I still remember the first time I stepped into the world of Teyvat about 4 years ago. The sprawling green fields of Mondstadt stretched before me, wind gliders soared overhead, and the promise of adventure beckoned from every direction. Little did I know that this free-to-play game would consume hundreds of hours of my life as its world continued to expand and evolve.
If you’re new to Genshin Impact or a returning player curious about the latest content, this article will guide you through the game’s major expansions and help you uncover the secrets of Teyvat.
What Is Genshin Impact?
Genshin Impact is an open-world action RPG developed by miHoYo (now HoYoverse) that took the gaming world by storm when it launched in September 2020. According to official sources (nofollow), the game generated over $3 billion in its first year on mobile platforms alone, making it one of the most financially successful games ever released.
The Evolution of Teyvat: Region by Region
When Genshin Impact first launched, only two of the seven planned regions were available: Mondstadt and Liyue. Since then, the world has expanded significantly, each region bringing its own culture, aesthetics, and challenges.
Mondstadt: City of Freedom
Mondstadt was most players’ introduction to Teyvat. Inspired by Germanic architecture and culture, this region is watched over by Barbatos, the Anemo Archon (also known as Venti). The city’s emphasis on freedom is reflected in its open design and the relatively straightforward gameplay mechanics introduced here.
I spent countless hours climbing Mondstadt’s iconic Stormbearer Mountains and exploring the eerie Dragonspine area added in version 1.2.
Liyue: Harbor of Contracts
Liyue represented a significant step up in complexity from Mondstadt. This region, inspired by traditional Chinese culture, introduced more challenging terrain with its towering mountains and complex cave systems. Governed by the Geo Archon Morax (Zhongli), Liyue’s storyline delves into themes of contracts, duty, and transition.
The first time I reached Liyue Harbor, I was mesmerized by its distinctive architecture and the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.
Inazuma: Nation of Eternity
Added in version 2.0, Inazuma marked a significant expansion to Teyvat. This Japan-inspired archipelago nation is ruled by the Electro Archon, Raiden Shogun, who had sealed the nation from outside influence. Inazuma introduced more challenging combat encounters and environmental hazards like lightning strikes and balethunder.
Navigating the political conflict of Inazuma’s Vision Hunt Decree storyline was when I truly became invested in Genshin’s overarching narrative. The stark contrast between areas like the war-torn Yashiori Island and the serene Narukami Shrine showcased the developers’ growing confidence in environmental storytelling.
Sumeru: Land of Wisdom
Version 3.0 brought players to Sumeru, a region divided between lush rainforests and arid deserts. Ruled by the Dendro Archon Nahida (Lesser Lord Kusanali), Sumeru introduced the long-awaited Dendro element, which revolutionized combat with new elemental reactions.
Exploring Sumeru’s rainforest canopy was a vertical adventure unlike anything in previous regions. The addition of the Four-Leaf Sigil movement system made traversal more dynamic and engaging.
Fontaine: Nation of Justice
Added in version 4.0, Fontaine brought a steampunk-inspired aesthetic to Teyvat. This region, governed by the Hydro Archon Focalors, introduced underwater exploration mechanics and a legal system central to its storyline.
The Court of Fontaine storyline delved into themes of justice, judgment, and the burden of knowledge.
The underwater sections were particularly impressive, with distinct ecosystems and ruins to discover beneath the waves. Swimming through ancient underwater cities while haunting music played created some of my most memorable gaming moments of recent years.
Future Expansions: Natlan and Snezhnaya
Two major regions remain to be added to complete Teyvat’s map:
Natlan: The Pyro nation inspired by indigenous American and African cultures. Early previews hint at volcanic landscapes and tribal aesthetics.
Snezhnaya: The Cryo nation inspired by Russia, home to the enigmatic Fatui organization that has been a constant antagonistic presence throughout the game.
Beyond Regions: Major Game Systems and Features
Genshin Impact’s world isn’t just defined by its regions but also by its evolving gameplay systems that have been added over time.
The Housing System: Serenitea Pot
Introduced in version 1.5, the Serenitea Pot housing system gives players their own pocket dimension to decorate and customize. I’ve spent almost as much time arranging furniture in my realm as I have defeating weekly bosses, creating everything from cozy cottages to elaborate multi-level mansions.
The system has expanded over time to include gardening, companion housing (where you can invite your characters to live), and various utilities like crafting stations. Creating a perfect sunset vista from the balcony of my Inazuman-style house remains one of my proudest in-game achievements.
Fishing System
The fishing mini-game added in version 2.1 introduced a relaxing alternative activity to the usual combat. Different fish species appear in various water bodies across Teyvat, with special rods and bait types adding complexity to the system.
While initially skeptical, I found fishing surprisingly meditative, especially in scenic locations like Koseki Village in Inazuma. The reward of crafting “The Catch,” a powerful polearm, made the hours spent fishing feel worthwhile.
The Spiral Abyss and Combat Challenges
For combat-focused players, the Spiral Abyss provides the game’s most challenging content. This multi-floor combat challenge tests your team-building skills and understanding of elemental reactions. It resets twice monthly with different buffs and enemy lineups, ensuring the meta continues to evolve.
Beyond the Abyss, Genshin has introduced various combat events and challenges over time, from the mechanically complex Hypostatic Symphony to the strategic Energy Amplifier events. These temporary combat challenges often feature unique mechanics that encourage experimenting with different team compositions.
The Gacha System: Collecting Characters and Weapons
Central to Genshin Impact’s business model is its gacha system for obtaining new characters and weapons.
Character Banners
Each version typically features two or three 5-star character banners running for about three weeks each. Characters are divided into different elements (Anemo, Geo, Electro, Dendro, Hydro, Pyro, and Cryo) and weapon types (Sword, Claymore, Polearm, Bow, and Catalyst).
I’ve learned the hard way that planning your wishes is crucial for free-to-play or low-spending players. Saving for characters that complement your existing teams or provide utility across multiple team compositions will serve you better than pulling for every new character.
Weapon Banners
Weapon banners feature signature weapons for the current character banners. While these weapons can significantly boost a character’s performance, they’re generally considered luxury items for players who already have a solid character roster.
The infamous Staff of Homa banner taught me an expensive lesson about weapon banners when I had to go to maximum pity twice to get the weapon I wanted. Now I only pull on weapon banners if I’m happy with either of the featured 5-star weapons.
Pity System
Genshin’s gacha includes a pity system that guarantees a 5-star item after a certain number of wishes without one. Understanding this system is crucial for efficient wishing:
- Character Event Wish: Guarantees a 5-star character within 90 wishes, with a 50% chance it will be the featured character. If you don’t get the featured character, your next 5-star is guaranteed to be the featured character (carrying over to subsequent banners).
- Weapon Event Wish: Guarantees a 5-star weapon within 80 wishes, with a 75% chance it will be one of the two featured weapons. The Epitomized Path system allows you to select a preferred weapon and guarantees it after obtaining two non-selected featured 5-star weapons.
The Evolving Story of Teyvat
Genshin Impact’s main storyline has grown increasingly complex as new regions and characters have been introduced.
The Archon Quests
Each region features an Archon Quest line that advances the main story and introduces players to that nation’s culture and conflicts. These quests have grown more sophisticated over time, with Inazuma’s civil war storyline and Sumeru’s reality-bending Akademiya plot showing significant narrative ambition.
The revelation about Celestia and the true nature of Visions in recent Archon Quests completely changed my understanding of the game’s world. What appeared to be a simple fantasy setting has evolved into a complex science fantasy universe with themes that remind me of works like Gnosticism and Philip K. Dick novels.
World Quests and Hidden Stories
Some of Genshin’s best storytelling happens outside the main questline. World quests like “Sakura Cleansing Ritual” in Inazuma or the heartbreaking “Childish Jiang” in Liyue deliver emotional stories that add depth to the world.
I’ve spent countless hours following questlines that began with seemingly insignificant NPCs only to discover elaborate hidden areas or moving personal tales. The multi-day “Tatara Tales” quest series revealed the ecological impact of Inazuma’s civil war in a way the main story never addressed, showing how ordinary people were affected by the grand conflicts involving gods and nations.
Tips for New and Returning Players
If you’re just starting Genshin Impact or returning after a break, here are some tips to help you navigate Teyvat effectively:
For New Players
- Focus on the Archon Quests to unlock basic game systems and access new regions.
- Don’t spread your resources too thin. Invest in a core team of 4-8 characters initially rather than trying to build everyone.
- Complete daily commissions for a steady stream of Primogems and Adventure Rank experience.
- Use your Original Resin daily on ley lines, domains, or world bosses to progress character development.
- Explore thoroughly as you go. Discover teleport waypoints, unlock Statues of The Seven to reveal the map, and collect oculi to increase your stamina.
For Returning Players
- Check the current event page immediately. Time-limited events often offer significant rewards that can help you catch up.
- Review character banners to see if there are new characters or reruns that would complement your existing teams.
- Look up the current meta if you’re interested in Spiral Abyss. The optimal team compositions change with each version as new characters and enemies are introduced.
- Catch up on story quests before jumping into the latest content to avoid confusion. The “Story Quest” menu in the game helps track what you’ve completed.
- Take advantage of any “returning player” bonuses the game might offer.
The Community and Culture Around Genshin Impact
One of the most remarkable aspects of Genshin Impact is the vibrant community that has formed around it.
Resources Worth Bookmarking
- Interactive maps that show the location of every chest, challenge, and resource
- Character build guides from sites like KQM (KeqingMains) that provide in-depth analysis of optimal setups
- Lore compilation sites that connect the scattered pieces of Teyvat’s history and mythology
- Official social media channels where new codes for free Primogems are often distributed
The Fandom Culture
Genshin has developed a unique fandom culture with its own terminology and in-jokes. Terms like “50/50” (referring to the banner pity system), “national team” (a popular team composition), and “whaling” (spending large amounts on the game) have become common parlance among players.
The community’s creativity shines through fan art, cosplay, music covers, and even full orchestral arrangements of the game’s soundtrack. I’ve found some of my favorite artists through the Genshin community, and attending a Genshin concert in person was a surprisingly emotional experience, connecting with other fans who appreciate the game’s musical excellence.
Final Thoughts: Is Genshin Impact Worth Your Time in 2025?
After four years and thousands of hours in Teyvat, I can confidently say that Genshin Impact remains one of the most impressive free-to-play games available. The continuous addition of content, quality of production, and depth of storytelling keep it feeling fresh even for veteran players.
For new players, the amount of content available is staggering—easily hundreds of hours of exploration, quests, and character building.
The game does require a time commitment to fully enjoy, with daily activities and time-limited events being a core part of the experience. However, casual players can still enjoy the exploration and storytelling aspects without engaging with every system.
As for monetization, Genshin can be enjoyed completely free-to-play, though patience is required for collecting characters. The battle pass and monthly blessing are reasonably priced options for light spenders that significantly improve the experience.
I hope to see you in Teyvat, fellow Traveler. The secrets of the world are waiting to be discovered.
