Genshin Impact is a newly released free-to-play action role-playing game developed by miHoYo studio. The game offers cross-platform play and is currently available on Windows PC, Playstation 4, Android, iOS. It's also planned to be released on Nintendo Switch and Playstation 5 in foreseeable future. It's a major hit, being the most successful international release of a Chinese game ever. Over 21 million players pre-registered their accounts, with nearly 5 million located outside of China. The game had a warm reception worldwide, however, a lot of western players criticize the monetization system and progression which is heavily based on the amount of money spent. Overall, it's still a game worth trying out, as it offers at least several hours of stressfree play, an interesting storyline, and an enjoyable action combat system.
The game takes place in the world of Teyvat inhabited by several nations, each associated with a different Element. Each of the nations worships a different God associated with the given Element. Genshin Impact features a fantasy-themed open world and action-based combat system where a lot of Skill and Abilities are connected to the Elements and powers granted by those Gods to the player during their adventure. After starting the game, you are prompted to chose one of the twins that found themselves trapped in the world of Tevyat by an unknown being, and had their powers sealed away. You are referred to as the "Traveler" and you are accompanied by Paimon - a fiery companion that looks after you and guides you through the world map. While progressing through the storyline, completing quests, or obtaining them from the in-game premium currency shop. Switching between characters is possible even while in combat, which allows the players to use a different set of skills simultaneously, making it worthwhile to collect all the playable characters with their unique sets of skills and abilities. Players can explore the vast open world of Genshin Impact, gather resources, craft items, cook, and much more. All this is done via free control of your character, where players can perform the standard actions like walking, running, climbing trees and cliffs, gathering resources and food, jumping, swimming, cooking, crafting, and much more. Your characer's actions are limited by stamina which depletes as you complete the more demanding actions.
The game uses "gacha game" monetization system, which allows players to purchase virtual in-game currency to obtain random in-game items including rare characters, weapons, resources, or experience. The game offers primarily a single-player experience, but it's possible to form up to a four-player party to play together, complete quests, and raid specific dungeons. There is no direct trading system nor a marketplace within the game where players could trade (except for the in-game store where premium currency and various goods can be bought using it), however, it's still possible to trade in-game services, questing help, party boosting, power leveling, and more. In order to help players buy, sell, and trade such services, the Genshin Impact marketplace was opened on Odealo, which allows players to freely trade their Genshin Impact services, goods, and other assets. Trading on Odealo can be done using real life cash, and if you are not keen on endlessly grinding for certain items or quests, farming monsters, gathering tons of resources, you can have other players help you do it much faster, or even do it for you entirely. You can also buy accounts with unlocked characters and with much higher progress through the story line. Stuff like this can save you a lot of time, and you can enjoy the game to the fullest.