Genshin Impact first arrived on the scene in 2020, and it has enjoyed a hugely consistent popularity streak since then. It’s a remarkable title with millions of fans worldwide, and as a dramatically accessible title, it’s available on almost all platforms, one way or another. It’s a beloved action RPG game with plenty of depth, but we’re here to answer one important question: ‘Is Genshin Impact pay to win?’

It might seem like a question out of left field for some, but it is a fair one, that’s for sure. It’s no big secret that being a free-to-play game, Genshin Impact is full of microtransactions. Typically, the can open the door to some pay-to-win elements, but is that the case with Genshin Impact? Is there a way that you can pay some money to get the biggest advantages in the game and gain an edge over every other player out there?

Let’s find out – is Genshin Impact pay to win?

What Is ‘Pay to Win’?

The concept of the ‘pay to win’ game has become much more commonplace in recent years. It’s a term used to describe a game that offers its users the ability to spend real-world money to earn advantages in games that aren’t otherwise available to non-paying customers. This could be special weapons, overpowered characters, or even ‘skips’ that allow users to jump ahead in their progress over the top of other players.

It’s something that has been widely debated in the gaming industry for several years, for the sole reason that it’s not fair. In a competitive game, it means that play can be impacted by someone spending some money to dominate other players. It’s immoral, ultimately. In a game that can be played solo and has no player-vs-player combat, like Genshin Impact, it would be highly unfair to hide overpowered characters behind ‘paywalls’, but does miHoYo (Genshin’s developer) do that?

Related: Is Genshin Impact Cross-Platform?

Is Genshin Impact Pay to Win, Then?

Genshin Impact is certainly a game that can quickly establish a quick link to your wallet. There are plenty of characters in the game to unlock, and the best way to do that is to throw funds at the Gacha game and try to land the character you’re aiming for. If you’re willing to spend a little money, you can unlock new characters and weapons with very little effort, but does that mean Genshin Impact is a pay-to-win game?

No – Genshin Impact is not pay to win.

Firstly, there’s no competitive element in the game, so there’s no way to unfairly dominate another player by spending more money than them. Furthermore, any Genshin Impact fan knows that playing this free-to-play title is possible without spending a single penny. It’s perfectly possible to climb the ranks and unlock new characters by simply grinding at the game and unlocking ‘primogems’.

It’s a little tougher and it takes longer to do, but every boss, every quest, and every collectible can be secured without feeding a single dollar into Genshin Impact. It’ll take a little more strategic management of your free-to-earn currencies, but it’s not impossible. In this instance, the advantage of investing money in Genshin Impact is that you can get things done a little faster – but even then, thanks to the nature of the unlocking mechanics, even that’s not a guarantee.

Again, and in conclusion – no, Genshin Impact is not pay to win.

Related: Genshin Impact Switch Release Date