Genshin Impact is a free open-world action RPG from HoYoverse for PC, PlayStation, Xbox and mobile. You explore the world of Teyvat with a party of four characters, follow a long story and build your team. There is no PvP; winning means finishing quests and clearing endgame challenges such as the Spiral Abyss.
What is Genshin Impact?
Genshin Impact is an open-world action RPG developed by miHoYo and published worldwide by HoYoverse. It launched on September 28, 2020, and celebrated its sixth anniversary on September 28, 2026. You can play on Windows, PlayStation, Xbox Series X|S, iOS and Android. The game is free to play and makes money through Wishes, a gacha system for new characters and weapons.
You play the Traveler, who arrives in the world of Teyvat and searches for a lost twin. Teyvat is split into seven nations, each tied to an element and ruled by a god called an Archon. Combat is real time: you switch between four party members and combine their elements for extra damage. As of October 2026 the live version is 7.1, which went live on September 23, 2026 and continues the story in Snezhnaya. Our Genshin Impact 7.1 guide covers what is new.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | miHoYo (published by HoYoverse) |
| Release | September 28, 2020 |
| Platforms | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, iOS, Android |
| Price model | Free to play with gacha Wishes |
| Genre | Open-world action RPG (PvE only) |
| Party | Four characters; co-op for up to four players |
| Current version | 7.1 (since September 23, 2026) |
What is the objective of Genshin Impact?
The long-term objective is to follow the Archon Quests across the nations of Teyvat and build a roster strong enough for the hardest challenges. Along the way you raise your Adventure Rank, which opens new quests and raises World Level, so enemies and rewards both grow.
A typical session is short: spend your daily Resin on domains and bosses for upgrade materials, finish daily commissions, explore a bit of map and maybe attempt an event. Over weeks, those small steps level your characters, weapons and artifacts.
How do you win a match in Genshin Impact?
Genshin Impact has no matches against other players, so "winning" is about clearing content. Story fights and domains are pass or fail. The endgame modes add scores, stars or difficulty tiers, which give you a clear target to beat each cycle.
| Mode | Team size | How you win |
|---|---|---|
| Story and Archon Quests | Solo | Finish the quest chapter and its boss fights |
| Domains and world bosses | Solo or co-op (up to 4) | Defeat all enemies or the boss to claim rewards |
| Spiral Abyss | Solo, one or two teams of four | Clear chambers fast enough to earn up to three stars each |
| Imaginarium Theater | Solo | Clear as many acts as you can with the allowed characters |
| Stygian Onslaught | Solo | Defeat the boss challenge at the difficulty you choose |
The Spiral Abyss is the classic test. It unlocks at Adventure Rank 20 and has twelve floors of three chambers. Floors 9 to 12 refresh on the 16th of each month, and the stars you earn depend on how much time is left on the clock.
How does ranked or progression work?
There is no ranked ladder. Progress comes from Adventure Rank, World Level, character levels and talents, weapons and artifacts. Endgame modes reset on a fixed schedule, so the measure of progress is whether you clear more of them than last time. For floor-by-floor advice, read our Spiral Abyss guide, and find every article on the Genshin Impact guides hub.
Beginner tips to win more
- Never let Resin sit at the cap; spend it daily on the materials your main team needs.
- Focus on one team of four instead of leveling everyone a little.
- Learn elemental reactions; pairing elements matters more than raw stats.
- Upgrade weapons and talents before chasing perfect artifacts.
- Finish Archon Quests early, since many systems and regions unlock through them.
- Save Primogems for the characters you actually want instead of every banner.
- Use co-op for tough bosses once it unlocks at Adventure Rank 16.
- Check the Spiral Abyss enemy list before the reset so you can build for it.
How can Boosting Games help with Genshin Impact?
If you want to catch up faster, we offer fixed-price Genshin Impact help. Prices are starting prices as of October 2026; the exact price for your option shows before checkout. See every option in the Genshin Impact services collection or on our Genshin Impact boosting page.
| Service | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Genshin Impact Adventure Rank | Adventure Rank raised to your target. | From $25 |
| Genshin Impact Archon Quest Completion | Archon Quest chapters completed. | From $9 |
| Genshin Impact Region Exploration 100% | A region explored to 100%. | From $42 |
| Genshin Impact Character Build | A character you own built up. | From $11 |
| Genshin Impact Spiral Abyss Clear | Spiral Abyss floors cleared. | From $12 |
| Genshin Impact Coaching | Live coaching on teams and play. | From $19 |
Honest risk note: HoYoverse's terms forbid sharing your account and do not allow paid boosting. Piloted orders, where a booster logs in to your account, carry the most risk; co-op help carries less, and coaching carries none. Read our account safety notice before you order. We never sell accounts, Primogems, Genesis Crystals, characters, items, cheats or mods.
Get help with Genshin Impact
Pick a service and option, see the exact price before you pay, and follow progress on your private order page.
See Genshin Impact servicesAsk Boost Up AINew to the genre? Our page with every game explained compares how each title works, and how it works walks through an order step by step.
Related reading: Genshin Impact 7.1 guide, Genshin Impact Spiral Abyss guide, What is Where Winds Meet and how do you win? and What is Monster Hunter Wilds and how do you win?
Genshin Impact FAQ
Is Genshin Impact free to play?
Yes. Genshin Impact is free on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, iOS and Android, and the whole story and open world are available without paying. HoYoverse earns money through a gacha system called Wishes, where you spend Primogems for a chance at new characters and weapons. You earn Primogems by playing, and a pity system guarantees rare pulls after enough Wishes, so spending is optional.
Does Genshin Impact have PvP?
No. Genshin Impact has no player-versus-player mode. Every challenge is PvE: story quests, bosses, domains and timed endgame modes such as the Spiral Abyss. You can play co-op with up to four players once you reach Adventure Rank 16, but co-op is about helping each other with bosses and exploration, not competing.
What is the current Genshin Impact version?
As of October 2026 the live version is 7.1, which went live on September 23, 2026. It continues the story in the icy nation of Snezhnaya and added new characters, quests and a new field boss. HoYoverse releases a new version roughly every six weeks, so check the official news page for the date of the next one.
When does the Spiral Abyss unlock and reset?
The Spiral Abyss unlocks at Adventure Rank 20. Floors 1 to 8 are a one-time challenge, and floors 9 to 12, the Abyssal Moon Spire, reset every month on the 16th with new enemies and buffs. Each chamber gives up to three stars based on how much time is left, and full stars pay out Primogems.
How long does it take to finish the Genshin Impact story?
It depends on how much you explore. The main Archon Quests span several nations and add a new chapter with most versions, so the story is never truly finished. Most new players spend many weeks reaching the latest chapter at a relaxed pace, because some quests need a minimum Adventure Rank before they open.
What does winning mean in Genshin Impact?
There is no win screen in Genshin Impact. Winning means reaching your own goals: catching up on the story, exploring every region, building characters strong enough to earn full stars in the Spiral Abyss, and clearing the rotating Imaginarium Theater and Stygian Onslaught challenges for their rewards. Each reset is a fresh chance to beat your last result.
Sources: Wikipedia: Genshin Impact, Pocket Tactics: Genshin 7.1 update, Genshin Wiki: Spiral Abyss, Topuplist: September 2026 calendar, RPG Site: Xbox launch.