Genshin Impact is a free-to-play action role-playing game developed and published by miHoYo, who are known for Honkai Impact 3rd, a popular action game. The game features a fantasy-based open world with gacha game mechanics. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Android and iOS on September 28, 2020. Cross play and cross save is enabled.
The game features an open-world map, which the player explores by walking, climbing, swimming and gliding as necessary. Many objects and places of significance are spread throughout the map. Players can control up to four of their characters at any one time. By completing quests to advance the story, the player is able to unlock a total of 24 playable characters. A similarly styled multiplayer mode is available. The game features cross-platform play as well as cross-save options.
Each character has two unique combat skills: a normal and a special skill. The normal skill can be used at any time except for the cool down period immediately after use, while the special skill has an energy cost, requiring the user to amass sufficient elemental energy first.
Characters have control over one of seven natural elements: Cryo, Dendro, Pyro, Hydro, Anemo, Electro and Geo, which correspond to ice, life, fire, water, air, electricity, and earth, respectively. These elements can interact in different ways, for example if a Hydro attack is followed up by a Cryo attack, it will inflict a frozen status, so the target will be unable to move or perform actions temporarily.
Cooking is another significant aspect of Genshin Impact's gameplay. Players gather many resources in the course of their adventure, some of which can be turned into dishes via cooking. Some dishes regenerate characters' health, while others boost attack or defensive abilities.