Games Like Genshin Impact for More Open World Anime Adventure
The best games like Genshin Impact — open world action RPGs with anime aesthetics, gacha games, and character-based combat adventures.
Genshin Impact from HoYoverse became a global phenomenon by combining Breath of the Wild-inspired open world exploration with anime character designs and gacha monetization. The elemental combat system, the massive world to explore, the constant character releases, and the Honkai-like production values made it essentially free-to-play AAA gaming. Finding games that capture Genshin Impact's specific blend is tricky because few games combine all these elements.
The HoYoverse Library
Honkai Star Rail is HoYoverse's sci-fi turn-based RPG. Very different combat from Genshin (turn-based instead of real-time) but similar production values, character quality, and gacha mechanics.
Zenless Zone Zero is HoYoverse's latest urban fantasy action game. Closer to Genshin's real-time combat but with a distinctive cyberpunk street fighter aesthetic.
Honkai Impact 3rd is the earlier action game that preceded Genshin. Still active and popular in Asia.
Tears of Themis is HoYoverse's female-oriented visual novel with court case mechanics.
The Open World Action RPGs
Breath of the Wild is the original inspiration. Featured in our Zelda coverage. Physics-based exploration without Genshin's character system.
Tears of the Kingdom continues Breath of the Wild's formula with the ability to craft vehicles and weapons.
Skyrim remains relevant modding-extended content. Featured in Skyrim coverage.
Elden Ring offers soulslike open world. Different combat philosophy but similar scope.
Horizon Forbidden West has beautiful post-apocalyptic exploration.
Ghost of Tsushima is samurai-themed open world.
Dragon's Dogma 2 has massive open-world exploration with Pawn system.
The Gacha Games
If Genshin's gacha/collection mechanics are part of the appeal:
Wuthering Waves is often described as "Genshin's biggest competitor." Similar open-world exploration, similar gacha mechanics, different combat feel.
Infinity Nikki is gacha dress-up game with open-world exploration.
Blue Archive is anime schoolgirl shooter gacha with strong writing.
Arknights is tower defense gacha with deep mechanics and story.
Fate/Grand Order is the legendary gacha franchise built around Fate universe.
Epic Seven is gacha turn-based RPG.
Azur Lane is shipgirl shooter gacha.
Princess Connect! Re:Dive is anime gacha RPG.
Nikke: Goddess of Victory is shooter gacha with distinctive aesthetic.
The Anime Action RPGs
Persona 5 Royal is the modern JRPG peak. Phantom Thieves and Tokyo setting.
Persona 3 Reload is the modern remake.
Tales of Arise is modern Tales JRPG with action combat.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox and Ys X: Nordics are Falcom's action JRPG series.
Nier: Automata is Yoko Taro's existential action RPG about androids.
Kingdom Hearts III combines Disney and Final Fantasy in action RPG form.
Scarlet Nexus is brain-punk action RPG.
Granblue Fantasy Relink is Cygames' action RPG spinoff of their mobile JRPG.
Tales of Symphonia (original or remaster) is classic Tales JRPG excellence. Featured in Gamecube coverage.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is massive fantasy JRPG with excellent world-building. JRPG coverage here.
The Elemental Combat Games
Genshin's elemental reactions are core to combat. Games with similar elemental systems:
Divinity: Original Sin 2 has the deepest elemental interaction system in any RPG. Fire ignites oil, water conducts electricity, poison combines with explosions.
Baldur's Gate 3 inherits Divinity's elemental interactions but tones them down.
Pokemon series has elemental type system.
Dragon Quest XI S has elemental spell interactions.
Final Fantasy XVI has Eikon-based elemental abilities in action combat.
The Character Collection Games
Fire Emblem: Three Houses has academy-based character recruitment. Featured in Persona coverage.
Fire Emblem Engage continues the tactical RPG.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has massive character roster.
Trails of Cold Steel series has hundreds of characters across interconnected games.
Suikoden I & II HD Remaster has 108 recruitable characters per game.
Chrono Cross has 40+ playable characters.
The Free-to-Play Alternatives
If the free-to-play aspect of Genshin appeals to you:
Warframe is one of the best free-to-play games ever made. Deep cosmetic customization, strong gameplay, ethical monetization.
Path of Exile and Path of Exile 2 are action RPGs rivaling Diablo in depth.
Destiny 2 has substantial free-to-play content.
Fortnite's Zero Build mode has traditional battle royale without building.
Apex Legends is hero shooter battle royale.
Marvel Rivals is hero shooter with Marvel characters.
The Breath of the Wild-Like Open Worlds
Genshin's open-world design owes much to Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Games with similar exploration philosophy:
Breath of the Wild (mentioned above) and Tears of the Kingdom are the originals.
Immortals Fenyx Rising from Ubisoft is Greek mythology Breath of the Wild alternative.
Horizon Forbidden West (mentioned above).
Forspoken is magical parkour action RPG.
Outriders is cooperative looter-shooter with RPG progression.
Why Genshin Impact Works
Genshin succeeded through combination — it's not the best open world RPG, not the best anime game, not the best gacha, but it's uniquely the best combination of all three. The production values that HoYoverse delivers for a free game are essentially unprecedented, which means millions of players who would never pay for a AAA RPG experience it free.
The gacha monetization is predatory but optional for patient players. The story genuinely improves as regions unlock (Inazuma, Sumeru, and Fontaine expansions each advance the narrative substantially). The combat has real depth once you understand elemental reactions and character synergies.
Starting with Honkai Star Rail if you want HoYoverse's turn-based take. Wuthering Waves for direct competitor. Breath of the Wild for foundational exploration. Elden Ring for deep open-world combat. Persona 5 Royal for anime JRPG peak. Warframe for ethical free-to-play alternative. All deliver pieces of what Genshin offers, and together they cover the landscape Genshin helped popularize.