Genshin Impact has foreshadowed that Khaenri'ah may serve as the final chapter of its story. Only one of the seven nations of Teyvat remains explored, meaning that the eventual ending is now closer than ever. When Khaenri'ah does arrive, it could surpass fan expectations by upending the status quo of Genshin Impact.
Genshin Impact is an open world RPG which relies on combat as a vehicle for its story. Players explore a variety of locations, and battle against any number of threats throughout their adventure. While the seven nations of Teyvat serve as the primary framing device of this narrative, the elemental Visions that inhabit them are just as important. Khaenri'ah is an important nation currently lacking such an elemental connection, but developers could employ a major twist to change that.
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Genshin Impact May Enter its Final Stages in Khaenri'ah
Genshin Impact's seven regions have served as the structure of the game's major updates so far, but they are not the be all end all. After all, Genshin Impact will only have one of the seven nations remaining after it eventually concludes its Natlan story arc. Snezhnaya will come to an end as well, and when that time comes, Khaenri'ah will finally have its time in the sun.
Genshin Impact currently has Khaenri'ah poised to serve as the final chapter of its ongoing story. This has been teased for quite some time, but recent official road maps have made the future that much clearer. Khaenri'ah's importance to the conflict between Genshin Impact's main characters has been hinted at since nearly the beginning. However, Khaenri'ah isn't a great setting solely because of its plot relevance. In fact, the mysterious region has a number of unique qualities that allow it to brim with potential.
Every playable character in Genshin Impact derives their elemental powers from Visions gifted to them by Archons, essentially the gods of Teyvat. In stark contrast, Khaenri'ah was a land without a god, and this has incredible implications for the region as a whole. As one might expect, Khaenri'ah does not currently have any sort of elemental affinity associated with it. With that in mind, there is a clear path forward if Genshin Impact wants to raise the stakes with a major plot twist.
Genshin Impact Could Debut a Brand New Elemental Vision in Khaenri'ah
It has always seemed unlikely that Genshin Impact would add a new elemental damage type. While the game accomplished something similar with the inclusion of Dendro, this was a seemingly arduous process. Furthermore, Dendro already existed within the game's lore, so its inclusion was simply keeping a promise.
By contrast, Genshin Impact repeating such a significant undertaking has seemed somewhat out of reach. Similar to the seven nations themselves, the seven elements appeared to be an unshakable framing device of the game itself. However, the developers at HoYo have come a long way since the early days of Genshin Impact. While new elements may have been out of the picture after Dendro, Khaenri'ah is the perfect time to break this trend.
There are a number of ways that Genshin Impact could approach a new element, and two primary ways it could be added. It could be revealed that it has existed in secret all this time, and serves as a brand-new threat to the player. More likely, it could be created due to the events of the story arc. Regardless, the subject of the element itself seems obvious: The Abyss. By allowing players to wield the power of darkness itself, Genshin Impact's combat could take an incredibly fresh turn in its eleventh hour.
Since it is potentially the last time players will ever get to explore the world of Genshin Impact, Khaenri'ah needs to send players off with a bang. The region already seems guaranteed to deliver bombshell reveals about the game's lore, but it should go another step further. If Khaenri'ah is really going to blow players away, it should step past its story arc and defy the gameplay status quo as well.
Genshin Impact
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- September 28, 2020
- ESRB
- Teen / Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
- Publisher(s)
- HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
WHERE TO PLAY
Step into Teyvat, a vast world teeming with life and flowing with elemental energy.
You and your sibling arrived here from another world. Separated by an unknown god, stripped of your powers, and cast into a deep slumber, you now awake to a world very different from when you first arrived.
Thus begins your journey across Teyvat to seek answers from The Seven — the gods of each element. Along the way, prepare to explore every inch of this wondrous world, join forces with a diverse range of characters, and unravel the countless mysteries that Teyvat holds...
MASSIVE OPEN WORLD
Climb any mountain, swim across any river, and glide over the world below, taking in the jaw-dropping scenery each step of the way. And if you stop to investigate a wandering Seelie or strange mechanism, who knows what you might discover?
ELEMENTAL COMBAT SYSTEM
Harness the seven elements to unleash elemental reactions. Anemo, Electro, Hydro, Pyro, Cryo, Dendro, and Geo interact in all sorts of ways, and Vision wielders have the power to turn this to their advantage.
Will you vaporize Hydro with Pyro, electro-charge it with Electro, or freeze it with Cryo? Your mastery of the elements will give you the upper hand in battle and exploration.
BEAUTIFUL VISUALS
Feast your eyes on the world around you, with a stunning art style, real-time rendering, and finely tuned character animations delivering you a truly immersive visual experience. Lighting and weather all change naturally over time, bringing every detail of this world to life.
SOOTHING SOUNDTRACK
Let the beautiful sounds of Teyvat draw you in as you explore the expansive world around you. Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the soundtrack changes seamlessly with the time and gameplay to match the mood.
BUILD YOUR DREAM TEAM
Team up with a diverse cast of characters in Teyvat, each with their own unique personalities, stories, and abilities. Discover your favorite party combinations and level up your characters to help you conquer even the most daunting of enemies and domains.
JOURNEY WITH FRIENDS
Team up with friends across various platforms to trigger more elemental action, tackle tricky boss fights, and conquer challenging domains together to reap rich rewards.
As you stand atop the peaks of Jueyun Karst and take in the rolling clouds and vast terrain stretching out before you, you may wish to stay in Teyvat a little longer... But until you are reunited with your lost sibling, how can you rest? Go forth, Traveler, and begin your adventure!
- Engine
- Unity
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms
- Cross Save
- All platforms
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, iOS, Android
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action, Adventure, Gacha, Open-World
- X|S Optimized
- yes
