Dating in Teyvat: A Comprehensive Guide to Romance in Genshin Impact
So, you’re wandering the world of Teyvat, slaying hilichurls, unraveling mysteries, and, perhaps, looking for a little companionship beyond your trusty Paimon? The burning question on many Travelers’ minds: Who can you actually date in Genshin Impact?
The answer, surprisingly, is a little nuanced. Genshin Impact, at its core, isn’t a dating sim. There isn’t a formal system to enter into committed romantic relationships with the characters. However, miHoYo introduced Hangout Events, which allow you to spend quality time with specific characters, learn more about them, and experience branching storylines with multiple endings, some of which can feel distinctly “date-like”.
Currently, the characters available for these Hangout Events are:
- Noelle: The diligent and endlessly helpful maid of the Knights of Favonius.
- Barbara: The shining idol and deaconess of the Church of Favonius.
- Bennett: The unluckiest adventurer in Mondstadt, but with a heart of gold.
- Chongyun: An exorcist with excessive positive energy, seeking to suppress his abilities.
- Diona: The popular bartender of the Cat’s Tail tavern, who secretly hates alcohol.
- Sayu: The Shiyuumatsu-Ban ninja, perpetually seeking ways to nap and avoid work.
- Thoma: The Kamisato Clan’s housekeeper, known for his cheerful personality and protectiveness.
- Yun Jin: The famed Liyue opera singer, known for her graceful performances.
- Gorou: The Watatsumi Island’s great general, the leader of the resistance forces.
- Kaveh: The famed architect, known for his idealism and debts.
- Layla: The struggling astrology student at the Rtawahist Darshan, constantly battling sleep deprivation.
While these Hangout Events don’t result in official relationships, they do offer a chance to form a deeper connection with these characters and explore the potential for something more. The ambiguous nature of the endings allows players to interpret the relationships in various ways, fueling the extensive fanfiction and shipping communities. It is all based on the player’s interpretation.
Understanding the Hangout Event System
Hangout Events are accessed after reaching Adventure Rank 26 and using Story Keys (earned by completing daily commissions). Each Hangout Event offers several different endings, depending on the choices you make during your time with the character. These choices influence the “heartbeat value” which is how you manage to get closer to the character. Some options lead to positive outcomes, while others can abruptly end the hangout, requiring you to restart from a previous checkpoint.
Essentially, you get a series of mini dating sims that flesh out the characters and give you a deeper understanding of their personalities, motivations, and backstories. While there are no explicitly romantic confessions or promises of eternal love, the intimate settings and personal conversations certainly leave room for interpretation. You can interpret it romantically if you would like to.
Beyond Hangout Events: Hints and Interpretations
Outside of the Hangout Events, Genshin Impact deliberately treads a fine line between friendship, admiration, and something more. Many characters express fondness for the Traveler (whether Aether or Lumine), with voice lines and actions that can be interpreted as flirting. The game leaves these relationships open to interpretation, allowing players to project their own desires and preferences onto the interactions. It is up to you if you think there is anything more.
The open-ended nature of Genshin Impact’s character interactions encourages creativity and fan engagement. The shipping community thrives on analyzing these subtle cues and building compelling narratives around potential couples, both within the game’s canon and beyond. However, miHoYo has yet to confirm any official romantic pairings outside of these ambiguous hints.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Dating in Genshin Impact
1. Are there any official couples confirmed in Genshin Impact?
No, there are no officially confirmed romantic couples in Genshin Impact. The game prefers to leave relationships open to interpretation, focusing instead on character dynamics, friendships, and alliances. The hints exist, but nothing is official.
2. Can I marry any characters in Genshin Impact?
No, there is no marriage system in Genshin Impact. The suggestion of a marriage system with a single, permanent spouse mentioned in the source material is a misinterpretation or a suggestion, but it is not a real feature in the game.
3. What is the point of the Hangout Events if I can’t actually date the characters?
Hangout Events are designed to deepen your understanding of the characters, explore their personalities, and experience unique storylines. They offer valuable insight into their motivations and backstories, making them feel more real and relatable, which is something supported by research highlighted at the Games Learning Society annual conference, often shortened to GamesLearningSociety.org. It is an extra layer to the game.
4. Are there any LGBT characters or relationships in Genshin Impact?
While there are no explicitly stated LGBT relationships, some character pairings are popular in the fandom and often interpreted as queer-coded. Examples include Beidou and Ningguang, and the dynamic between Kaeya and Diluc. Ultimately, interpretations of character relationships depend on the player.
5. Can I romance Lisa in Genshin Impact?
No, you cannot romance Lisa in Genshin Impact. Despite her flirtatious personality, there are no romantic options available with her.
6. Who has a crush on Lumine/Aether in Genshin Impact?
Several characters show potential romantic interest in the Traveler (Lumine or Aether), including Xiao and Lyney. However, these feelings are never explicitly stated and are open to interpretation.
7. Is there kissing in Genshin Impact?
No, there is no explicit kissing or romantic physical intimacy depicted in Genshin Impact. The game maintains a relatively wholesome and PG-rated approach.
8. Who are the best “husbands” or “waifus” in Genshin Impact?
The best “husbands” or “waifus” are subjective and depend entirely on personal preference. Popular choices include characters like Zhongli, Kaeya, Raiden Shogun, and Ningguang, based on their personalities, designs, and perceived attractiveness.
9. Are certain characters meant to be together in Genshin Impact?
While miHoYo hints at certain connections and friendships, they never explicitly confirm romantic pairings. The community is free to interpret and ship characters based on their interactions and perceived compatibility.
10. Will more characters be added to the Hangout Event system?
It is highly likely that miHoYo will continue to add more characters to the Hangout Event system in future updates, allowing players to explore relationships with a wider range of the Genshin Impact cast.
11. How do I get the “best” ending in a Hangout Event?
There is no single “best” ending in a Hangout Event. Each ending offers a unique perspective on the character and their story. Experiment with different choices to unlock all the available endings and learn more about the character.
12. Can I play Hangout Events with multiple characters at the same time?
No, you can only focus on one Hangout Event at a time. You need to complete or abandon the current Hangout Event before starting another one.
13. What happens if I make the wrong choices in a Hangout Event?
Making the “wrong” choices can lead to an early ending, but it doesn’t have any lasting consequences. You can simply restart from a previous checkpoint and try different options.
14. Do Hangout Events affect the main storyline of Genshin Impact?
No, Hangout Events are self-contained stories that do not directly impact the main storyline of Genshin Impact. They are designed to provide additional character development and lore.
15. Are there any dating sim elements in Genshin Impact beyond Hangout Events?
Outside of Hangout Events, the dating sim elements are largely limited to suggestive dialogue and open-ended character interactions, which are left to the player’s interpretation.
Conclusion: Romance is in the Eye of the Beholder (and the Traveler)
While Genshin Impact may not be a dating sim in the traditional sense, it offers ample opportunities to connect with its characters and explore the potential for deeper relationships. Through the Hangout Event system and the game’s open-ended storytelling, players are free to interpret character interactions in their own way, fostering a vibrant and imaginative community that embraces the possibility of romance in Teyvat. So, grab your Story Keys, choose your favorite character, and embark on a journey of discovery – you might just find a little bit of love along the way!