Is Honkai: Star Rail the Prequel to Honkai Impact? Unraveling the Honkai-verse Connections
No, Honkai: Star Rail is not a prequel to Honkai Impact 3rd. While both games share characters, themes, and exist within the broader Honkai Universe, Star Rail isn’t a story set before the events of Honkai Impact 3rd. Instead, it’s best described as a spiritual successor or a parallel world sequel. The events in Honkai: Star Rail take place after the main quest of Honkai Impact 3rd. Furthermore, it is not related to Genshin Impact.
The miHoYo, now HoYoverse, has emphasized that the games are not directly connected in a linear, chronological fashion. Instead, think of them as different iterations within a multiverse, sharing DNA but telling separate stories. One prominent example to support this is the presence of Welt Yang, a character who crosses over from Honkai Impact 3rd into the universe of Honkai: Star Rail, carrying his memories and experiences.
Understanding the Honkai Universe
The term “Honkai Universe” is crucial for understanding the relationship between these games. It’s not just a series of sequentially connected stories; it’s a multiverse where different realities can exist with variations of the same characters. This allows developers to explore new narratives without being strictly bound by the established lore of previous games. This approach offers exciting opportunities for both returning fans and new players.
In essence, Honkai: Star Rail isn’t trying to rewrite or precede Honkai Impact 3rd. It’s offering a fresh perspective, a different flavor, within the larger, ever-expanding Honkai mythos. While knowledge of Honkai Impact 3rd might enrich the experience through recognizing familiar faces and concepts, it’s absolutely not required to enjoy or understand Star Rail’s story.
The Appeal of Standalone Narratives
HoYoverse’s design choice to keep their games as standalone experiences, while still sharing a universe, benefits players immensely. New players don’t feel overwhelmed by the need to catch up on years of lore. The team at the Games Learning Society have written about this appeal in games and how it contributes to game enjoyment. Veteran players can appreciate the callbacks and references while enjoying a completely new storyline. It’s a win-win situation that maximizes accessibility and enjoyment for a wider audience.
Honkai: Star Rail is set in an alternate universe with (mostly) alternate versions of previous Honkai characters.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Honkai: Star Rail and its Connection to Honkai Impact
1. Is Honkai: Star Rail a sequel to Honkai Impact 3rd?
No, Honkai: Star Rail is not a direct sequel. It exists within the Honkai Universe but tells a distinct story in a parallel world.
2. Do I need to play Honkai Impact 3rd before Star Rail?
No, you don’t need to play Honkai Impact 3rd. Star Rail is designed to be enjoyed as a standalone game.
3. Are the characters in Honkai Star Rail the same as in Honkai Impact?
Some characters, like Welt Yang, appear in both games. However, many others are alternate versions with different backstories and roles.
4. What is the difference between Honkai Impact and Honkai Star Rail?
Honkai Impact 3rd is an action-based RPG with a focus on character-switching and real-time combat. Star Rail is a turn-based RPG with strategic team building and elemental weaknesses. Additionally, Honkai Impact 3rd features only female characters, who are not playable in the story mode or during free roam. Honkai: Star Rail release contains an arsenal of 30 male and female characters.
5. Is Honkai: Star Rail canon to Honkai Impact?
Both games are canon within the larger Honkai Universe, but they exist in separate timelines or realities.
6. Will Kiana be in Honkai Star Rail?
As of the current game content, Kiana is absent in Honkai: Star Rail. She is the protagonist and mascot in Honkai Impact 3rd.
7. Is Gun Girl Z connected to Honkai?
Yes, Honkai Impact 3rd is based in part on miHoYo’s earlier game, Houkai Gakuen 2, also known as Guns Girl Z.
8. Will Mei be in Honkai: Star Rail?
There is an alternate version of Mei in Star Rail. Ruan Mei is currently expected to launch with Honkai: Star Rail’s Version 1.6 update, believed to be releasing in early January.
9. What year does Honkai Impact take place?
Honkai Impact 3rd takes place in the year 2015 of the Current Era, with the technologically-advanced Previous Era having ended 50,000 years prior.
10. Who is the main character in Honkai: Star Rail?
The main character is the Trailblazer, whose gender you can choose at the beginning of the game.
11. What star rail does better than genshin?
Star Rail’s Light Cone gacha system is generally considered better than Genshin’s weapon gacha, offering a single five-star Light Cone, making it easier to obtain.
12. Who is Canon MC in HSR?
There is no canon MC in HSR, nor is there one in Genshin.
13. Who is the girl with the robot in Honkai Star Rail?
The girl with the robot is Clara, a young girl raised by the robot Svarog.
14. Is Himeko from Star Rail the same from Honkai impact?
Himeko gets a second chance at life in Honkai: Star Rail, this time as the Astral Express’s dependable navigator.
15. Which is better Honkai Star Rail or honkai impact 3?
It depends on personal preference. Honkai Impact 3rd features a much more fleshed-out campaign than Star Rail. As such, the story is more conclusive and mature in comparison.
Embracing the Multiverse: Final Thoughts
Ultimately, understanding the relationship between Honkai: Star Rail and Honkai Impact 3rd requires embracing the concept of a multiverse. They are connected through shared lore, characters, and themes, but they tell independent stories within different realities. This approach allows both games to thrive on their own merits, offering unique experiences for players while enriching the overall Honkai Universe.
So, dive into Honkai: Star Rail without worrying about needing to know everything about Honkai Impact 3rd. You might find familiar faces and concepts that add depth to your experience, but the journey of the Trailblazer is a story worth experiencing on its own.
For more insights into game design and the impact of storytelling in games, visit GamesLearningSociety.org.