When Wuthering Waves dropped, the comparisons to Genshin Impact were expected. Both are open-world gacha ARPGs with anime art and team-based combat. But while Genshin basically shaped what modern gacha looks like, Wuthering Waves shows that the genre still has space to shift. In some really important areas, especially for people who actually play these games deep, there are areas where Kuro Games pulls ahead.
Five ways Wuthering Waves beats Genshin at its own formula
1. Combat Fluidity and Cancel Freedom
Image Credits: Kuro Games
Genshin’s combat is built around rotations and reactions, but Wuthering Waves feels way more hands-on. You’ve got real-time animation cancels, parries, perfect dodges, and swap combos that you can pull off mid-fight. Each character actually has a rhythm, and once you get it down, there’s a lot you can do with it.
In Genshin, it’s more like: press E, swap, maybe Q, wait. It’s still good, but doesn’t really change much once you’ve learned a rotation. Wuthering Waves doesn’t hold you in place. You react. You chain things. There’s more control, and it rewards fast hands and good reads. It’s not just using a character, you’re really playing them.
2. Traversal That Feels Limitless
Image Credits: Kuro Games
One of the bigger upgrades is how movement works. In Wuthering Waves, you can double jump, dash in the air, wall run, use grapple points, you move faster and more vertically than in Genshin. It’s fun just moving around.
In Genshin, you climb and glide. It works, but feels slower, especially when you’re just trying to get somewhere. There’s not much to do in-between. Movement is a tool. In Wuthering Waves, movement kinda becomes a system. You don’t just go from A to B. You find your own way, sometimes faster, sometimes cleaner.
3. Echoes Add a New Dimension to Builds
Image Credits: Kuro Games
The Echo system really changes the loop. You absorb monsters and use their abilities, which means every character can be tweaked a little. You want your DPS to heal in a pinch? You can slot in an Echo that does that. You want mobility on someone who doesn’t have it? There’s an Echo for it.
In Genshin, once you get a build, that’s pretty much it. You set the artifacts and talents and the role doesn’t shift. But Echoes make builds more flexible. You can cover weaknesses or push strengths depending on what you equip. Echoes aren’t just passive boosts. They’re actually part of your combat plan.
4. No Resin, No Problem, Real Grinding Allowed
Image Credits: Kuro Games
One thing that always slowed down Genshin is Resin. You run out, you’re done. Doesn’t matter if you have the time, the game says you’re finished. Want to fight the boss again? Wait until tomorrow.
Wuthering Waves just lets you grind. Early game has no resin. Later, there’s a stamina system, but it’s not that limiting. You can farm bosses, Echoes, materials as long as you want. That alone makes it more appealing to people who want to push fast and optimize early. If you’re someone who logs in to really play, not just do dailies, this is a huge win.
5. Endgame Is Here From Day One
Image Credits: Kuro Games
The big one: there’s stuff to do when you’re done exploring. Wuthering Waves launched with Tower of Adversity (hard fights, multi-floor), Depths of Illusive Realm (roguelike combat with upgrades), and Simulation Training. These are real systems, not filler.
Genshin had Abyss. And that’s kinda it, even now. Core players hit a wall, you max out characters, and there’s no real test except repeating Abyss for primos. Kuro Games gave players challenge from the start. Not everyone needs that, but people who stick around long term? They’re looking for something to beat. And now they have it.
Final Thought: More Than Just Looks
Genshin’s world is still huge, and it does some things really well. But if you break it down into systems, combat, builds, movement, progression, endgame, Wuthering Waves gives you more ways to play, not just collect. And that’s probably why a lot of long-time gacha players are paying attention.
