does enough to differentiate itself from its more famous contemporary.

The sci-fi fantasy game allows players to create their own character, and they will then unlock new fighters called Simulacrum. The North American version currently has 15 playable characters, all of which have unique skills and preferences that set them apart. Rather than swapping between characters in combat, Tower of Fantasy focuses on weapons, allowing three items to be equipped at the same time. The combat system is flashy, fun, and accessible, while the open-world is lovely.

9

Solo Leveling:Arise

Gacha Adaptation Of Manhwa

Solo Leveling:ARISE

Systems

Released

May 8, 2024

Developer(s)

Netmarble

Pros

• Combat Is Flashy
• OK Amount Of Content At The Moment

Cons

• Only For Fans Of The Source Material
• Too Easy

Solo Leveling:Arise is, naturally, based on the very popular manhwa (and anime), and an appreciation for the source material is required to justify a recommendation. Just to be clear, Netmarble’s game is a competent action RPG with decent MMO-style combat that offers flashes of excitement through impressive boss fights.

As far as free-to-play options are concerned, this project is better than average; however, it does not excel in any specific area, and non-fans will likely get bored quickly due to Arise‘s repetitive dungeon layouts, way too easy enemies, and heroes who don’t have much personality. The gacha system is fairly typical for the genre, with players unlocking hunters and weapons depending on the luck of their pulls.

10

Immortals Fenyx Rising

Hack And Slash Romp Through A Vibrant Open-World

Just like Genshin Impact, Immortals Fenyx Rising was also compared heavily to Breath of the Wild when it was announced for the first time. The similarities are certainly evident, but that should be no excuse to write off this stellar title.

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Just like Genshin Impact, Immortals Fenyx Rising also deserves props for taking all these inspirations from Nintendo’s seminal open-world title and applying it in a manner that is unique to the title itself. It makes for a fun experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome either.

11

Star Ocean: The Divine Force

Stellar Combo-Based Combat

Star Ocean is a storied RPG series, albeit one that has struggled somewhat over the last decade. 2016’s Integrity and Faithlessness is generally regarded as one of the franchise’s lowest points, and while its successor is by no means perfect, The Divine Force is a notable step in the right direction. As its name suggests, tri-Ace’s license focuses on sci-fi adventures, and the games all utilize real-time combat systems.

Unlike Genshin Impact‘s more traditional hack and slash formula, Star Ocean allows players to map abilities and skills into three combo chains which can then be executed in battle. Although initially shallow, the gameplay expands significantly as players unlock new skills through a robust progression system. The Divine Force is not an open-world game by any stretch of the imagination, but the campaign generally consists of large open-ish areas that have a fantasy aesthetic to them.

12

Scarlet Nexus

Fantastic Combat That Gets Better & Better

New JRPG properties with (relatively) big budgets are quite rare nowadays, so Scarlet Nexus‘ reveal was exciting. Here came a brand-new action JRPG with fleshed-out combat, fairly high production value, and pedigree behind it. While not flawless, Bandai Namco and Tose put together an impressive first-effort entry, one that hopefully will eventually spawn successors.

Before proceeding any further, it should be noted that Scarlet Nexus shares very few similarities with Genshin Impact. The former is not open-world nor takes place in a fantasy setting. The battle system only features two playable characters, and they receive their own campaigns that need to be experienced separately. The story starts straightforwardly enough by envisioning an alternate future where technology has advanced enough to unlock unique powers; however, humans also live in fear of attacks by Others, which are mutants. Things get complicated quite quickly, and the plot gets a touch muddled during its second half. Still, it is enjoyable.

Differences aside, Scarlet Nexus‘ fast-paced combat should be enough to keep most people entertained, particularly since the campaign regularly introduces new mechanics to ensure things do not get stale. While players cannot swap between characters, the battle system incorporates companions and team synergy, so crafting a well-rounded party is still an important part of the experience.

13

Dragon Quest 11: Echoes Of An Elusive Age

Great Entry Point Into The Definitive JRPG Franchise

Dragon Quest has been a staple of the JRPG scene for the best part of four decades, and the franchise has produced countless masterpieces during that period. Although hardly the first to enjoy international success, DQ 11 elevated the IP’s Western visibility, serving as a great entry point for newcomers interested in trying out a modern take on a classic adventure formula.

Now, DQ 11‘s turn-based combat is not remotely similar to Genshin Impact‘s real-time action; that said, both systems emphasize party synergy in their own ways. More importantly, Square Enix’s game features an expansive and gorgeous world that is generally free to explore, especially during the latter stages of the campaign. Visually, DQ 11 looks pretty similar to Genshin Impact as well.

14

Persona 5 Strikers

Musou Take On The Persona Series

Persona 5 Royal is probably the best JRPG on the PS4, and Genshin Impact fans looking for a game with unforgettable characters and a strong story should push Atlus’ game to the top of their wishlist. That said, P5R uses a turn-based combat system that is a huge departure from MiHoYo’s free-to-play game, so it is important to go in with that knowledge.

While overall a weaker game than its predecessor, Persona 5 Strikers‘ hack and slash combat is more in line with Genshin Impact‘s battle system, albeit more streamlined. Taking a page from Dynasty Warriors playbook, Strikers pits the Phantom Thieves against armies of enemies, most of which can be annihilated with a few quick slashes. Allowing four active party members at a time, players can freely swap between the characters in battle, and they all have their unique strengths and weaknesses. Unlike most Warriors games, Strikers is still an RPG.

15

Tales Of Arise

Intense Real-Time Combat & Fun Party System

Bandai Namco’s Tales franchise has been a reliable source of above-average action JRPGs since the 1990s, and Tales of Arise stands alongside Symphonia and Vesperia as some of the license’s best work. While it does not include a gacha feature, Tales of Arise should satisfy Genshin Impact players looking for story-driven RPGs with frantic and varied combat.

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Once Tales of Arise‘s party members are all unlocked and start to accumulate Artes, players will find themselves spoiled for choice in how they set up their team. The game’s story is also gripping and tackles mature themes satisfyingly and intelligently. While Tales of Arise takes its narrative very seriously, the campaign knows when to slow things down for a lighthearted bout of banter.

16

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Brilliant Action, Gorgeous Open-World, Great Story

Final Fantasy 7 Remake is fantastic and an easy recommendation for action JRPG fans, and it is the place to start for newcomers. However, 2024’s Rebirth is arguably the superior project, and its introduction of an open-world brings it more in line with Genshin Impact. Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, and company find themselves leaving Midgar, and they have the whole world at their feet. Rebirth‘s map is impressively expansive and overflowing with side quests, mini-games, and environmental storytelling. Someone can easily spend dozens of hours just exploring each of the game’s regions while ignoring the main story. That said, the latter is also great, and it is not a pure retelling of the 1997 original either.

Rebirth‘s battle system blends real-time action with turn-based elements, finding a middle-ground that works surprisingly well. Each character fits a general class archetype, although they can be customized quite liberally. Like Genshin Impact, players are encouraged to switch between their party members frequently.

17

Trials Of Mana

Real-Time Action & Multiple Playable Characters With Unique Movesets

1995’s Trials of Mana had to wait until 2019 to make its way to Western nations, and a year later, Square Enix published a 3D remake. Despite the modernized visuals, the 2020 version is still ultimately the same game as its predecessor, with the combat and story largely following the same concepts. Naturally, some of these elements are expanded upon; for example, new skills can now be unlocked by leveling up and Chain Abilities have been added.

Fundamentally, Trials of Mana is an action JRPG with six protagonists, although each playthrough only includes three characters. The battle system is quite similar to Genshin Impact, including the ability to swap between characters with a click of a button. Although the campaign is quite linear during its first half, Trials of Mana opens up quite a bit after that point, allowing players to tackle a few bosses in any order they want.

18