“The only winning move is not to play.” – WarGames (1983)
Out of all the sweeping generational changes Breath of the Wild introduced to the video game landscape, there was one that no one saw coming. Genshin Impact launched at a perfect time for it to become a hit in September of 2020. This BOTW clone, with a wondrous open world, a focus on exploration, and a stamina bar, was actually a Trojan horse. Its success would eventually guarantee the downfall of creativity for the open-world genre while introducing some deeply nefarious practices that irrevocably changed gamers’ approach to their beloved hobby.
You see, the charming anime art style was hiding the ugliest of truths: Genshin Impact is a slot machine designed to squeeze every bit of money you have. The way the game proposes this frankly abusive idea is not as straightforward, making it so that it does not really feel like you are being robbed. There are “banners” from which you can “pull” for new characters that are only available for a set amount of time, introducing an ever-present fear of missing out. With various obfuscating currencies that are never fully explained, there are two ways to try obtaining these characters: spending obscene periods of time in-game toiling away to earn said currency or by opening your wallet.
Genshin Impact made $3.7 billion in its first two years, cementing that this genre, the “anime gacha open-world game,” would forever be in our waking lives. Most of you already know this, but it has really gotten bafflingly worse since then. Tower of Fantasy, Wuthering Waves, and now Arknights: Endfield are but a few of the clones that spawned from that initial hit. Each one arriving to varying degrees of success, it is quite common to see them appear in events like Summer Game Fest, Future Games Show, or The Game Awards. And it is more predatory than ever.
From cutesy anime “waifus” saying cliché phrases such as “ready to fight” or “leave it to me,” these games have fallen into a more depraved stage. Making the characters more voluptuous than ever, increasing the (and I hate myself for writing this phrase) “jiggle physics” while they move more violently for obvious reasons, and now uttering fawning phrases like “I will serve you, master” are clearer than ever who it is geared towards. These sycophantic dolls can be all yours for as low as $14.99.
What is most alarming about these prevalent games is how they will break young minds interested in video games. Naturally, all video games have a sense of reward and direct feedback that players will work towards. That said, when every single mechanic is geared towards you at some point earning a currency that can be equated to real money, players can conflate the real joy that can be derived from this hobby with spending cash. A monthly subscription, a one-time low offer, a free character once you spend a certain amount—you name it. Every possible trick to swindle unsuspecting players is, and will be, applied.
The last offense every one of these elaborate schemes commits is that they are, unsurprisingly, devoid of any real substance. Nothing more than time-wasters, the design of each of these open worlds is low-effort puzzles to be rewarded with chests and a sense of progression towards—you guessed it—pulling for more characters. Several shiny orbs scattered in and around all of these open worlds can also be found as an excuse to complete daily activities that cannot be done otherwise. When the endgame goal of these types of games is as clear as it is, it is impossible not to be suspicious of each gameplay feature.
I played one thousand hours on Genshin Impact over the course of 5 years. Creating a familiarity with these characters is what the developers hoping to hit the jackpot are banking on, and I am glad I am over and done with it. This was initially going to be an article about Arknights: Endfield, but the more I saw the similarities with Genshin Impact, the more worried I was about more people being brought into this toxic fold. Some people will say they love playing these games and have absolutely no problem with the prominent predatory mechanics on display. Good for them. But as a longtime games critic who thankfully has decades of experience, my only plea is this: Play better games.
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