Games Like Genshin Impact: 8 Open Worlds to Explore Next

If you want games like Genshin Impact, start with Wuthering Waves for the sharper combat and Breath of the Wild for pure exploration. HoYoverse's hit blends three things: climbing all over a bright open world, building a team of characters and chaining elemental reactions. These eight games each nail at least one of those, free or paid, solo or online.

Why Genshin Impact hooks you

Teyvat always makes you want to check the next hill. You climb, you glide, you spot a chest, a puzzle, a view. That short loop works just as well for ten minutes on your phone as it does for a long evening on PC or PS5.

The second hook is the cast. Every hero has an element, a style and a bit of backstory, and combat is all about combos: freeze, burn, swap at the right moment. Add regular updates and you get a game people stay with for years. That's also why the reported completion times are huge: it's a live game that never really ends.

How to pick your next game

Ask yourself what you love most. Real-time team combat? Go for Wuthering Waves or Granblue Fantasy: Relink. Free exploration? Zelda and Immortals Fenyx Rising are your games. Another HoYoverse game with characters to collect but a slower pace? Honkai: Star Rail switches to turn-based.

Think about the business model too. Free gacha games keep you around for the long haul, paid games give you a full adventure with a real ending. For more endless adventures, see our list of open world games.

1. 

   1. Wuthering Waves

   2024

   The closest match in spirit: open world, characters pulled from banners, anime look. Where it differs is combat, which is faster and more technical, with perfect dodges and counters that reward good reflexes. If Genshin's fights feel a little tame to you, this is the one.

   Add to my pile →
2. 

   2. Honkai: Star Rail

   2023

   Same studio, same love for characters and voice acting, but every fight is turn-based. You explore tighter zones, build your squad and plan combos at your own pace. Great if you want the HoYoverse universe without the pressure of real-time action.

   Add to my pile →
3. 

   3. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

   2017 · Main story 37.5 h

   The game that inspired much of Genshin's exploration. Climbing, gliding, puzzles everywhere and a world where almost anything goes. No characters to collect, but total freedom and a proper ending. If you've never played it, fix that. Our games like Zelda page goes further.

   Add to my pile →
4. 

   4. Immortals Fenyx Rising

   2020 · Main story 25 h

   Ubisoft took the Zelda formula and dropped it into Greek mythology with a jokey tone. You glide, climb and solve puzzle vaults across a bright, light-hearted map. Perfect if the wandering is your favourite part of Genshin and you want a shorter adventure with a real ending.

   Add to my pile →
5. 

   5. Granblue Fantasy: Relink

   2024 · Main story 34 h

   A team-based action RPG from a big Japanese franchise. Fights are flashy, every character plays differently and you can run quests with friends. There's no open world, but if mastering your team setup is what you love, it hits the spot.

   Add to my pile →
6. 

   6. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox

   2019 · Main story 30 h

   Ys is all about fast action and a party you swap on the fly, a lot like Genshin's character switching. This one is set in a prison city you explore by running up walls and gliding. Less pretty, but generous and snappy.

   Add to my pile →
7. 

   7. Where Winds Meet

   2024

   A huge open world inspired by ancient China and wuxia stories. Martial arts, airborne movement and wide landscapes give you the same urge to explore as Teyvat. A good pick if you want a new setting but still crave an adventure that keeps going.

   Add to my pile →
8. 

   8. Tales of Arise

   2021 · Main story 35 h

   For players who love Genshin's story and party but want something that ends. Real-time fights where you swap between companions, lovely scenery, likeable characters. You buy it, you play it, you see the credits: nothing to pull, nothing to wait for.

   Add to my pile →

FAQ

What game is most like Genshin Impact?

Wuthering Waves is the closest: open world, anime style, characters unlocked through banners and team combat. Honkai: Star Rail, from the same studio, keeps the universe and the cast feel but swaps to turn-based battles.

Are there games like Genshin Impact without gacha?

Yes. Breath of the Wild, Immortals Fenyx Rising and Tales of Arise are one-time purchases with a real ending. You get the exploration or the party combat without banners or in-game purchases to unlock characters.

How long does it take to beat Genshin Impact?

It's a live game with regular updates, so it doesn't truly end. Players spend hundreds of hours in it and the story keeps growing. It works best as a side game you dip into a little every day.