- Genshin Impact’s unique blend of animesque visuals, expansive open-world exploration, and perfect timing during the pandemic set an almost unreachable benchmark for its competitors.
- Every “Genshin killer” falls short as they're burdened with overhyped expectations and constant comparisons to the magic that Genshin creates.
- Fresh contenders like Tower of Fantasy and Wuthering Waves struggle to escape Genshin’s long shadow, proving that true innovation is the only path to dethroning a giant.
It is truly maddening how every new gacha game that dares to be called a “Genshin Impact killer” ends up falling flat. In my experience, these games set out with sky-high expectations, mostly because they’re constantly compared to a game that I, along with millions of others, have grown to love.
Genshin Impact isn’t just a game; it’s become a benchmark, a standard against which every new title in the gacha genre is measured. And trust me, when you label something as a “Genshin Impact killer,” you’re practically signing its death warrant.
The Genshin Impact Phenomenon
I remember when Genshin Impact first hit the scene. The anime-esque art style, the vast open world filled with breathtaking landscapes, the pretty designs, and the fun, engaging gameplay created an experience that felt fresh and magical.
And let’s not forget: it launched during the COVID lockdown when everyone had endless hours to game online. For many of us, Genshin wasn’t just a distraction, it was a lifeline during a time when reality felt a little too heavy.
Because of all this, Genshin quickly became the gold standard in the gacha space. When a new game comes along claiming to be the next big thing, it’s immediately burdened with unrealistic expectations.
Every minor flaw or design misstep is amplified, and no matter how many improvements they offer, the new title just can’t escape the long shadow of Genshin Impact. Even bringing up revenue no other open-world gacha game has yet to consistently surpass Genshin Impact
What Made Genshin So Popular
I often find myself reflecting on what exactly made Genshin such a massive hit. For me, it was a perfect storm of factors:
- An Animesque Aesthetic: The art style is gorgeous and immediately appealing. It feels like stepping into a living, breathing anime.
- Open-World Exploration: The world of Teyvat is vast and inviting. Every corner holds a new wonder, encouraging endless exploration.
- Pretty Designs and Fun Gameplay: From character designs to the elemental combat system, every aspect of the game is polished and fun.
- Perfect Timing: Launching during COVID-19 was a stroke of luck. With everyone stuck at home, the game became a go-to online escape, and that massive influx of players helped cement its status as a cultural phenomenon.
The “Genshin Impact Killer”: expectations on other Gacha games
1. Tower of Fantasy
Take, for example, games like Tower of Fantasy and Wuthering Waves. I’ve seen firsthand how Tower of Fantasy was initially hyped as the next big challenger. But once the initial buzz wore off, it became clear that it couldn’t match the magic of Genshin.
Its gameplay, while decent, felt more like a traditional MMO rather than the innovative, free-spirited adventure that Genshin offers. Not to mention, the story and characters involved felt underdeveloped, as well as the extreme bugs that the game suffered from.
With all the side-by-side comparisons, the conclusive evidence leads to the game being inadequate to dethrone Genshin Impact.
2. Wuthering Waves
Similarly, Wuthering Waves came out promising a fresh take. Improved combat mechanics, better quality-of-life features, and a more engaging narrative. I was genuinely excited, thinking it might finally break the mold.
However, as time went on, I noticed that no matter how many tweaks they made, it was still constantly being compared to Genshin. Even with its merits, Wuthering Waves ended up suffering due to the lack of engaging story-telling, fleshed-out cast of characters, and very basic character designs. Although it has cultivated its own dedicated and strong fanbase, the community is still lacking in popularity compared to Genshin.
The Key Takeaways: Why do they fail
From my perspective, the recurring failure of these so-called “Genshin Impact killers” boils down to a few critical points:
- The Genshin Benchmark: When a game is touted as a killer, it’s expected to be revolutionary. Yet, Genshin Impact set a bar that isn’t just high, it brought in something really different.
- Unrealistic Hype: The more you hype up a game as the next savior of the genre, the more you set it up for inevitable disappointment. I’ve seen countless players lose interest as soon as the game fails to meet the astronomical expectations.
- Lack of Unique Identity: Many of these contenders try too hard to mimic Genshin rather than innovate. Without a unique identity, they’re destined to be seen as mere copies rather than worthy successors.
Will there ever be a true Genshin killer
In my honest opinion, I don’t see Genshin Impact ever truly being dethroned. These new games try to capture that magic, but as much as I’d love to see a worthy challenger, Genshin has become a benchmark so deeply ingrained in our gaming culture that it’s hard for any competitor to break free of its shadow.
What stands out to me is that Genshin isn’t just a game; it’s an experience born at a unique time. It was more than just a free-to-play gacha, it was the escape we all needed when the world was on pause. That legacy makes it nearly impossible for any new title to offer something radically different and still capture the hearts of millions in the same way.
Check our other editorials on gacha games below:
- How Urban RPGs are shaping the future of Gacha Games
- Which HoYoverse RPG brings the best monetization and F2P elements
- Ex-Astris is elevating premium games beyond Anime Gacha norms
- How HoYoverse’s favoritism towards Honkai: Star Rail is influencing Genshin Impact
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