2020 saw the release of MiHoYo’sGenshin Impact,and within a mere two weeks, the title became themost successful new IP by a Chinese developer. As a “gacha-style” action RPG that borrows its genius combat fromThe 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 includenew regions,Genshin Impactisn’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 anyGenshinoverachievers, 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 thebest games likeGenshin Impact?
Updated on July 19, 2025 by Mark Sammut:2025 has just gotten underway, so there have not been too many newgames like Genshin Impact. That said, Wuthering Waves started the year by making its PS5 debut, so it is now available to a wider audience. The section dedicated to that game has been expanded, along with the same happening for Granblue Fantasy: Relink.
At this point, a new miHoYo game is an event.Genshin Impacthas maintained its popularity, andHonkai: Star Railmanaged to scratch a similar itch despite belonging to a fairly different genre. Heck, evenHonkai Impact 3rdhas its positives and fans. Therefore,Zenless Zone Zerowas 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 Impactfans 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,ZZZis very far from aGenshin Impactclone, even more so thanHonkai.
Story-wise,Zenless Zone Zerois 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,ZZZhas a decent story, one that will expand as new updates are released.
Starting with the similarities withGenshin Impact, both games push their gacha mechanics to the forefront, with Agents representingZenless 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 thanGenshin Impact. While not identical, the games have relatable gameplay.
Now, about the differences. UnlikeGenshin Impact,Zenless Zone Zerois 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,ZZZseems to be designed with 30-minute sessions in mind.
The uninitiated might be tempted to dismiss HoYoverse’s new big free-to-play RPG as just sci-fiGenshin Impact, which would not be a terrible decision in and of itself; however,Honkai: Star Railis 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 toHonkai Impact 3rd, which was the fourth game in theHonkaiseries.Star Railis 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 alongsideGenshin.
The game casts players as the Traveler, a being with a spaceship and a crew.Honkai: Star Rail’s campaignis 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 Railuses a dynamic turn-based combat system that is flashy and smooth, so while not real-time, battles are still a sight to behold.
Honkai: Star RailandGenshin Impactutilize 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.
Granblue Fantasy: Relinkis not going to scratch everyGenshin Impactitch, but it will satisfy a few better than most other games. A big part of the latter’s appeal is its wide variety of characters, allowing players to try out a plethora of different fighters and, consequently, parties. While frustrating at times, the gacha mechanic ensures that players are drip-fed new characters, presenting them with an opportunity to take them out for a spin.
Granblue Fantasy: Relinkaccomplishes something similar, except without the gacha element. At the start of a playthrough, players will have access to six playable characters, all of whom control wildly differently and have extensive skill trees that will take dozens upon dozens of hours to complete. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg. As the campaign progresses, players receive Crewmate Cards that have to be used to unlock new characters, a process that continues long after the story is complete. There are over 15 characters to unlock, all of whom have distinctive fighting styles, skill trees called Masteries, and weapons that can be upgraded.
Along with having unique characters to try out, this also translates to a massive range of 4-member party options, providing a lot of opportunity for experimentation.Granblue Fantasy: Relink’s character system might be the best “single-player” equivalent to gacha.
Now, none of that would matter ifGranblue Fantasy: Relinkwas not fun to play. Fortunately, this action JRPG nails its combat. The gameplay is fast-paced and challenging, all the while offering impressive variety thanks to the characters. For example, Eugen and Rackam are ranged fighters who turn the game into something of a third-person shooter; meanwhile, The Captain and Katalina are quick sword-based fighters who lean into hack-and-slash space. Mage users like Rosetta and Caliostro are completely different as well, as are slow tanks such as Vaseraga and Ghandagoza.
Now, it should be noted thatGranblue Fantasy: Relinkis not open-world but rather mission-based. After completing the enjoyable 15-hour story, players will unlock the endgame content that involves taking on progressively harder missions.
It is no secret that MiHoYo’sGenshin Impactwas heavily influenced byThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, even going as far as to makeGenshin’scombat 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 playedBreath of the Wildbefore, then they probably already know they’re missing out.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis a massive step up fromBreath 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 togetherZonai devices(which act much like vehicle and tool parts) to create practically anything.
With new and returning characters and an interesting look at the land of Hyrule during its beginnings,Tears of the Kingdomis one of the best titles on the Switch. That said, the core gameplay is fairly similar toBOTW, 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 likeGenshin Impact’s system, despite both being real-time and blending melee and ranged options.
Nihon Falcom’sYshas been producing action JRPG gold for decades by this point, arguably to the point of becoming one of the genre’s defining franchises. While mechanically great, the games took quite a long time to make the jump to full 3D, which meant they seemed behind the times for a long while. However, that moment arrived withYs 8: Lacrimosa of Dana, a fantastic game that drops players on a large island map and gives them a slew of characters to master. Honestly, this entry is probably the best pick forGenshin Impactfans looking for a single-player JRPG with fast-paced combat, switchable characters that fit into weapon archetypes, and light exploration.
However, in the name of recency,Ys 10: Nordicswill be highlighted in its place due to being the newest entry in the franchise. While sharing plenty of similarities with its predecessor, the 2023/2024 release shakes up the formula in a few interesting ways. Mainly, the game only features two playable characters: Adol and Karja. This might be disappointing for people craving bigger pools, but this decision provides room for not only each character to shine but also their dynamic. These two are designed to complement and bring the best out of each other, and the combat effectively revolves around three styles since Adol and Karja fight individually and also as a unit.
Rather than one large island,Ys 10’s map focuses on traversing an expansive sea split into smaller locations that need to be explored. The game incorporates enjoyable ship combat to add a touch of excitement when traveling from one island to the next.Ys 10’s storyis pretty good as well, although titles in the series should primarily be played for their gameplay.
From the same studio responsible for the stellarTrailsfranchise comesTokyo 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.
WhenTower of Fantasydebuted, the free-to-play MMORPG naturally attracted comparisons toGenshin 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 Fantasydoes 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 Fantasyfocuses 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.
Solo Leveling:Ariseis, 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 toArise’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 andweapons depending on the luck of their pulls.
Just likeGenshin Impact,Immortals Fenyx Risingwas also compared heavily toBreath of the Wildwhen it was announced for the first time. The similarities are certainly evident, but that should be no excuse to write off this stellar title.
Just likeGenshin Impact,Immortals Fenyx Risingalso 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.
