Genshin Impact 2024 in review: Natlan, Arlecchino, and more!

Source: HoYoverse

2024 is about to end, let’s look back on some of the most memorable moments in Genshin Impact for the year!

Genshin Impact may be in its 4th year since release, but it’s still bringing in fresh and exciting stories to keep its veteran fanbase deeply invested. 2024 has been particularly eventful for Genshin Impact, and can be attributed as a successful year for the game despite a few hiccups, what with the release of popular characters, a new nation, and a masterfully written Archon Quest chain to boot! 

Let's take a look at what this year brought Genshin Impact players:

Gaming’s dance at Lantern Rite

Genshin Impact never fails in delivering a poignant and emotional story during its Lantern Rite event, and this year was particularly relatable to players out there who may have struggled with getting the approval of their parents. 

Gaming, who also debuted as a playable character during this year’s Lantern Rite patch, has a strained relationship with his father due to the profession he chose. The two don’t see eye to eye at all as his father wants him to take over the family business, while Gaming wants to improve on his craft as an aspiring professional Wushou dancer. 

Nevertheless, Gaming does want his father’s acknowledgement of his life choices. At the end of Lantern Rite, Gaming shows his father just how passionate he is with his dream through a breathtakingly beautiful performance, which earns him his father’s approval.  

Arlecchino finally becomes a playable character

Arlecchino broke the internet when she was first marketed earlier in the year, not only winning the hearts of fans for her no-nonsense, girlboss attitude, but because she was also the second playable Fatui Harbinger behind Wanderer. 

Besides making Travelers scrounge up whatever Primogems they could in anticipation of her banner, Arlecchino’s debut also came with her story quest, which launched with a masterfully animated music video, an emotionally gripping story, and tons of tears to follow! 

Arlecchino’s banner also netted HoYoverse a successful month in sales; according to Sensor Tower, the company earned $119 million!

Natlan debuts as the sixth region of Teyvat 

Natlan, the nation of fire, debuted in the middle of the year, much to the anticipation and excitement of fans. The nation boasted tons of new features, new characters, and an expansion to Genshin Impact’s overarching storyline.

Although Natlan has been generally successful, the nation was subject to controversy and criticism within the fandom for alleged colourism and racism before its release, with a change.org petition even gaining over 51,000 signatures in an attempt to get HoYoverse to address the issue. Although no statement or action was ever explicitly made, Natlan has been one of the more vibrant nations Genshin Impact has released to date. 

Kachina and Mualani’s emotional duel 

Kachina and Mualani debuted as one of the first playable characters of Natlan, and won the hearts of many players due to their strong, wholesome friendship. Mualani acts more of like a very doting older sister to the young Kachina, and gently helps and guides her through her issues on self-confidence.   

When Kachina and Mualani face off during the final leg of the Pilgrimage of the Sacred Flame, Mualani respectfully goes all out on Kachina, believing in her will and strength to defeat her. And as Kachina does so, Mualani doesn’t even feel a centimeter of contempt or disdain toward her friend, and is genuinely happy for Kachina. This event solidified what wound up being a fantastic Archon Quest chain for Natlan!

Mavuika punches through the sky

Natlan’s Archon quest amped up the stakes with its dilemma this time around. If Fontaine had the threat of total decimation in the cards, Natlan was already in the process of being utterly destroyed by the Abyss. 

Mavuika, Natlan’s Archon, has been tirelessly planning for a way to save her nation from ruin, and even gains the participation and support of the Traveler in her endeavour. And on the version 5.1 Archon Quest, a long-standing theory hinted at by Scaramouche in version 1.2 about the sky of Teyvat being fake was finally confirmed as Mavuika literally breaks open the sky in a gripping cutscene.

This can only mean one thing: the story of Genshin Impact is nearing its climax! The fragments behind the false sky may point to the bigger picture that the writers have been painting throughout all every version of Genshin Impact, and it’s looking like we’re about to find out where it all leads in future versions. 

Honourable mentions

Although we’ve only gone into detail for 5 moments in Genshin Impact’s year in review, we also want to highlight a few honourable mentions:

• The Sabseruz festival in version 5.1 finally celebrates Nahida’s birthday;
• The Imaginarium Theatre was released, adding additional endgame content for dedicated players in version 4.7; 
• Cosmetic trails were released for a number of characters in version 4.8;
• Cloud Retainer, or Xianyun, was released as a playable character in version 4.4 alongside Gaming, becoming the fourth playable Adeptus since Zhongli, Xiao, and Ganyu was released;
• Version 4.4 also marked the release of a new area within Liyue known as Chenyu Vale.