- Genshin Impact fans: the ten games compared in one table
- The ten Genshin Impact style worlds, A to Z
- Which Genshin Impact features matter most to you
- Exploring, climbing and gliding: matching Genshin Impact fans to a world
- Checks to run before leaving Genshin Impact for another world
- Settling into a new map after Genshin Impact
- Parents of young Genshin Impact fans: ratings and chat
- Slip-ups when swapping Genshin Impact for something else
- Picking where your Genshin Impact travels go next
- Frequently asked questions
If you love Genshin Impact, look for an open-world game with exploring, climbing and a story to follow, whether the focus is fast combat or quiet discovery. This page lists ten options in no particular order, shows which are listed as free to play, and explains how to choose.
Genshin Impact has a way of filling a spare hour with one more region to explore, one more climb and one more ridge to glide off. If you've seen most of what it offers, or you simply fancy a different world for a while, it's natural to start looking for something with the same sense of wandering and discovery.
This page lists ten open-world action and adventure games, in no particular order and sorted from A to Z. Some are big action RPGs with companions and fast combat. Others are small, quiet adventures that share the love of exploring but drop the fighting. Every detail comes from each game's own Steam or Nintendo store page, so I've kept the descriptions short and left out anything I couldn't confirm there. If you're trying to fit games onto a modest computer, my guide to offline PC games for laptops with 4GB of RAM is worth a look first.
Genshin Impact fans: the ten games compared in one table
In the free to play column, Yes means the game's own store page lists it as free to play, and No means it doesn't. Store listings change and differ by country, so check the page on your own store before you decide.
| Game | Platforms | Good for | Free to play |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Short Hike | Windows, Mac, Linux (Steam) | A small, relaxed climb through a mountain park | No |
| Infinity Nikki | Windows (Steam) | Dress-up, puzzles and cosy exploring in a bright world | Yes |
| Kena: Bridge of Spirits | Windows (Steam) | Spirit-guide adventure with fast combat and puzzles | No |
| Sable | Windows (Steam) | A calm desert glide across ruins and settlements | No |
| Sky: Children of the Light | Windows (Steam) | Gentle shared exploring with friends in glowing realms | Yes |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Nintendo Switch | Open-world exploring with climbing, gliding and puzzles | No |
| Tower of Fantasy | Windows (Steam) | Anime-style sci-fi world with party play | Yes |
| TUNIC | Windows, Mac (Steam) | A fox's isometric adventure with dodging and secrets | No |
| Where Winds Meet | Windows (Steam) | Martial arts action in a historical Chinese setting | Yes |
| Wuthering Waves | Windows (Steam) | Fast combat in a ruined, mysterious open world | Yes |
The ten Genshin Impact style worlds, A to Z
A Short Hike
Best for: Players who want to wander, glide and chat with other hikers on a short, gentle adventure with no combat pressure.
Infinity Nikki
Best for: Players who like a colourful open world with platforming, fishing and mini-games alongside the exploring.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Best for: Fans of story-led action who like a guide character, small spirit helpers and a single-player journey.
Sable
Best for: People who prefer exploring on a hoverbike and solving puzzles over fighting, in a hand-drawn world.
Sky: Children of the Light
Best for: Players who want a peaceful, social open world with emotes and personal spaces rather than heavy combat.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Best for: Console players who love the freedom to climb anything and head off in any direction from the first hour.
Tower of Fantasy
Best for: Players who enjoy an open world with character-specific weapons and the option of playing alongside others.
TUNIC
Best for: Players who enjoy discovery, hidden secrets and a manual that slowly pieces itself together.
Where Winds Meet
Best for: Fans of sword-and-martial-arts combat who want a big world, a wanderer's story and optional co-op.
Wuthering Waves
Best for: Players who want quick, stylish fights, a cast of companions and a story about recovering lost memories.
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Which Genshin Impact features matter most to you
Games in this style look alike from a distance: a big map, a hero with a mission and plenty to find off the main path. Up close they differ a great deal, so it helps to know which part you'd miss most.
- Combat style. Some games are all about quick fights and switching characters. Others barely have combat and focus on climbing, gliding and puzzles.
- Single-player or shared. If you enjoyed bumping into other players in the world, look for online features. If you prefer to go alone, check that the story works without a group.
- The look and tone. Anime-style, hand-drawn, historical and realistic worlds all feel different, so scroll through the screenshots on the store page.
- How you move around. Gliding, climbing, hoverbikes and teleporting each change how exploring feels.
- Your device. Most games here are listed for Windows on Steam, one is listed for Nintendo Switch, so check the system requirements against your own machine.
- Storage space. Large open worlds can need a lot of room, so look at the storage line on the store page before you start a download.
Exploring, climbing and gliding: matching Genshin Impact fans to a world
- Big action RPGs suit players who like a party of characters, quick combat and a long story to follow.
- Quiet exploration games suit people who love the wandering but would rather not fight.
- Story-led single-player adventures suit anyone who wants a beginning, a middle and an end.
- Shared, social worlds suit those who like exploring with friends and expressing themselves with emotes.
- Puzzle-heavy adventures suit patient players who enjoy working out secrets for themselves.
If strategy is more your thing than exploring, my list of strategy games for PC you can play offline covers a very different style, and racing games for PC that work offline is handy when you want something quick between longer sessions.
Checks to run before leaving Genshin Impact for another world
- Does the store page say the game needs an internet connection to play?
- Will my computer or console run it comfortably? What do the system requirements say?
- Is it a finished release or still in early access, and what does the developer say about updates?
- Do I want a game I can finish, or an ongoing world that keeps growing?
- What age rating does the store give it, if a child may play too?
Settling into a new map after Genshin Impact
A few habits help you settle into a big map without feeling overwhelmed.
- Read the opening tutorial slowly. Open-world games tend to drip-feed their systems.
- Follow the main path for a while before you wander, so you know how movement and combat work.
- Look at the settings for controls, text size and accessibility options.
- Take breaks. A world with no end can swallow an evening if you let it.
- Check the game's online and chat settings if you'd rather play on your own.
Parents of young Genshin Impact fans: ratings and chat
Many of these games look bright and friendly, but the content can vary. Some include fantasy combat, online chat or stronger themes. Check the age rating on each game's store page, look at what the game says about online play and chat, and talk with your child about what they're playing. It's also worth looking at the account and device settings together.
Slip-ups when swapping Genshin Impact for something else
- Installing several at once and never settling into any of them.
- Expecting a copy of Genshin Impact, then feeling let down when a game plays differently.
- Skipping the store page and finding the game isn't available for their device.
- Ignoring early access notes and expecting a finished experience.
- Forgetting to check the age rating before handing a device to a child.
Do you make mobile or PC games? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Picking where your Genshin Impact travels go next
Think about the part you'd miss most, whether that's the combat, the companions, the climbing or the calm. Pick one or two games that match, play for a few evenings, and keep the one you look forward to opening. If you'd like more PC ideas first, playing Game Pass games offline and small offline PC games that still look good are two more places to browse.
Frequently asked questions
Are there games exactly like Genshin Impact?
No game is an exact copy, but many share the open map, the exploring and the sense of discovery. Each adds its own twist, such as martial arts, spirit guides or a sci-fi setting. Try a couple to see which twist you enjoy.
Are games like Genshin Impact free to download?
Some on this page are listed as free to play on their store pages and some aren't. The free to play column shows which is which, but store details change, so check the page in your own country.
Can I play these games offline?
It depends on the game. Some single-player adventures work without a connection, while online worlds need one. Check the store page and the developer's notes before you rely on it.
Are open-world games suitable for children?
Ratings differ from game to game. Look at the age rating on each store page, check any online and chat features, and play together first if you're unsure.
Do these games work on a phone?
The games on this page are listed for computers or Nintendo Switch. If you want phone games instead, check the App Store or Google Play for what's available on your device.
