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Genshin Impact

Intense overall intensity
Highest flag: Spending — real-money purchases
AdventureFantasyRPG

What's in it

Spending real-money purchases
High

Real-money currency buys 'Wishes' for a randomized character-and-weapon draw (gacha), the game's core monetization.

Gambling real-money gambling
High

The gacha system lets players spend real-money currency on randomized pulls with published drop rates, a chance-based paid mechanic resembling gambling.

Spending pressure pay-to-win or energy gating
High

Progress rewards are gated by a slowly-regenerating 'Original Resin' energy system, and rotating limited-time character banners create fear-of-missing-out pressure to spend.

Substances depicted
Moderate

Alcohol is part of the setting: taverns like the Angel's Share serve wine, a major character runs a winery, and characters are shown or discussed drinking.

Violence cartoon/stylized
Low

Stylized fantasy combat with elemental magic and weapons against monsters and humanoid foes; enemies vanish in light with no blood, gore, or dismemberment.

Nudity revealing/suggestive attire
Low

A number of playable characters have revealing or suggestive costume designs; no actual nudity is shown.

Dark themes mild
Low

Story arcs touch on war, death, loss of loved ones, and grief, handled in a fantasy adventure tone rather than graphically.

Animal combat combat mechanic
Low

Wildlife such as boars, birds, and foxes can be hunted or killed for cooking ingredients as an ordinary gathering mechanic.

Who can reach your kid

Chat with strangersDirect messagesStranger friend requestsReal-money spending

What it is

Genshin Impact is a free-to-play open-world action RPG set in the anime-styled fantasy world of Teyvat, where you play a traveler searching for a lost sibling while exploring, solving puzzles, and battling monsters using a party of characters who wield elemental powers. Combat is colorful and stylized with no blood or gore. The game's most notable content for parents is its monetization: it is built around a 'gacha' system where real money can be spent for randomized chances at new characters and weapons, supported by limited-time banners, daily tasks, and an energy-gating system. Alcohol appears as part of the setting, some characters wear revealing outfits, and the story includes fantasy themes of war, death, and loss. An optional co-op mode lets up to four players team up, including matchmaking with strangers via a limited in-game text chat.

How it's framed

The game frames its world as a heroic journey of friendship and discovery, casting the player as a benevolent traveler who helps the people of each nation; violence is directed at monsters and clearly villainous enemies and is rewarded with progression. Its randomized paid pulls are presented as an exciting, celebratory 'wish' mechanic rather than as gambling.

Details

Developer
miHoYo
Publisher
HoYoverse (Cognosphere)
Released
2020
Metacritic 84critic score (third-party) · out of 100

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