To directly answer the question – Genshin Impact is primarily a single player open world RPG, but also offers co-op multiplayer features. You can play through the vast majority of the content solo, while optionally inviting others to explore together once unlocked at Adventure Rank 16.
Genshin Impact‘s Runaway Popularity
Since launching in late 2020, Genshin Impact has rapidly risen to become one of the most popular games in the world. According to market research company SensorTower, it has amassed over $3 billion in lifetime revenue and was the highest grossing mobile game of 2021.
As an open world gacha game blending elements of Breath of the Wild, Honkai Impact 3rd, and standard RPGs, Genshin has found an addictive formula that keeps players engaged. It hit over 50 million downloads within 6 months, and currently boasts hundreds of millions of accounts.
Below is a table comparing Genshin Impact‘s size and revenue to other top free-to-play games:
| Game | Downloads | Revenue |
| Genshin Impact | Over 400 million | Over $3 billion |
| PUBG Mobile | Over 1 billion | Over $7 billion |
| Honor of Kings | Over 1 billion | Over $15 billion |
| Fate/Grand Order | Over 90 million | Over $6 billion |
While giants like Tencent‘s Honor of Kings top the charts, Genshin Impact‘s growth as a new IP has been monumental. And it shows no signs of slowing down with major updates and regions still in development.
Core Progression Solo vs Co-op
Genshin Impact‘s massive open world, main storyline quests, and general exploration can be completed entirely solo. However, there are benefits to playing in co-op:
| Activity | Solo | Co-op |
| Story quests | Full access | Replay only |
| Overworld exploration | Full access | Shared progress |
| Domain challenges | Playable solo | Easier with teammates |
| World bosses | Beatable solo | Faster with teammates |
| Spiral Abyss | Full stars possible | Additional team comps |
As you can see, playing solo does not limit your ability to complete the core content and storylines. However, the co-op experience makes grinding and farming more varied and convenient.
Single Player Team Compositions
When playing solo, your team composition options are more limited but also easier to optimize. Here are some examples of strong team builds for endgame Spiral Abyss and boss clears as a solo player:
- Hu Tao, Xingqiu, Zhongli, Flexible
- Ganyu, Mona/Kokomi, Venti, Diona
- Raiden National: Raiden, Xiangling, Xingqiu, Bennett
- Freeze: Ayaka, Mona/Kokomi, Sucrose, Diona
- Geo: Itto, Gorou, Zhongli, Flexible
Focus on hyper-investing in 1-2 strong main DPS characters and their best supporting enablers/buffers. Prioritize amplifying reactions like Vaporize and heavily buffing your hypercarries.
Co-op Team Compositions
Playing in co-op opens up many more team build options since you have 8 characters across 2 players. This gives you flexibility to run scenarios like:
- Permafreeze: Ayaka, Shenhe, Kokomi, Venti
- Taser: Sucrose, Fischl, Xingqiu, Beidou
- Geo Resonance: Itto, Zhongli, Albedo, Gorou
- Sunfire: Jean, Bennett, Xiangling, Flexible
- Hyperbloom: Dendro Traveler, Kokomi, Raiden, Beidou
Take advantage of co-op to enable reactions that need off-field elemental application or try out expensive teams with multiple 5-star characters.
Spiral Abyss Tactics
The Spiral Abyss provides Genshin‘s toughest combat challenge, requiring two fully built teams to clear. Here are some tips for succeeding in the Abyss:
Solo
- Stack your best artifacts, weapons, and teams on sides accordingly.
- Level key talents to 8+ and ascend characters to 80/90.
- Master enemy attack patterns and iframe dodging.
- Reset for better floor buffs and enemy spawns if struggling.
Co-op
- Have each player bring one strong team and trade off main DPS roles.
- Crowd control grouping is easier with more abilities.
- Combining skills like Xingqiu+Ayaka freeze is very potent.
- More elements means faster shield breaking.
- Revives prevent resetting chambers completely.
With skill and investment, 36 starring the Abyss is achievable either solo or co-op. But playing with others provides some advantage in handling tough enemies and chamber mechanics.
Obtaining New Characters as F2P
While spending money makes getting new characters easier, it is entirely possible to build up your roster over time as a free player:
- Save all obtainable primogems and only wish on valuable limited banners.
- Maintain a stash of at least 75 wishes saved before wishing heavily. Go all in when your desired 5-star has a rate-up.
- Build a strong main team first before chasing too many new characters.
- Buy the discounted Fate bundles in Paimon‘s shop each month.
- Never spend primogems on standard or weapon banner.
- Get characters like Xiangling, Beidou, Xingqiu for free from events and the starglitter shop.
- Play all available quests, explore thoroughly, do your dailies, and participate in events.
With smart saving habits and patience, free players can obtain a diverse roster of their favorite characters over time.
Maximizing Account Progression
Here are some tips to keep growing your adventure rank and account power:
- Spend resin efficiently – focus on talent books, ascension materials, and artifacts with good main stats.
- Remember to farm weapon and talent materials for characters you plan to play long-term.
- Upgrade artefacts incrementally, don‘t wait months for perfect 5 star ones to start.
- Level your main DPS characters, support can stay 10-20 levels lower.
- Cook food for bonus attack, stamina, and shielding. Food makes you stronger.
- Use interactive map guides to find all chests and exploration percentage.
- Do the battle pass quests each period for resources.
- Complete achievements for account bonuses.
- Mine daily for weapon ascension materials.
Stay focused on steady progression goals versus chasing peer pressure power spikes. You‘ll hit endgame in no time.
The Ethical Dilemma of Gacha Games
While providing lots of free entertainment, gacha game monetization relies heavily on gambling mechanics and tempting players to overspend. Limited banners and low % chances trigger physiological responses to chase success.
Studies have shown gacha mechanics leverage variable reward conditioning to produce chemical hooks in the brain similar to gambling addiction. Unhealthy spending habits can form from predatory practices aimed at "whales" who overspend to excess.
Understanding these systems exist to psychologically manipulate spending is important. Setting limits through budgeting and restraint prevents falling into compulsivity traps. Seek help if you feel unable to control excessive purchasing habits.
New Region Hype and Endgame Grinding
Every 6 weeks, Genshin Impact adds major updates bringing new quests, areas, characters, and events. Some examples include:
- Inazuma – Added the Japan inspired Inazuma region with new islands, quests, puzzles, and lore. Also brought fan-favorite characters Ayaka, Raiden Shogun and Sangonomiya Kokomi.
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Chasm – Introduced the massive underground Chasm zone with an ominous new plotline and challenging enemies. Added support Yelan and popular main DPS Yanfei.
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Sumeru – The huge Sumeru region themed around jungle forests, deserts, and academia. Added the new Dendro element, quests, puzzles, and characters like Tighnari.
This frequent new content gives players reasons to keep grinding. It expands the world, provides new boss materials to farm, and introduces more characters to build teams around.
Endgame activities beyond exploration include building multiple Abyss teams, completing all achievements, and maxing the Adventure Handbook. Events add limited challenges to test your account strength.
Conclusion
At its core, Genshin Impact is primarily designed as a solo open world RPG. All content can be completed alone without restriction. Once unlocked, co-op provides additional benefits through shared progression, team diversity and revived multiplayer fun.
Approach the game in a way that brings you the most enjoyment. Set reasonable expectations around spending and progression goals. Avoid burnout by taking breaks between major updates.
With an engaging open world, deep lore, captivating characters, and frequent new content, Genshin offers endless adventures however you choose to play. Now go forth, have fun, and may the gacha gods bless your wishes!
