This article first appeared in Digital Edge, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on September 11, 2023 - September 17, 2023

Gacha games, a worldwide phenomenon, introduced the toy vending machine mechanic in games where players are encouraged to spend in-game currency to obtain their random in-game items. In the world of gacha games, HoYoverse is one of the top 10 global gaming companies that has garnered a massive community with its popular titles.

This year alone, HoYoverse has expanded to four games: Honkai Impact 3rd, Genshin Impact, Tears of Themis and Honkai Star Rail. These role-playing games (RPGs) give players different experiences in their different genres of gameplay with their immersive stories and gacha mechanics.

Here is a breakdown of the highlights and features of each of HoYoverse’s games that make them so well received by the gaming community.

Honkai Impact 3rd, a free-to-play action combat RPG released in 2016, was the first game release from HoYoverse. It uses the formulas of hack-and-slash and social simulation genres while incorporating elements of bullet hell, platforming, shoot ‘em up and dungeon crawling across multiple single-player and multi-player modes. The game takes inspiration from Bayonetta and Devil May Cry.

The game, influenced by Japan’s pop culture, is known for its reputable writing among HoYoverse games. The game is designed for players who prefer straightforward gameplay instead of focusing on exploration and collection.

Honkai Impact 3rd implements the gacha concept in obtaining characters, weapons and equipment to combat real-time enemies across battlefields.

Honkai Impact 3rd’s popularity led to the release of the anime series Cooking with Valkyries and an ongoing serialised manga of the same name. The game is currently available on mobile and PC.

Genshin Impact remains the most popular game made by HoYoverse, with 65 million active players as of 2023. Its open world mechanics allow players to venture across different regions of the game world Tevyat, which includes Mondstat, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru and the latest, Fontaine.

Genshin Impact offers a rich lore storytelling experience while also incorporating elements of an RPG into its free-to-play game. The game uses gacha mechanics too, in the collection of new characters and weapons.

It requires players to manipulate different elements to defeat enemies, which sets it apart from the mindless hack-and-slash genre. Genshin Impact’s popularity has led to HoYoverse expanding its influence into a manga and an upcoming anime adaptation with Ufotable.

The game is currently available on mobile, PS4, PS5 and PC.

Set in an alternative universe, Honkai: Star Rail builds itself on a set of new and returning characters from Honkai Impact 3rd. The latest game released by HoYoverse is a space fantasy RPG.

Players play as the Trailblazer, who travels from planet to planet on a spaceship-like train called the Astral Express. It currently has three major worlds with more in-game content to follow in future updates.

Honkai: Star Rail features a turn-based combat system that benefits those who are into strategy planning and combination in combat. The game takes elements from Genshin Impact in its artefact upgrading system and Honkai Impact 3rd with its story and character plot, which is climbing the charts in the gacha game community.

Furthermore, the development team of Honkai: Star Rail has integrated artifical intelligence applications to improve the facial appearance and behavioural patterns of characters, but it has said there would be no AI writing in the game as of now.

Honkai: Star Rail caters for players who enjoy turn-based dynamics and rich storytelling with a love for space fantasy. The game is available on PS4, PS5, mobile and PC.

Tears of Themis, HoYoverse’s only otome venture, has players play as Rosa, the female protagonist in a romance and detective game. Players will solve unusual cases together with four male love interests, Artem, Luke, Vyn and Marius as a new attorney.

Digitionary: Otome games are story-based video games that are targeted at women

The game implements cinematic interactive elements and player choices in the storyline. The game also has a prolific illustrator, known as TCB, who illustrates the appearance and aesthetic of the game.

The game is turn-based in battling debates and relies on strategy and the game’s weakness triangle to win debates. It has an auto-debate feature that automates repeated debates in the game.

The gacha element is implemented in the collection of cards, which players use to win court cases or debates. The game’s major storyline is free-to-play while exclusive content can either be unlocked through in-game currency or in-app purchases.

The linear mobile gameplay allows players to be immersed in its storyline, with video calls and texts sent to them by the four love interests.

Tears of Themis primarily appeals to lovers of otome games and visual novels and is currently only available on mobile.

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