Genshin Impact
Free open-world action RPG with elemental combat, a big story, and gacha-based character collecting
by COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD. · listed Oct 27, 2026
Quick verdict
Worth installing if you have a capable phone and enjoy exploration-heavy RPGs, since a huge amount of content is free. Go in with a clear spending limit, because the gacha system is designed to tempt.
Best for Players who want a large, story-driven open-world RPG on their phone and can resist gacha spending
Reviewed by AppsPicks on Oct 27, 2026. How we review
Genshin Impact review
Genshin Impact is an open-world action RPG set in Teyvat, a fantasy land split into regions themed around seven elements. You play a traveler searching for a lost sibling, building a party of up to four characters along the way. Combat is about swapping characters to combine elements, such as Pyro and Hydro or Cryo and Electro, to trigger reactions. It suits players who want a console-style adventure on a phone and do not mind a long-running live-service game.
Day to day, you climb, glide and swim across large maps, open chests, solve small puzzles, and work through story and event quests. A stamina-style resource limits how much character upgrading you can do each day, so many players settle into short daily sessions plus longer runs when new regions or story chapters arrive. New characters come mainly from a randomized wish system, and the game needs a constant internet connection and a lot of storage.
Why we picked it: Few free mobile games offer this much explorable world, polished combat and story content without an upfront price.
Watch out for: The gacha system makes it easy to spend heavily chasing specific characters, and older or budget phones can struggle with performance and heat.
What we like
- Large, detailed open world built for climbing, gliding and exploration
- Element-swapping combat that rewards building a varied party
- Regular updates with new regions, story chapters and events
- Full story and exploration playable without paying
- Progress can carry across mobile and other platforms with the same account
What could be better
- Characters and weapons come from random paid pulls, which can get expensive
- Daily resource limits slow down character upgrading
- Needs a constant internet connection and a large amount of storage
- Demanding on hardware, with heat and battery drain on many phones
Questions about Genshin Impact
Is Genshin Impact free?
Yes, it is free to download and play. It sells optional in-game purchases, including randomized wishes for characters and weapons, plus a monthly pass and battle pass.
Can I play it offline?
No. The game requires an internet connection at all times, even when playing solo.
Which platforms is it on?
It is available on iPhone, iPad and Android, as well as PC and PlayStation. Your progress is tied to your HoYoverse account, so you can pick up where you left off on another device.
Is it suitable for younger players?
It is rated 12+ on the App Store and Teen on Google Play. Parents may want to set spending limits because of the randomized paid items.
Can I play with friends?
Yes, there is online co-op that lets friends join your world for exploration and challenges once you reach a certain point in progression.
From the developer: how Genshin Impact describes itself
Step into Teyvat, a vast world teeming with life and flowing with elemental energy.
You and your sibling arrived here from another world. Separated by an unknown god, stripped of your powers, and cast into a deep slumber, you now awake to a world very different from when you first arrived.
Thus begins your journey across Teyvat to seek answers from The Seven — the gods of each element. Along the way, prepare to explore every inch of this wondrous world, join forces with a diverse range of characters, and unravel the countless mysteries that Teyvat holds...
MASSIVE OPEN WORLD
Climb any mountain, swim across any river, and glide over the world below, taking in the jaw-dropping scenery each step of the way. And if you stop to investigate a wandering Seelie or strange mechanism, who knows what you might discover?
ELEMENTAL COMBAT SYSTEM
Harness the seven elements to unleash elemental reactions. Anemo, Electro, Hydro, Pyro, Cryo, Dendro, and Geo interact in all sorts of ways, and Vision wielders have the power to turn this to their advantage.
Will you vaporize Hydro with Pyro, electro-charge it with Electro, or freeze it with Cryo? Your mastery of the elements will give you the upper hand in battle and exploration.
BEAUTIFUL VISUALS
Feast your eyes on the world around you, with a stunning art style, real-time rendering, and finely tuned character animations delivering you a truly immersive visual experience. Lighting and weather all change naturally over time, bringing every detail of this world to life.
SOOTHING SOUNDTRACK
Let the beautiful sounds of Teyvat draw you in as you explore the expansive world around you. Performed by the world's top orchestras such as London Philharmonic Orchestra and Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the soundtrack changes seamlessly with the time and gameplay to match the mood.
Text from the app store listing, quoted for reference. Our own take is above.
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