If you’ve seen your kid wandering through a lush, green fantasy world called Teyvat, climbing mountains, and switching between characters who shoot fire or ice, they’re playing Genshin Impact.

Developed by HoYoverse, it’s a massive "Free-to-Play" (F2P) game available on phones, PCs, and consoles. Unlike Roblox, which can sometimes feel like a chaotic basement of DIY projects, Genshin is a polished, professional masterpiece. The music is recorded by world-class orchestras, the voice acting is top-tier, and the story is genuinely engaging.

But "Free-to-Play" is a bit of a misnomer. While you can play the whole game without spending a dime, the game is designed to make you want to spend—specifically on "Wishes."

Genshin taps into three major things that kids (and many adults) find irresistible:

The core of the concern for parents is the Gacha system. "Gacha" comes from Japanese "Gashapon" (those toy capsule machines). In Genshin, you spend a currency called "Primogems" to buy "Wishes."

A "Wish" is a loot box. You click a button, an animation of a falling star plays, and you get a random item or character.

The trap: 90 Wishes costs about $200 worth of currency if you buy it outright. Kids often find themselves "close to pity" and feel a desperate need to spend "just $20" to hit that guaranteed reward before the character's limited-time "banner" disappears.

Learn more about how psychological triggers in games affect kids

As of 2026, the landscape for games like Genshin Impact has shifted. Following a wave of global regulations aimed at protecting minors from "dark patterns" in game design, HoYoverse has implemented stricter age verification.

In many regions, players are now required to verify their age through third-party services or parental consent flows if they want to access the shop or certain social features. If your child is under 13 (or 16 in some jurisdictions), they may face spending caps or "curfew" systems where the game locks them out after a certain number of hours.

Don't see these as a nuisance; see them as a tool. If your child is asking you to "ID verify" their account, it’s the perfect time to have a conversation about why these guards exist.

Ages 0-9: Not Recommended. The complexity of the elemental combat and the heavy focus on gambling-style mechanics make this a poor fit for younger kids. Stick to Bluey or Minecraft.

Ages 10-12: Caution / Co-play. This is the "Ohio" age—where everything is weird and they want to try what the big kids are doing. If they play, ensure no credit card is linked to the device. They should learn to earn "Primogems" through gameplay rather than your wallet.

Ages 13+: Generally Appropriate. The content itself is "Teen" rated (fantasy violence, some mild suggestive themes in character outfits). The real risk here isn't the content; it's the time and money.

Genshin is primarily a single-player game, but at Adventure Rank 16, players unlock "Co-op Mode." This allows other people to enter their world.

Read our guide on setting up parental controls for mobile gaming

Genshin uses a "Resin" system. Resin is a timer-based energy that limits how many rewards you can get per day. This is designed to create a "daily habit." If your kid says, "I just have to do my dailies!" they are responding to a psychological hook designed to keep them logging in every single day. This can lead to "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out) if they go on vacation or have a busy school week.

If you love the look of Genshin but hate the gambling, or if your kid has already finished everything in Teyvat, check these out:

The gold standard. It’s a one-time purchase ($70) with hundreds of hours of content and zero loot boxes. It rewards creativity and engineering rather than spending.

Also by HoYoverse, this is a turn-based sci-fi game. It has the same Gacha mechanics as Genshin, so the same warnings apply, but it’s often considered a bit more "generous" with rewards.

The newest sibling in the HoYoverse family (released late 2024). It’s more urban, "street-style," and action-heavy. It’s very stylish but carries the same "Gacha" DNA.

A beautiful, indie alternative. It’s an open-world exploration game inspired by New Caledonia. It has that "Genshin feel" of gliding and exploring but is a wholesome, self-contained experience.

Check out our list of the best "Cozy Games" for kids

Instead of "That game is a scam," try these conversation starters:

Genshin Impact is a high-quality piece of media that isn't "bad" for kids in the way a violent or inappropriate movie might be. However, it is a financial and psychological obstacle course.

If your child is responsible and you’ve locked down the App Store spending, it can be a beautiful world for them to explore. But if you have a child prone to impulsive decisions or "collect-them-all" obsessions, Teyvat might be a very expensive place to visit.

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