Instigator / Pro
8
1502
rating
40
debates
36.25%
won
Topic
#2811

Genshin Impact is Likely the Best Free-to-Play Game of All Time

Status
Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
0
6
Better sources
4
4
Better legibility
2
2
Better conduct
2
1

After 2 votes and with 5 points ahead, the winner is...

Benjamin
Tags
Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
3
Time for argument
Two days
Max argument characters
10,000
Voting period
One month
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Con
13
1777
rating
79
debates
76.58%
won
Description

Full Resolution: Genshin Impact is the Best Free-to-Play Game of All Time-- More Likely than Not

upon Undefeatable's mention, I tried the game myself and found an agreement with not only his premise, but also with the idea that it is the best free to play game of all time. "Best" includes plot, character, game play, soundtrack, art style, enjoyment, etc. Free to play means costing no money to officially download. (Does not include pirating, obviously)

For opponent to win they must name at least one game better than Genshin Impact and tell voters why it is better.

Round 1
Pro
#1
My argument is surprisingly simple. Countless reviews and players critically acclaim Genshin as one of the best F2P games of all time, and therefore it must be. What could matter more than how players think of the game?

There have been comparisons to Breath of the Wild, with the similarly astounding landscape and beautiful soundtrack (in addition to story). Now BoTW is one of the hallmark standards of fantasy RPG and already one of the best games of all time. (https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild)  To be compared to the best and come out on top proves Genshin's worth. As one review notes, "The fights ... are much more fun in 'Genshin Impact' than they are in 'Breath of the Wild,' and that's the biggest difference between the two games.". Indeed, with multiple different abilities and characters to use, it's definitive that the fighting system in Genshin would at least be on par with Link's abilities. 

Next, even PC Gamer is forced to reckon Genshin as one of the best free-to-play games of all time (https://www.pcgamer.com/best-free-pc-games/).Even though there are some stiff competitors, Genshin still arguably comes out on top with its countless hours of play and enjoyable characters. Genshin offers at least 43 hours of game play, and even more if you are a completionist (https://howlongtobeat.com/game?id=68133). I'd like Con to offer a free-to-play game that lasts you 80+ hours and onwards. 

Genshin is so great that it walked away with Google Play's Best game of the year award. (https://venturebeat.com/2020/12/01/google-plays-best-games-of-2020-genshin-impact-is-the-big-winner/#:~:text=Google%20Play's%20best%20games%20of%202020%20%E2%80%94%20Genshin%20Impact%20is%20the%20big%20winner&text=As%20part%20of%20its%20annual,of%20Best%20Game%20of%202020.) That's saying something. It still earns up to 6$ million dollars per day despite its free nature, out-beating the vast majority of other f2p games. (https://www.indiewire.com/2020/12/genshin-impact-video-game-industry-analysis-1234603048/) In terms of people who are willing to compensate, this game highlights that it is the best of the best. After all, if someone offers you services to you for free, but you still give them money, well, that's a true testament to skill. Combined with more than 10 million players, it's evident that Genshin is incredibly popular and well received.

Review geek further bolsters Genshin's game aspects. Not only are the fantastic unique places of the world mentioned, the real time elemental system based fighting is praised. Even though it has merely two out of seven finished areas, the surface only hints at what Genshin is truly capable of. Imagine we multiplied the playtime by 3.5 times. The combination of the fun puzzles and fighting would stretch on to give players the max value for their time. (https://www.reviewgeek.com/65906/what-is-genshin-impact-and-is-it-really-free-to-play/)

Not only is the gameplay hailed, the music is also wondrous. From a very well respected composer, (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5485251/) Genshin's soundtrack accompanies the game incredibly well. (https://www.abc.net.au/classic/programs/game-show/game-show-genshin-impact/12751696) You will find very few free to play soundtracks that have the atmosphere of an entire orchestra assisting your character. 

The Genshin Universe doesn't just stop at the game. The creators plan for widespread influence with comics, toys, and perhaps even a movie -- “We will continue to expand the Genshin universe by creating a line of comics, toys and maybe even a movie,” says Jin. Liu chimes in: “we want to create our own Marvel universe.” (https://www.forbes.com/sites/bensin/2020/12/02/following-apple-award-win-shanghai-developers-of-genshin-impact-hopes-to-build-its-own-marvel-universe/?sh=416a66616084) clearly, the game is not only ambitious but also has extensive impact on the people that goes beyond your regular free-to-play game. 

Game Informer summarizes the game quite well. With a big open fantasy world, great art and sound, and incredible replay able nature, Genshin is unrivaled by the vast majority of free games. (https://www.gameinformer.com/review/genshin-impact/genshin-impact-review-into-the-great-wide-open) Even though it is slightly hampered by money transactions, none of these are necessary to win the game, and the similarities to Breath of the Wild do not prove that it is a copy cat. It goes beyond, with different puzzles, story, and elemental interaction to prove that it is not just a free copy of Link's adventure. 
Con
#2
Thank you, seldoria. You are known for taking on impossible BoP's.


Introduction

Genshin Impact is the Best Free-to-Play Game of All Time-- More Likely than Not

PRO must prove that Genshin Impact has more than a 50%  chance of being the best Free-to-Play game of all time. PRO is the maker of extraordinary claims and bears the entire BoP. I only need to disprove his claim, I have no other game to promote, as he falsely suggests in the description. 

Definitions:

Best: excelling all others [merriam-webster]

All-time: the past, present, and future [ PRO talks about the future of the game, so the definition is established even without an official source ]


Thus, in order for PRO to win, he must prove that Genshin Impact has more than a 50% chance of being the best F2P game of the past present and future.

Thus, CON has at least three different BoP's:
  1. Genshin Impact is OBJECTIVELY excelling all other F2P games
  2. No other F2P game comes even close. (or else its more likely that GI is NOT the best game)
  3. No game in the future will ever become better

I will leave you with that.


OBJECTIONS

The Genshin Universe doesn't just stop at the game
OBJECTION: If we count the universe around the game then LEGO Star Wars or LEGO MCU is obviously better than Genshin Impact. 

As we are only talking about the game, the argument from PRO is invalidated and should be ignored.



Google Play's Best game of the year award
OBJECTION: That award is granted to a game every year - thus, if this is an argument, then the next year GI is NOT the best game, thus destroying PRO's resolution.




one of the best ... at least be on par ... one of the best ... out-beating the vast majority ... very few free to play soundtracks ... unrivaled by the vast majority
OBJECTION: All of PRO's arguments put Genshin Impact as ONE OF THE BEST. That is not even close to fulfilling PRO's BoP.




To be compared to the best and come out on top proves Genshin's worth 
OBJECTION: PRO is conflicted on whether or not the game is THE BEST or simply ONE OF THE BEST. PRO has himself provided reasons to doubt the resolution:
  • "it is slightly hampered by money transactions" ==> Thus reducing its F2P nature, putting it against such legends as Fortnite and Clash of Clans
  • "There are some stiff competitors" ==> Thus rendering the game UNLIKELY to be the truly best F2P game ever.


REBUTTALS

it is not just a free copy of Link's adventure
PRO has yet to prove this point. Regardless, games that similar cannot claim superiority over each other.


For opponent to win they must name at least one game better than Genshin Impact and tell voters why it is better.
Wrong. I have no BoP. PRO alone bears the burden of supporting the extraordinary claim.


To be compared to the best and come out on top proves Genshin's worth 
It proves that the game is GREAT. However, not a single source from PRO calls the game "the best F2P of all time". Thus, the above statement is NOT an accurate depiction of PRO's argument, it is merely a blind assertion. Also, how can he claim that it came out on top when it still hasn't even finished?


"Best" includes plot, character, game play, soundtrack, art style, enjoyment, etc.
Why these exact traits? Why not multiplayer, strategy, accessibility and animation? PRO has picked those specific traits in order to prove his point, it is an arbitrary decision that I do not agree with. I like RTS games, and Genshin Impact is clearly not better than than the games I play in being an RTS game. Thus, the game PRO claims to be the best ever is not so universal after all - defeating the resolution.


My argument is surprisingly simple.
You mean short. In order for PRO's claim to be verified, he needs to make a huge amount of assumptions, and come up with countless arguments to even have a chance.



ARGUMENTS

TRULY THE BEST?
PRO admits that his game contains in-game purchases. This allows for other legends to compete, such as Fortnite, Clash of Clans and League of Legends. Thus, since those games are way more popular they are therefore better if we apply PRO's own words: "What could matter more than how players think of the game?". As such, there are games which are more popular and thus Geneshin Impact is NOT the best game of all time. Similarly, if PRO wants to refer to the future, then future games can compete. PRO has taken on insane amounts of BoP if he wants to prove that no future game will outclass Geneshin Impact. Regardless, PRO has NOT fulfilled his BoP.

SUBJECTIVITY
PRO uses his own enjoyment as an argument. Well then, let me use my own subjective experience to prove my point. I like Tetris, thus, Tetris outclasses GI.

NO GAMES CAN BE BEST
For every feature, a game can implement the time runs out. This puts a limit on how much time a game can implement features. This objective truth by definition makes it impossible that any single game can be best in a lot of different ways. Thus, since the gaming community is never involved in a single category like the one GI fits into it is NOT evident that GI is the best game simply because it is currently the most popular inside that particular category. However, PRO will say that GI has a better combination of traits that make it more enjoyable for most people. I reply that he has yet to prove that, as only 10 million people play the game.


CONCLUSION
PRO has failed to support the resolution sufficiently. I have undermined his position and made impossible the category of "best game" to even exist.



Round 2
Pro
#3
Have another go
Con
#4
  • PRO thinks that I have a BoP to present a better game than Genshin Impact.
  • I don't. PRO has the BoP.
  • Since PRO has failed to uphold his BoP I have no reason to add more arguments.
  • Unless PRO fulfills his BoP I have won.

Round 3
Pro
#5
I'm sorry but I've been too busy and can't do this debate. Regardless, if Benjamin really believes Genshin is worse than Fortnite or Clash of Clans we can always have a rematch. Vote for opponent.
Con
#6
Fortnite has hundreds of millions of players. Genshin impact has 10 million. For that reason, we can reasonably assume that the former is a better game.

Thank you seldoria for this debate. Vote CON!