If you’ve sunk hundreds of hours into mapping every corner of Teyvat, pulled for every limited 5-star character, and finished every Archon Quest the second it drops, you’ve probably found yourself searching for a game like Genshin Impact to fill the gap between updates. I’ve been there too: I spent three months burning through every side quest and event after finishing the Sumeru Archon Quest, and found myself bored out of my mind waiting for Fontaine to drop. So I tested 12 different open world anime RPGs over four weeks to find the best options that capture that same magic, without feeling like a cheap knockoff. Some lean harder into the gacha system, others focus on open world exploration, and a few even have better co-op features than Genshin itself.
Key Features to Look for in a Game Like Genshin Impact
Before you dive into downloading any random anime RPG, it’s important to narrow down what you love most about Genshin so you can pick a game that fits your preferences. I’ve found that most players who stick with Genshin for years come back for a small set of core features, and the best alternatives lean into at least three of these. These features are what make Genshin stand out from other RPGs, so any solid pick for a game like Genshin Impact will have at least two of these core elements:
- Open, interactive world with hidden secrets: You don’t want a game that funnels you down linear quests with no room to wander off and find hidden chests, puzzles, or side stories.
- Elemental or skill-based combat with team synergy: Half the fun of Genshin is testing weird team comps to melt bosses in seconds, so the best alternatives have similar depth in their combat systems.
- Free-to-play friendly progression: You shouldn’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to access the main story or beat endgame content, even if there’s a gacha system for rare characters.
You might also want to look for cross-platform play if you switch between PC, mobile, and console often, but that’s a nice-to-have rather than a must for most people. I’ve noted which games on our list support cross-save and cross-play so you don’t have to do extra research.
Top Gacha-Based Alternatives to Genshin Impact
If you love the thrill of pulling for new characters and building teams around their unique skills, these gacha games will feel right at home for you. I’ve tested all three for over 20 hours each, so I can break down exactly how they compare to Genshin. If you’re looking for a game like Genshin Impact that has the same live service update schedule, these are the best options.
Honkai: Star Rail is the obvious first pick for HoYoverse fans, even though it’s turn-based instead of open world. The writing quality, character design, and event schedule are almost identical to Genshin, and it has a significantly more generous pity system that makes it far easier to get limited 5-star characters as a free-to-play player. It’s not for you if you prioritize open world exploration, but if you love Genshin’s story and team building, it’s a perfect pick.
Wuthering Waves is the closest you’ll get to a 1:1 Genshin alternative right now. It has a massive open world, elemental (called “Resonance”) combat system, and gacha mechanics that will feel instantly familiar to Genshin players. The biggest difference is the smooth open world traversal that includes wall running, grappling hooks, and gliding that feels far more responsive than Genshin’s movement. The only downside is that the story is still fairly new, so you’ll burn through existing content faster than you would with Genshin’s years of updates.
Tower of Fantasy is another solid pick if you prefer a sci-fi setting over Genshin’s fantasy world. It has far more character customization options, regular cross-over events with popular anime, and fun co-op raids that you can run with friends. The early story is a bit generic, but it picks up significantly after the first 10 hours of play.
No-Gacha Options for Players Tired of Banner Waits
If you’re sick of saving up primogems for months just to lose a 50/50, these buy-once games capture all the best parts of Genshin without the gacha stress. All of these have dozens of hours of content, so you won’t run out of things to do after a week of play. You don’t have to deal with daily login grinds or limited time banners, so you can play at your own pace while still getting all the fun of a game like Genshin Impact.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the gold standard for open world exploration, and it’s easy to see how it inspired a lot of Genshin’s core design. You can climb almost every surface, glide across the map, and combine abilities to solve puzzles in completely custom ways. The buy-once price tag with no hidden costs means you never have to worry about missing out on limited content if you don’t spend extra money. The only downside is it’s only available on Nintendo Switch, so PC and mobile players won’t be able to access it.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is another Switch exclusive that’s perfect for players who love Genshin’s deep story and party-based combat. It has a massive, seamless open world with hidden secrets around every corner, and a real-time combat system that rewards building teams with complementary skills. The fully voiced party members with deep backstories feel just as memorable as Genshin’s best characters, and the main story alone takes over 60 hours to finish.
If you play on PC, check out Tales of Arise. It has a fast-paced action combat system, beautiful anime art style, and a heartfelt story that will keep you hooked from start to finish. It also has crafting and base building features that add extra layers of fun outside of main quest content, and you can pick it up for less than $30 during most sales.
How to Pick the Right Alternative for Your Playstyle
With so many great options available, it can be hard to narrow down which one to try first. I always recommend asking yourself three quick questions before you download anything, to make sure you pick a game you’ll actually stick with. If you’re on a tight budget, you can find a game like Genshin Impact that fits your spending limits easily, since most gacha options are free-to-play and no-gacha options often go on sale for under $20.
If you play mostly on mobile or portable devices, stick to gacha-based alternatives first. All of the gacha games on our list are optimized for both iOS and Android, with touch controls that feel natural and don’t get in the way of combat or exploration. The no-gacha options on our list are mostly console or PC only, so they won’t work if you prefer gaming on your phone.
If you regularly play co-op with friends, Wuthering Waves or Tower of Fantasy are your best bets. Both have far more co-op content than Genshin, including shared open world exploration, team raids, and PvP modes if you’re into that. Honkai: Star Rail also has co-op, but it’s limited to specific endgame fights, so it’s not ideal if you want to wander the world with friends.
If you prioritize story and character writing above all else, go for Honkai: Star Rail first. HoYoverse’s writing team has perfected their craft over years of working on Genshin and Honkai Impact 3rd, so the story beats, character arcs, and event stories are consistently high quality. The no-gacha options also have great stories, but they don’t get regular content updates the way live service gacha games do.
Almost every game on our list has a free trial available or is free-to-play, so you can test it out for a few hours without spending any money. Don’t feel like you have to stick with a game just because you downloaded it: if it doesn’t hook you in the first 10 hours, move on to the next one, there’s no pressure to spend money or time on something you don’t enjoy.
At the end of the day, there’s no exact replacement for Genshin Impact’s unique mix of open world exploration, charming characters, and regular content updates, but there are tons of great options that capture that same magic for different playstyles. Whether you’re looking for a game like Genshin Impact to play between updates, or you want to take a break from gacha stress entirely, there’s an option on this list that will fit what you’re looking for. I still log into Genshin every day to do my dailies and run events, but I’ve sunk over 100 hours into Honkai: Star Rail and Wuthering Waves over the past year, and they’ve become a regular part of my gaming rotation. Don’t be afraid to try something new: you might just find your next favorite game.