Critics generally received Genshin Impact favorably, especially for its explorable fantasy world and elemental combat. The main reservations in launch-era reviews were gacha monetization, progression gates, grind, and the endgame. Metacritic’s accessed listings show an 84 for PC and an 81 for PS4, but those platform-specific snapshots are only part of the picture.
What is Genshin Impact’s Metacritic score?
On the Metacritic listings accessed October 8, 2026, the PC version had an 84 Metascore, labeled “Generally Favorable,” from 24 displayed critic reviews. The PS4 version had an 81, also labeled “Generally Favorable,” from 26 displayed reviews. These figures describe separate platform listings, not one universal score, and Metacritic’s totals can change.
| Platform listing | Metascore | Displayed critic reviews | Displayed review polarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC | 84, Generally Favorable | 24 | 18 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative |
| PS4 | 81, Generally Favorable | 26 | 22 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative |
Source: Metacritic PS4 and Metacritic PC, accessed October 8, 2026. The review counts and polarity breakdowns are snapshots of what those pages displayed at that time.
Individual reviews add context to the aggregates. Heidi Kemps scored the PS4 version 7/10 for GameSpot in a review dated October 16, 2020. Steven Messner’s PC Gamer review, also dated October 16, 2020, scored the game 84.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhat did critics like about Genshin Impact?
Exploration and world design
The most consistent praise was for the pleasure of exploring the fantasy world. Reviewers highlighted its open-world design, movement, and discoveries, describing a loop that makes wandering and investigating locations central to the experience.
Elemental combat and presentation
Critics also praised combat built around interactions between elements, which add variety to battles and exploration. Reviews additionally noted the game’s visual presentation, character and world charm, and the amount of content available without an upfront purchase. These are recurring themes, not a claim that every reviewer valued each feature equally.
What were the main criticisms?
Gacha monetization
Monetization was the sharpest recurring caveat. Reviewers criticized the gacha system, including the frustration of pursuing high-tier rewards, the odds, and the pressure to spend time or money. GameSpot reviewer Heidi Kemps summarized her launch-era view this way: “Genshin Impact offers a very well-made action-RPG as a free-to-play service–though it’s not without a few caveats.”
Rank #2
- PS5 Features include raytracing modes and immersive haptic feedback for DualSense
- Use darkness and cover to avoid being overwhelmed by the ship's deadly new inhabitants
- Seek out the weapon fabricators to increase your firepower as you journey deeper, into the dark and terrifying depths, but beware ammo is limited
- Gather materials & schematics for weapon upgrades and suit customizations with buffs
- Harvest DNA material to improve health, toughness and defensive capabilities.Survive an ever changing labyrinth. Each and every expedition into The Persistence will be disorienting and different.Death is just the beginning. Fatal encounters will result in Zimri's consciousness being uploaded into a new cloned body, ready to try again, with any upgraded stats, suits & weapon schematics kept to aid the next attempt to save the ship
These reviews describe the version critics played at launch, not a verified account of present-day prices or drop rates. GameSpot explicitly identifies its monetization discussion as specific to version 1.0 and notes that details in a live-service game can change.
Progression pacing and endgame
Reviewers also objected to progression gates that could restrict access to features or story content, and to the grind and energy system at higher levels. PC Gamer’s Steven Messner captured the tension in his verdict: “Genshin Impact’s open world and clever combat are fantastic, but its endgame tries way too hard to milk you for cash.” That is a critic’s judgment about the experience reviewed, not an objective measure of the game’s monetization.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How current are these reviews?
The cited critic reviews were published in October 2020 and assess launch-era play. They are useful for understanding the original critical reception, but they are not a current audit of content, systems, technical performance, or service status. In particular, launch-review descriptions should not be treated as confirmation of today’s monetization terms.
Rank #3
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- Survive your Nemesis: Someone is relentlessly hunting you. Suffer and agonize while you try to run away from the encounters with this strange stalker obsessed with you.
- Intense Challenges: Solve environmental riddles, physics puzzles and other similar challenges in an interconnected vertical world. Even while being chased and hunted.
- Accessibility and Photomode: Tweak more than 20 Accessibility settings to create a tailored experience for you. Use the Photomode to make perfect shots and unlock many secrets using it.
For present-day game features and platform families, HoYoverse’s official overview describes an open-world adventure with elemental combat, solo play, and cross-play across PC, iOS, Android, PlayStation, and Xbox. Consult the official page for current availability and details. The PS4 score above is included as review history, not as a recommendation about current PS4 support.
Is Genshin Impact worth playing, according to critics?
The critical consensus is favorable for players drawn to exploration, elemental action, and a large fantasy world. The qualification is substantial: reviewers found the gacha model, gated progression, grind, and endgame to be meaningful drawbacks. The Metacritic scores indicate the overall platform-specific reception, while the review themes explain what critics liked and where they saw friction.
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