Is Genshin Impact an MMORPG? Let’s Settle This Once and For All
Genshin Impact is a name linked to open worlds and captivating characters. Players spend hours trying to pull that one five-star character. Amid all the excitement, one question remains: Is Genshin Impact an MMORPG? Let’s explore this genre puzzle with accuracy.
Genshin Impact: Genre Demystified
Let’s face it, Genshin Impact is not an MMORPG. For many, this may be a shock. But let’s clarify why. Genshin Impact is a free-to-play action RPG. It features a vast open world for you to explore solo or with friends.
This game plunges you into an intricate world. You control a party of four characters, switching between them to unleash elemental combos. You can run, glide, climb, and swim across various landscapes, battling foes, solving puzzles, and uncovering Teyvat’s secrets. Sounds RPG-ish, right? Absolutely. But massively multiplayer? Not at all.
RPG: The Heart of Genshin Impact
To see why Genshin Impact falls into the RPG category, we need to define an RPG. RPG means Role-Playing Game. The essence lies in stepping into a character’s shoes in a fictional world. Your decisions matter and shape the story. Character customization, stat upgrades, and evolving narratives are part of it.
RPGs give you control over character creation. You can name your hero “Bob” or style them with anime traits. Maybe Genshin Impact doesn’t offer wild customization, but it allows you to build characters, equip weapons and artifacts, and level up skills. Your characters grow stronger and learn new abilities on your journey.
Story drives most RPGs, including Genshin Impact. There’s a main storyline to follow, a quest usually involving world-saving or sibling-searching. Side quests deepen the lore and reveal quirky character lives. In true RPG style, your choices can affect the game world. Not earth-shattering consequences, but enough to feel impactful.
Character agency is crucial in RPGs. Your decisions should feel significant. You explore a world that responds to your presence. Genshin Impact fulfills this need. Teyvat is alive with lore, secrets, and evolving storylines as you explore. It immerses you in its narrative tapestry.
MMORPG: The Multiplayer Mayhem (That Genshin Isn’t)
Now, let’s define MMORPGs. ‘MMO’ stands for ‘Massively Multiplayer Online’. The key word is ‘massively’. MMORPGs host a vast number of players in the same virtual world. Think of hundreds, even thousands, playing together, slaying dragons in a lively environment.
MMORPGs are online experiences. The game world is persistent. It continues to evolve even when you log off. That bustling city will remain busy when you return, with players continuing adventures. It creates a shared space where players interact, form parties, trade items, and enjoy organized chaos together.
While Genshin Impact includes co-op play, allowing friends to tackle challenges, it isn’t an MMORPG. This co-op mode enhances the experience but isn’t core to the game’s design. You still play primarily in your own instance of Teyvat. You won’t encounter hundreds of players in Mondstadt City all at once. The experience is more intimate, without the ‘massively’ multiplayer component.
JRPG: Not Quite Lost in Translation
Another common term in RPG discussions is JRPG, meaning Japanese Role-Playing Game. These are RPGs developed in Japan. JRPGs have an anime-inspired style and often use fantasy themes and turn-based combat. Think of classics like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest.
While Genshin Impact features an anime aesthetic inviting comparisons to JRPGs, we must remember it is developed by miHoYo, a Chinese company. Therefore, it is not a JRPG. It draws inspiration from Japanese anime and games but its roots lie in Chinese culture. To call it a JRPG would be geographically inaccurate and unkind to its creators.
Genre Cousins: Games in the Vicinity
If you enjoy Genshin Impact, you might like other games with similar elements. miHoYo’s Zenless Zone Zero is another action RPG blending urban fantasy. Keep an eye on that upcoming game.
Tales of Arise is a fantastic action RPG leaning into anime tropes. It offers engaging combat and a rich storyline, making it a worthwhile single-player RPG experience.
Now for some clarification on popular titles. League of Legends (LoL), despite its huge popularity, is a MOBA not an MMORPG. It features team battles in an arena but lacks vast open-world exploration. Riot Games plans to develop a League of Legends MMORPG; stay tuned for updates.
Minecraft. While it can be played like an MMO on modded servers, it’s fundamentally a sandbox game. It isn’t designed as an MMORPG by default. Think of it as a digital LEGO world with monsters.
Now, Final Fantasy XIV? Yes, that is an MMORPG. It features a large player base, persistent world, and extensive online communities. The numbered Final Fantasy games remain traditional JRPGs, often single-player with rich narratives and character growth.
Hoyoverse’s Horizon: MMORPGs on the Radar?
Intriguingly, whispers suggest Hoyoverse, creators of Genshin Impact, may enter the MMORPG space with a Honkai MMORPG. Details remain unclear but the prospect excites fans craving a massive online experience from the developers of Teyvat.
RPG Subgenres: A Quick Tour
RPG encompasses various subgenres. We’ve touched on JRPGs and MMORPGs but let’s briefly mention ARPGs. ARPG, or Action RPG, combines RPG elements with real-time combat. Genshin Impact serves as an example of an ARPG. These games offer action-oriented gameplay alongside character progression.
Systems allow for hack-and-slash or shooter mechanics. This makes battles lively. The lines often blur between ARPGs and action-adventure games. Some games incorporate mission systems and RPG mechanics into adventure.
CRPG means Computer Role-Playing Game. This term usually describes RPGs on computers. They focus on deep character customization and intricate storylines. Games like Baldur’s Gate or Divinity: Original Sin fall into this category.
WRPG stands for Western Role-Playing Game. It describes RPGs made in Western nations. WRPGs feature customizable player characters and open gameplay. Vast worlds exist to explore. Player choice is a strong focus. Think of The Elder Scrolls series or The Witcher.
Gaming Glossary: Terms to Know
Let’s quickly define a few gaming terms. They may pop up in these genre talks:
- MMO: This means Massively Multiplayer Online. It refers to any game that supports many players at once.
- aRPG: A style to write ARPG, Action Role-Playing Game. It is a different way to say it.
- PvE: This is Player versus Environment. It means players fight against computer enemies, not other players.
- GGWP: “Good Game, Well Played.” This phrase acknowledges a good match online, win or lose. Courtesy matters in digital battles.
Genshin Specifics: A Few Extra Nuggets
Genshin Impact is definitely not a JRPG. It is Chinese-made, no doubt about it. It has anime-inspired aesthetics, but its roots are Chinese.
Some of Genshin Impact’s lore gets inspired by real-world mythology. For instance, Khaenri’ah, the lost underground nation, draws from Germanic and Nordic mythology. The Nibelungenlied is a key influence. The name ‘Khaenri’ah’ may derive from Arabic, meaning “betrayer of winds.” Teyvat merges many cultural references.
Lastly, consider the elephant in the digital wallet: Genshin Impact’s gacha system. This free-to-play game uses gacha mechanics for monetization. Players spend in-game currency or real money to ‘pull’ characters and weapons. Think of it like digital loot boxes. Regardless of feelings, it is essential to Genshin’s experience.
So, that is all. Genshin Impact is an Action RPG, Open World with co-op fun, but it is not an MMORPG. Now, if you’ll allow me, I have daily commissions to grind. Maybe I will pull that elusive five-star character. Wish me luck and may your pulls favor you!
