Nearly five years after its explosive launch, HoYoverse's flagship open-world RPG Genshin Impact presents a paradox: a breathtaking world brimming with content that feels increasingly inaccessible to newcomers. What began in 2020 with Mondstadt and Liyue has ballooned into an almost overwhelming tapestry of seven major regions—including the frosty Dragonspine, the electro-charged Inazuma, the dendro-rich jungles of Sumeru, the hydro-powered elegance of Fontaine, and the recent serene landscapes of Chenyu Vale. For veterans, this expansion is a treasure trove; for those just stepping into Teyvat in 2025, it's a colossal mountain to climb, leaving many questioning if the journey's grind is worth the spectacular views.

The Immensity of Teyvat: A Double-Edged Sword

Content Overload Creates New Player Paralysis

The sheer volume of content accumulated since 2020 isn't inherently bad – it offers near-endless exploration and narrative depth. The world-building is second to none, and character stories often hit you right in the feels. However, the sheer scale is now a significant barrier. New players face:

• A Mountain of Main & World Quests: Progressing the Archon Quest requires unlocking preceding regions and quests, creating a lengthy prerequisite chain. Side quests like the sprawling Aranara questline in Sumeru, while optional, unlock vital map areas and substantial lore, creating serious FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) if skipped.

• Constant Sidetracking: The necessity to pause the engaging main narrative arc to grind materials or complete mandatory tasks disrupts immersion. This "stop-and-go" gameplay feels jarring, especially when the current story has you on the edge of your seat.

• The Weight of Unfinished Business: Logging in to see dozens of incomplete world quest markers can be downright despairing, constantly reminding players of how much they haven't experienced yet.

The ever-growing quest log in Teyvat can feel like an insurmountable to-do list for newcomers.

The Real Villain Isn't Content Volume, It's the Grind

Farming Mechanics Undermine the Experience

Facing bosses like the Legatus Golem dozens of times for materials is a core part of the frustrating grind. (Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic)

Ironically, the core issue isn't the abundance of content itself. The problem lies squarely with Genshin Impact's archaic and punishing resource farming structure. This system acts as the game's own worst enemy:

• Resource Hell: Leveling a single character to 90 and maxing their talents/weapon demands an astronomical investment of time and Resin (the game's stamina system). Boss fights, needing 15+ runs for sufficient materials due to poor drop rates, epitomize the tedium.

• Artifact RNG Nightmare: Acquiring powerful Artifacts is entirely governed by brutal RNG (Random Number Generation). Players can spend weeks farming a domain only to get pieces with useless stats, offering no path to guarantee progress. It's a soul-crushing slot machine.

• Daily Chore Lock-In: Veteran players' daily routines are dominated by logging in, completing daily commissions, spending Resin on domains/bosses, and logging out. It leaves little energy or time for actual exploration or tackling that backlog of world quests. For many, the game becomes a second job, not an adventure.

HoYoverse has made minor QoL (Quality of Life) tweaks:

• Increased Resin cap (allowing slightly more farming per session).

• Placing players directly at Domain entrances (saving seconds per run).

However, these are band-aids, failing to address the fundamental flaws. The bitter pill? Solutions exist within HoYoverse itself. Honkai: Star Rail (HSR), the company's other smash-hit RPG, implements vastly more player-friendly systems:

Feature	Genshin Impact (2025)	Honkai: Star Rail (2025)	Player Impact
Artifact Crafting	❌ Pure RNG	✅ Self-Modeling Resin (rare)	HSR offers a path to target specific main stats!
Stamina Overflow	❌ Resin capped, no overflow	✅ Trailblaze Power bank	HSR lets you save stamina for days you need more!
Auto-Battle for Grind	❌ Manual only	✅ Full Auto-Battle available	HSR lets you multi-task while farming!
Material Conversion/Guarantee	❌ Limited options, low value	✅ More robust crafting systems	HSR reduces wasted runs/frustration!

This stark contrast makes Genshin's persistence with its outdated systems baffling and frustrating. HSR's auto-battle alone is a game-changer, freeing players to enjoy other content while farming happens efficiently in the background.

Natlan on the Horizon: Amplifying Existing Woes

Leaks Point to More Grind, Not Less

The fiery Nation of Natlan promises exciting new adventures, but also potential new layers of grind for all players.

The imminent arrival of Natlan, the Pyro Archon's domain, should be pure excitement. However, leaks paint a concerning picture:

1. Another Massive Region: Natlan is expected to rival or surpass Fontaine in size. For newcomers, this adds another colossal area to the already daunting backlog. For veterans, it's more content to juggle.

2. Level Cap Increase Rumors: Persistent leaks suggest the character level cap will rise from 90 to 100. While power creep is natural, this means:

   • Significantly more Ascension materials needed per character.

   • More Mora (in-game currency), EXP books, and talent materials required.

   • Exacerbating the already crippling farming demands.

If HoYoverse introduces this level increase without a major overhaul of the farming structure, it risks turning character progression from a challenge into an absolute slog. The core issue isn't the new content or the power boost; it's the fear that the path to getting there will remain mired in the same frustrating, time-consuming mechanics. It's an ill omen that the grind might become even less palatable.

Conclusion: A Beautiful World, Burdened by Its Systems

Genshin Impact remains a visual and auditory masterpiece, boasting engaging combat and genuinely compelling stories. It's easy to see why millions, including this author, fell head over heels for Teyvat. However, in 2025, the game's structure actively works against the enjoyment of its best aspects. The overwhelming onboarding for new players and the soul-crushing daily grind for veterans, compounded by the looming specter of increased demands in Natlan, create significant friction. While HoYoverse tinkers at the edges, it stubbornly ignores the proven solutions implemented in Honkai: Star Rail. Until the core farming and progression systems receive a substantial, player-focused overhaul that prioritizes respect for the player's time, recommending Genshin Impact as a starting point for new adventurers is difficult. For those seeking a HoYoverse experience that feels more considerate, Honkai: Star Rail currently offers a significantly smoother and more respectful journey. The magic of Teyvat is still there, but accessing it requires wading through an ever-deepening mire of grind.

For readers interested in exploring more about the evolving world of action RPGs and staying updated on the latest developments in HoYoverse titles and beyond, zzzverse offers in-depth coverage and analysis—visit their homepage at zzzverse for more insights.