Honkai Star Rail release date, gameplay details, platforms & more
Honkai: Star Rail is the latest title in the Honkai franchise from HoYoverse, bringing its chaotic blend of anime visuals and different game genres to space in a tactical role-playing game.
First revealed back in October 2021 to a strong fan reception from players who enjoyed the similarities to HoYoverse's other title Genshin Impact, it features an open-world design, dungeon-crawling gameplay, and turn-based combat.
As an eclectic experience as per miHoYo's usual philosophy on design, here's everything we know about when Honkai: Star Rail released, as well as a rundown on the platforms it's available on.
Honkai Star Rail release date
Honkai: Star Rail was initially released on April 26, 2023, for Windows and Mobile devices to much critical acclaim.
However, console players are currently still unable to access the game, with a PlayStation 5 version due to release on October 11, 2023, although a release date for the PlayStation 4 version still isn't set in stone.
So, if you want to play Honkai: Star Rail at all, it currently has to be either on your PC or on your mobile device, whether that be iOS or Android.
All Honkai Star Rail trailers
The game's reveal trailer came in October 2021, showcasing a variety of environments and characters, while also alluding to a mystery that it seems you will spend part of the game uncovering. It starts in space as we see an interstellar train pass by before cutting to a first-person perspective of someone inside the train trying to catch stars. The following parts of the trailer show a series of environments, ranging from a snowy mountaintop, a crumbling city with European architecture, an industrial town, and much more.
It also hints at many of the gameplay elements that were later revealed to the public, showing scenes of characters freely exploring, and someone opening a chest, along with heavily stylised and vibrant combat.
The second trailer for the game came during Summer Game Fest 2022, where it revealed a new world that players will get to explore.
It began on the Herta Space Station as an unknown character monologued to (who we assume) is the player character, speaking of how we would encounter allies that treat us like family and go on adventures in the near future. The new world we get a glimpse of only stays on screen for around a second, but it displays some East-Asian architecture that sets itself apart from the previously revealed world.
Closer to the launch of Honkai: Star Rail, fans were treated to a release trailer, which showcased everything that fans could expect to experience in the new free-to-play game. From introducing its characters and world to showcasing some of the game's gorgeous cinematics, it was the perfect way to get fans excited for launch day.
- Here's the full voice cast list of Honkai: Star Rail
Honkai Star Rail gameplay details
Click to enlargeWhile the game has some similarities with Genshin Impact, there is enough there to set itself apart. Firstly, it does have open world zones, dungeon exploration, and a vibrant art style of something like Genshin, but the combat and setting are very different.
Honkai: Star Rail is ostensibly sci-fi: spaceships, planet-killing lasers, and even mechs are all here, but there's still a regal and almost Dune-like appearance to the characters and environments. It's set in the same universe as the Honaki Impact 3rd game, but it has its standalone story, and fans of the previous game will recognise some returning characters.
The game also features a turn-based combat system in the vein of classic Final Fantasy. During gameplay, you can control up to four different characters to make up your team, using their different abilities and weaponry together in combat to gain victory. It comes with all the typical aspects you would expect, with moves to directly attack the enemies, and supporting abilities such as heals and buffs.
Each character has their own basic attack (based on their main weapon), a skill, an ultimate, a talent, and a technique. Over the game, you can customise these for the different characters as they level up, and you acquire new gear from shops or by scouring dungeons. Characters also have an elemental type: Physical, Fire, Ice, Lightning, Wind, Imaginary, or Quantum.
The story sees you taking on the role of someone who has been implanted with a Stellaron, a.k.a. 'the seed of ruin.' The person who did this to you is aptly named Destruction, who is an Aeon, a type of god creature in the Honkai universe, so you will set out with allies to stop him from destroying all civilisation.
- Find out here if Honkai: Star Rail is free to play
All Honkai Star Rail platforms
Click to enlargeThe game is currently available to play on Android, iOS, and PC for free.
As mentioned, PlayStation versions of Honkai: Star Rail are on the way, with a concrete release date for the PS5 version fast approaching in October 2023. There's no news on when the PS4 version will drop just yet, but we will update this article when we know more.
That's everything you need to know about the Honkai Star Rail, including the release date, gameplay details, platforms and more.
For additional Honkai: Star Rail guides, give our homepage a visit. We also have a guide about how much storage space the game takes up on your PC and mobile device.