Is Honkai: Star Rail a Sequel to Honkai Impact 3rd?

Honkai: Star Rail might be a bit confusing, given everything about this HoYoVerse game makes it seem like it might be a Honkai Impact 3rd sequel. It isn’t, but it is completely understandable if you saw the similarities and thought so. So let’s go over what’s going on and why it looks so familiar.

So what makes Honkai: Star Rail seem like a sequel to Honkai Impact 3rd?

Honkai: Star Rail a completely different game, and it’s in a totally different genre. It is a turn-based RPG, while Honkai Impact 3rd is more of an action game with RPG elements. However, the two games are connected to each other. They’re in the same “universe,” however.

This also means you’ll see the same characters in both games, but they’ll be different people with new roles, motivations, and perhaps even personalities. Good examples of this are Bronya, Himeko, Kafka, Li Sushang, Natasha/Raven, Seele, and Welt Yang, who are all in the game at launch. Carole also appeared in an early teaser for the new HoYoVerse game.

Do I need to play Honkai Impact 3rd before Honkai: Star Rail?

Nope! It might help you appreciate Honkai: Star Rail‘s character reappearances if you play Honkai Impact 3rd first. It also could help you spot future character similarities or commonalities suggesting the idea of connected worlds. But this is an entirely new game and you can go in fresh. This also means you don’t need to get into Genshin Impact or Tears of Themis, the developer’s other games, beforehand either.

The Honkai: Star Rail PC and mobile release date is April 26, 2023, and it will also come to PlayStation consoles like the PS4 and PS5. Honkai Impact 3rd is available for the PC and mobile devices.