Tower of Fantasy and Genshin Impact have both made major splashes in the open-world anime RPG scene. With their gorgeous graphics and vast landscapes to explore, these games immediately draw comparisons. While they share some mechanics under the hood, Tower of Fantasy and Genshin Impact also diverge in key ways. This guide will break down the similarities and differences so you can decide which of these titans of the genre is the best fit for you.
Like long-lost siblings separated at birth, Tower of Fantasy and Genshin Impact have quite a bit of shared DNA encoded in their game systems.
Stamina Systems That Keep You Moving at a Steady Clip
Both games incorporate stamina systems that limit how much you can climb, swim, sprint, and glide before your character becomes winded. This adds a layer of strategy to traversing the world. You can’t just endlessly scale mountains or swim across oceans without occasionally coming up for air.
Wide Open Worlds Dotted With Ominous Towers and Waypoints
The open worlds of these games are vast oases begging to be explored. Ominous towers dot the landscapes, offering fast travel points when activated. Waypoints also unlock routes across the biomes. Along the way, you’ll stumble upon wanderers, bustling cities, deep dungeons, and hulking world bosses.
Elemental Reactions Add Spice to Combat
Battles come alive thanks to elemental reactions. Mixing fire, water, lightning, or other elements creates explosive results. Finding combos that complement your playstyle provides a satisfying strategic layer.
Artifacts and Matrices to Boost Your Heroes
Both games offer equipment systems where you can equip artifacts or matrices to give your characters bonuses. Mixing and matching these for various stat boosts and set effects is key to maximizing your damage output.
Character Designs That Feel Like Long-Lost Cousins
Some of the characters in these games seem suspiciously similar. The brooding Diluc and fiery King could pass for relatives. And the bubbly companion characters Paimon and Mia might as well be twins!
Where the Games Diverge: Key Differences You Should Know About
Despite their similarities, Tower of Fantasy and Genshin Impact differ in some important respects. These key distinctions may tilt you towards one game over the other.
Gacha and Monetization – Tower of Fantasy Is More Free-to-Play Friendly
Tower of Fantasy has a more generous gacha system, where your pity doesn’t reset after getting a high rarity character. You also get more free currency compared to Genshin Impact. For budget-conscious gamers, this is a big perk.
Endgame Content – Tower of Fantasy Offers More Variety
Once you’ve explored the world and built your teams, what is there to do? Tower of Fantasy provides more robust endgame content with various modes to grind, like Bygone Phantasm and Void Rifts. Genshin Impact basically only has Spiral Abyss.
Story and World – Genshin Impact’s Is Far Superior
Let’s be real here. Genshin Impact’s story, music, and world-building are on another level compared to Tower of Fantasy. The environments are dripping with lore and a sense of history. Tower of Fantasy’s world feels more generic and grindy.
Exploration – Genshin Impact Makes It More Rewarding
Tied to the world-building, Genshin Impact makes exploration more rewarding thanks to better puzzles, hidden chests, and secrets to uncover. There is a sense of mystery and surprise to exploring. Tower of Fantasy’s world is comparatively flat.
Multiplayer and Social – Tower of Fantasy Leans In Harder
With customizable housing, shared open-world bosses, and PvP modes, Tower of Fantasy cranks the multiplayer aspects up a notch compared to Genshin Impact. For players craving an MMO feel, this social environment provides vibrant communities.
Overall Polish – Genshin Impact Sets the Gold Standard
At the end of the day, Genshin Impact is a remarkably polished product that oozes quality. The animations, voicework, writing, and sheer level of detail make it the undisputed king of anime RPGs right now. Tower of Fantasy, while still great fun, has some jankiness around the edges by comparison.
Unique Mechanics – Aerial Combat in Tower of Fantasy
One truly unique mechanic Tower of Fantasy introduces is the ability to take battles to the skies. While gliding around in Genshin, you’re basically a sitting duck. The aerial combat in Tower of Fantasy adds a thrilling new dimension.
Which Open World RPG Is Right For You?
So which of these anime-inspired paradises should you embark upon? Well, it comes down to your preferences as a gamer.
If you crave a best-in-class single-player experience and enjoy exploring lovingly-crafted worlds, Genshin Impact is likely the better bet. Its attention to detail and storytelling is simply top-notch.
But if playing socially and diving into endgame group challenges sounds more enticing, then Tower of Fantasy will probably click with you. Its robust multiplayer offerings cater well to players who want that MMO fix.
At the end of the day, these are both stellar titles that showcase the very best of what open-world RPGs can offer. With their rich worlds to delve into, whichever one you choose will provide hours upon hours of adventure. Just keep in mind their unique strengths and weaknesses, and you’re sure to have a blast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which game has better waifus and husbandos?
Can you play Tower of Fantasy on PC?
How do the battle passes compare?
Is PvP supported in Genshin Impact?
In Closing
Tower of Fantasy and Genshin Impact gift explorers with anime-inspired paradises brimming with adventures. Which one resonates with you comes down to your playstyle preferences. Genshin offers unmatched worldbuilding and exploration for solo gamers. Tower injects more multiplayer and aerial combat spice into the formula. Ultimately, we’re fortunate these AAA open-world RPGs exist to complement each other and push the genre forward. Just dive in and enjoy whichever incredible journey calls to you!
