Genshin Impact is huge, but now is the best time to start playing

Once in a while, Genshin Impact can feel like an endless to-do list. There are three sprawling regions, character-driven story missions, and world quests that ask you to scour the land for specific items. There’s also the gargantuan task of collecting characters and tweaking your party to counter a plethora of elemental enemies. Suffice it to say, Genshin Impact can be a lot. But thanks to a recent content drought, now is a great time for new players to jump in.

Genshin Impact is a free-to-play open-world adventure where you play as a traveler searching for his lost sibling. At the beginning of the game, you meet a companion named Paimon, who will send you on a lengthy adventure across the fantasy world of Teyvat. Generally speaking, the gacha game receives an update every six weeks bringing new characters or timed events. However, in April, developer Hoyoverse announced that the next update would be delayed. And while dedicated players may have taken the news with disappointment, the lack of content has created the perfect little window for new players to jump in and start the game.

During timed events like the Irodori Festival or the Lantern Ritual Festival, special challenges between story quests and various puzzle challenges can last for hours. While these types of events can offer players the chance to see new combinations of characters and give towns a more festive feel with special decorations, they’re a big commitment. They’re great options, but they can add to the overwhelming early game content cascade.

Image: Polygon over Hooverse

i came in Genshin Impact around the time of the Lantern Rite festival this year, and completing the additional story quest (in addition to taking care of the small stuff related to the main quest) felt like too many tasks in any given day. Figuring out how to complete the quests and collect the rewards for the special events, in addition to learning the ins and outs of the game for the first time, felt overwhelming. Also, it was extremely difficult to connect with any of the characters since I was unable to complete the respective story quests at the time the event happened. This was all the more ironic given that many characters in the Lantern Rite spoke poetically of the importance of stopping to smell the roses. And yet I was there, treating all of these quests like a job.

Now I understand that content droughts in live service games are usually not a good thing. but Genshin Impact feels really relaxed for the first time since I started. With the slower pace, I was able to message friends on Discord and spend more time thinking about how to build stronger characters and a better team. Some days I just log in, complete my daily chores, and then spend time leisurely running through the breezy meadows of Mondstadt picking flowers to fuel my characters. It’s an exceptionally beautiful game and the last few weeks have been great.

In real life, I think the virtual worlds of my games should allow for some leisure as well. The pressure of sticking to the constant drips of Battle Passes and new events can mitigate the awe that comes with exploring a new world for the first time. And with the drought, new players have a rare opportunity to experience Teyvat without the pressure to “keep up”. So go out there and pick some flowers!