It’s hard to ignore Hilichurls. They’re one of the most common, basic enemies in Genshin Impact, and they take on many forms that the player may find throughout their travels from the very beginning of the game. Personally, I felt extremely uncomfortable when they were introduced in the plot. Everything about their design is so blatantly inspired by Indigenous peoples, from their attire, to their social interactions, and especially their settlements. 

Here are a few articles that help explain:

https://www.ginx.tv/en/genshin-impact/genshin-impact-players-call-for-boycott-amidst-hilichurls-controversy

https://www.newsweek.com/genshin-impact-critics-call-boycott-racism-pedophilia-claims-1581235

See time stamp 1:30 in this video for clip of designer referencing indigenous peoples dance

The inclusion of Indigenous cultures wouldn’t be an issue if they weren’t portrayed so negatively. Hilichurls are described using words like “monsters” consistently throughout the game, and you are rewarded for fighting and killing their kind. It’s disgusting, even though it’s an animation of fictional beings on your screen. 

Nowadays, it’s very common on the internet for people to use the rhetoric “fiction doesn’t affect reality”. However, it is important that we do not excuse dehumanizing portrayals of marginalized groups like this in popular media. Sure, the way Hilichurls are portrayed in Genshin Impact isn’t going to convince teenage fans to massacre indigenous people in the real world. But depictions like this perpetuate dangerous stereotypes and rhetoric that do lead to hate crime and discrimination against marginalized people. We mustn’t forget how powerful propaganda is. And even if this game was guaranteed to have no effect on the mindset of any player whatsoever, it’s still an offensive portrayal of real people and may reopen old wounds and trauma from discrimination that these very real people have faced. 

It is not necessary for these enemies to be designed this particular way. Plenty of fantasy worlds have enemies that aren’t built upon racist stereotypes, and even Genshin Impact has monsters like slimes that don’t appear to be inspired from any human cultures. I know this is asking for a lot; it will not be easy to redesign creature models, idle animations, architecture, and item drops. But I implore Mihoyo to make this change. There is no good reason for you to have used the perversion of a marginalized group as a common enemy in your game. 

If you feel pressed for ideas, here are a few:

-devils or demons as portrayed in Christian renaissance paintings

-crow-like humanoids reminiscent of bubonic plague doctors

-giant insectoid creatures, especially with the variety of forms they can take

-evil creatures from Greek and Roman mythology, such as harpies, sphinxes, chimeras, and gorgons

-sentient mannequins or statues

-classic werewolves or zombies