Wuthering Waves vs Genshin Impact
Wuthering Waves vs Genshin Impact on PC: combat, open world, gacha pity, co-op and specs compared, with a clear answer on which free game suits you.
Contains partner links: we may earn a commission when you install a game, at no cost to you. How we make money
The short answer
- Pick Wuthering Waves if combat is what you play for: parries, dodges and well-timed character swaps, with a slightly kinder gacha (5★ within 80 pulls).
- Pick Genshin Impact if you want the biggest world to explore, elemental puzzles and years of content waiting — on a lighter PC.
- Both are free on Windows PC, with no PvP. Trying one doesn't stop you playing the other.
Side by side
| Wuthering Waves | Genshin Impact | |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | Kuro Games | HoYoverse |
| Combat | Fast: parries, dodges, swap combos | Elemental reactions: freeze, burn, electrify |
| World | Post-apocalyptic, from Jinzhou to the Rinascita archipelago | Teyvat: seven nations, each with its own look and music |
| Co-op | Up to 3 players (from Union Level 22) | Up to 4 players |
| Gacha pity | 5★ guaranteed within 80 pulls | 5★ guaranteed within 90 pulls |
| PvP | None | None |
| Minimum GPU | GTX 1060 / RX 570 / Arc A380 | GTX 1050 or Intel Iris Xe |
| RAM (min / recommended) | 16 GB / 32 GB | 8 GB / 16 GB |
| Storage | 150 GB, SSD recommended | 110 GB |
| Where to get it on PC | Official launcher, Steam, Epic | HoYoPlay launcher, Epic |
Specs: official Steam page (Wuthering Waves) and HoYoverse (Genshin Impact), October 2026. Pity: each game's banner rules.
Combat: the biggest difference
Genshin's fights are about combining elements: wet an enemy, then freeze it; set grass on fire; chain reactions across your team of four. It rewards planning your team more than reflexes.
Wuthering Waves is closer to a character action game: dodge or parry at the right moment, swap characters to chain their skills, and turn defeated enemies' powers into build pieces. It asks more of your hands, and it feels great when it clicks.
Exploring the world
Genshin's Teyvat is the benchmark: seven nations, each with its own culture, music and gods, plus years of side areas. Gliding off a cliff into a new region is still one of the best feelings in the genre.
Wuthering Waves' world is younger but moves fast: you start in Jinzhou, push out to the Black Shores, and version 2.0 opened Rinascita, an archipelago of city-states. Movement is quicker, built to get you to the next fight.
On your PC
Genshin is the lighter game: an integrated Intel Iris Xe or a GTX 1050 meets the minimum, and 8 GB of RAM is enough to start. Wuthering Waves needs a GTX 1060-class card, 16 GB of RAM and 150 GB on an SSD — it uses DirectX 12 and can add ray tracing on strong cards.
Full details: Wuthering Waves PC requirements & settings · Genshin Impact PC requirements & settings.
Which one should you play?
- You love action games and timing-based combat → Wuthering Waves.
- You want to play with friends → both work: Genshin takes up to 4 players, Wuthering Waves up to 3.
- Your PC is older or a laptop → Genshin Impact.
- You want the fairer gacha → Wuthering Waves, by a small margin (80 vs 90 pulls).
- You want the most content right now → Genshin Impact, after years of updates.
FAQ
Is Wuthering Waves better than Genshin Impact? It depends on what you play for: Wuthering Waves has the sharper combat, Genshin has the bigger world and more content.
Is Wuthering Waves harder to run than Genshin Impact? Yes. It needs a GTX 1060-class card, 16 GB of RAM and 150 GB of storage; Genshin starts at a GTX 1050 or Iris Xe with 8 GB of RAM.
Which has better pity, Wuthering Waves or Genshin? Wuthering Waves guarantees a 5★ character within 80 pulls; Genshin within 90.
Can I play Wuthering Waves with friends like Genshin? Yes, up to 3 players once you reach Union Level 22; Genshin Impact allows up to 4.
Are both games free on PC? Yes. Both are free to download and play on Windows PC.
