Player progression across levels is a core component of gaming, and leveling up, in most cases, requires gamers to commit to a "grind" for materials to meet specific prerequisites for advancement in their favorite titles. Grinds in games like Skyrim can often be repetitive, but the allure of unlocking new abilities and perks keeps players firmly glued to their screens. Developers try to find creative ways to keep players engaged through the grinding process, and the cream of the crop of the gaming industry like Elden Ring and Genshin Impact, which have garnered massive player bases since their release, are two games with outstanding success in this department. While these two AAA titles have fairly distinct approaches to grinding, it's only natural for fans to compare them to see which of the two giants has the edge in terms of excitement and progression.
The category of multiplayer role-playing games has received an injection of high-quality releases in recent years, with raving reviews of Genshin Impact sweeping across the world in 2020, followed by the earthshaking debut of Elden Ring in 2022. These two additions, despite their new dynamics, did not differ in principle from predecessors in the RPG category which require substantial effort to grind for materials. As Elden Ring is the younger of the two premier titles and arguably the more successful, fans should note what FromSoftware's developers did to make their flagship product stand out despite stiff competition in a crowded market.
Elden Ring's Grind Focuses on Player Battles
Elden Ring has garnered a reputation for being one of the most difficult games to conquer lately, and the level of grind the title requires to beat its elite bosses can give pause, albeit momentarily, to even the most seasoned gamers. To progress quickly across levels, players strive tirelessly to acquire Runes—Elden Ring's in-game currency—in any way possible to ease their journeys in the Lands Between.
To stack these Runes, players set about completing quests and defeating enemies across different locations on the map. Some of these locations, which are alternatively called Rune farming spots, are easier to traverse than others, as a few don't even require players to fight any mythical creatures to gain Runes. The nature of Rune farming in Elden Ring is a lot more inherently dynamic than in previous FromSoftware titles, too, due to its open world and nonlinearity.
Despite being the most common locations for players to level up their characters, Rune farms are not the only means to achieve character progression. Although widely considered unethical in the gaming community, some gamers use console command mods to speedrun their advancement, setting their characters' attribute levels to their heart's content. However, using mods breaches Elden Ring's unwritten PvP rules, and is a quick way to ensure a ban from its massive multiplayer community.
Returning to generally acceptable grinding methods, players can use a few items in Elden Ring to hasten the grinding process, like The Golden Scarab Talisman. This item boosts Runes earnings by 20 percent, proving to be one of the most valuable Talismans in Elden Ring. Another method for players to earn a few Runes is to join forces with other gamers in a boss battle. Helping other players defeat a boss is a less strenuous experience, as every participant in a victorious co-op battle gets a reward of approximately 25 percent of the Runes that would be gained from a solo victory.
Exploration is the Key to Genshin Impact's Grind
Genshin Impact, on the other hand, has a slightly different approach to grinding. In many other RPGs, repeatedly seeking out enemies to fight is the most profitable way to grind. The developers at HoYoverse, however, put a spin on the narrative and placed its stock of premium rewards in the exploration of Teyvat's map in Genshin Impact. Valuable items that give buffs of EXP such as Adventurer's Experience and Hero's Wit are littered across Genshin Impact, and finding these materials is the easiest method for players to level up.
Map exploration, although one of the most popular means, is just one of many avenues to grind in Genshin Impact. An often neglected method for player progression in RPGs, ironically, is advancement in the main plot. While Genshin Impact's main missions indisputably give a handsome payout in EXP and Adventure Rank, they usually aren't the first option for grinding due to their length and inflexibility, as only one main mission can be completed at a time.
As a result, despite being more engaging, gamers tend to gravitate to more repetitive tasks to farm points. Another option for players to quickly gain EXP points in Genshin Impact is through the completion of domains. Repeatable dungeons frequently appear across the map for players to explore, and each has distinguishing features that separate it from its counterparts.
Domains give players a preview of rewards ranging from Artifacts to Ascension materials, so gamers can decide if going through the dungeon is worth the trouble beforehand. Unfortunately, Domains also require a fee of 20 Resin for players to collect their rewards, and spending the game's currency is counterproductive to the grind due to how difficult it is to refresh without in-app purchases.
Elden Ring and Genshin Impact are trailblazers of the RPG category, and both are still drawing swathes of new gamers due to their immersive gameplay and innovative spins on grinding for materials. While Elden Ring places the majority of its grinding stock in repeated battles, Genshin Impact gives players a chance to explore the expansive world of Teyvat. Despite their differing approaches, the reviews from fans and critics alike show both developers are doing something right.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.