Burned Out in 2023: The Repetitive Grind of Honkai Star Rail and Genshin Impact

Two highly popular games from HoYoverse, Honkai: Star Rail and Genshin Impact, have amassed large player bases, but despite their popularity, some players have begun experiencing burnout due to certain aspects of the games. This article will explore the reasons behind the repetitive grind that has led to player frustration and provide potential solutions to keep the games fresh and exciting.

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Genshin Impact

In this section, we will delve into the specific aspects of Genshin Impact that have contributed to the sense of repetition among players and explore potential solutions to inject new life and excitement into the gameplay experience.

Boring Repetition and Missed Opportunities

Genshin Impact’s vast open world has captivated players with its stunning landscapes and engaging storylines. However, as time progresses, players find themselves completing repetitive quests and activities, leading to monotony. Key issues include the lack of visibility of main characters in the open world, boring NPCs with limited variety, and tedious minigames. Additionally, the Spiral Abyss’s reliance on the meta-game restricts players from experimenting with different team compositions.

To rejuvenate the experience, developers should create models and dialogues for the main characters and have them appear in the open world regularly. Introducing more diverse NPCs, updating minigames with new mechanics, and periodically changing enemy compositions in the Spiral Abyss would breathe new life into the game.

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Lack of Exploration Goals and Easy Battles

Genshin Impact initially thrills players with its exploration opportunities, but as they uncover all areas, the motivation to explore further wanes. There is a need for incentives like hidden missions and unique rewards in unexplored regions. Furthermore, daily missions and battles become too repetitive for seasoned players, lacking the challenge they desire.

To address this issue, developers should create incentives for ongoing exploration, such as unlocking new areas and rewarding players for revisiting previously discovered locations. Introducing new and challenging daily missions and enemies will engage players and keep the experience fresh.

Excessive Resin Dependency

The heavy reliance on Original Resin, required for various in-game activities, frustrates players with limited daily usage. Players are forced to wait or spend money to replenish Resin, hindering their progress.

Decreasing the amount of Resin needed and shortening the recharge time would alleviate this burden on players, allowing them to engage in more activities without feeling restricted.

Honkai: Star Rail — A Promising Game with a Shallow Core

Honkai: Star Rail has generated excitement with its compelling narrative, engaging gameplay, and excellent character development. However, certain aspects hamper the game’s potential. The storyline, while immersive, can become tedious at times due to unskippable dialogues and overwhelming terminology. Additionally, the progression being locked behind player levels and the complex map interface pose challenges for players.

Developers should provide an option to skip dialogues that players have already read to enhance the overall flow of the game. Simplifying the lore delivery and making the map interface more user-friendly would improve the player experience.

Related: 10 Best Ways to Farm Primogems in Genshin Impact

The Flawed Experience System

The typical RPG experience system, where players level up by simply playing the game and gaining experience points, is a fundamental aspect of the genre. In Honkai: Star Rail, however, players acquire experience by spending specific items, adding an unnecessary extra step to the levelling process. While experience items can be obtained through quests and combat, the real issue arises with the level cap. Every ten levels, players must use character-specific items to “Ascend”, and progress further, creating a tedious and time-consuming levelling process.

One of the most frustrating aspects of Honkai: Star Rail’s levelling system is the plethora of items required for character progression. Players must manage elemental materials, rare enemy drops, upgrade materials, Light Cones, and path-specific materials. This convoluted system not only confuses players but also forces them to endure multiple menu clicks and grind through daily energy limitations.

Gacha Mechanics: A Double-Edged Sword

As a gacha game, Honkai: Star Rail encourages players to collect a wide array of characters with low drop rates. While unlocking new characters can be exhilarating, it also adds to the grinding burden. Players find themselves torn between levelling up their existing characters and investing time in new ones. The complexity of the ascension system and the pressure to unlock and level multiple characters sap the fun out of the game, transforming it into a repetitive and money-driven ordeal.

The game’s design, intentionally time-consuming and money-focused, revolves around keeping players engaged and coming back daily. This approach allows the developers to capitalise on in-game purchases, especially gacha pulls. While Honkai: Star Rail does offer engaging combat and outstanding writing, players can’t escape the feeling that the game is purposefully designed to exploit their time and money.

A dedicated Honkai: Star Rail player recently demonstrated the extent of grinding required to obtain nearly 300 free pulls worth of resources in just one week. Despite the generous free-to-play rewards at the game’s launch, the post-launch content slows down resource accumulation significantly. Players find themselves constantly fighting the fear of missing out, as repeatable dailies and weeklies offer fewer resources.

Conclusion

Both Honkai: Star Rail and Genshin Impact have garnered immense popularity for their unique qualities and captivating narratives. However, the repetitive grind in these games has led to burnout for some players. Implementing the suggested solutions, such as introducing fresh content, diversifying character interactions, and reducing gameplay restrictions, will revitalise the gaming experience, allowing players to enjoy these titles without feeling overwhelmed by repetition. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Is Better: Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail?

Ultimately, the better game between Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail depends on individual preferences. Players who enjoy open-world exploration, real-time combat, and character collection may lean towards Genshin Impact. On the other hand, those who prefer turn-based RPG gameplay and engaging storytelling may find Honkai: Star Rail more to their liking. Both games have their merits and offer unique experiences, making them enjoyable choices for different types of players.

Which Game Offers a More Challenging Gameplay Experience?

Honkai: Star Rail tends to offer a more challenging gameplay experience due to its turn-based RPG mechanics, which require strategic planning and decision-making in battles. Genshin Impact also has challenging content, but its real-time combat system may be more accessible to players who prefer action-oriented gameplay.

Are the Gacha Mechanics Similar in Both Games?

Both games use gacha mechanics for character and item acquisition, but there are some differences in how they are implemented. Genshin Impact focuses on character wishes, while Honkai: Star Rail may have its gacha system for obtaining characters and weapons.