Genshin Impact update 3.0 came with all sorts of new quests, including the continuation of the main storyline as well as other side quests. But one particular quest is getting plenty of attention, with players either loving it or hating it.
The Aranyaka questline of Genshin Impact begins with a simple World Quest wherein the Traveler must save a Forest Watcher named Rana from a pair of attacking Fungi. However, as the questline progresses, it reveals more about the magical side of Sumeru, particularly about the plantlike creatures known as the Aranara. It’s one of the longest World Quests in Genshin Impact and has garnered mixed reviews from the community.
The Ups and Downs of the Aranyaka World Quests in Genshin Impact
First, it should be said that the Aranyaka questline is one of the most intriguing in the game, primarily because of how much it delves into the lore of Genshin Impact’s Teyvat. It reveals a lot about Sumeru and its more mystical side, but it also drops hints about other aspects of the game, even suggesting that Barbatos once traveled to Sumeru and serenaded the Aranara race. As such, it’s a worthwhile experience, especially for players interested in the lore.
However, the Aranyaka World Quests are a lengthy endeavor, with some players citing that it took them as much as ten hours to finish the whole series. And while long questlines aren’t an issue, it’s the packaging that can make or break a quest series. To some Genshin Impact players, this is where the Aranyaka questline fell flat.
For one, there’s the recurring problem of Genshin Impact’s needlessly long-winded dialogue. Players who aren’t too keen on the Aranyaka questline think that the dialogue could’ve been cut down considerably without losing out on any of the important lore. Aside from this, there are certain points wherein the quests become repetitive, particularly in the sections that emphasize the rule of three. While this works in establishing a theme, doing the same thing three times makes for a monotonous questline. And it makes players lose interest, despite the World Quest series having some pretty great rewards.
Another issue players have is that many of the exploration mechanics required to reveal the Sumeru map and collect all the Dendroculi are locked behind the Genshin Impact Aranyaka questline. One could argue that locking certain mechanics behind a quest shouldn’t be a problem in any game, but considering the sheer length of the Aranyaka questline, it’s no surprise that many players are annoyed by this decision.
On the flip side, there are players who absolutely adore the questline. Despite the World Quest series’ length, it tells a heartwarming story about the Aranara with an emotional payoff. And even though it lacks voiced lines, the narrative is interesting enough to spur players to continue its story. Some are even clamoring for HoYoverse to make Rana a playable character since she was such a memorable NPC in Genshin Impact.
All that said, the Aranyaka World Quest series would likely be far less divisive if HoYoverse added a crucial mechanic to the game: a skip feature for Genshin Impact cutscenes and dialogue. Because at the end of the day, not every Genshin Impact player is interested in the lore. Some players breeze through quests for their rewards, paying little attention to the story – and that’s okay. A skip button is a quality-of-life addition that allows casual players to play at the pace they want, while still allowing lore enthusiasts to take in every notable piece of dialogue. It’s a win-win solution that prevents any more divisive reactions to long-form content.
Genshin Impact is available now on Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, and a Nintendo Switch version is in development.