The space fantasy turn-based RPG Honkai: Star Rail will be released on mobile and PC on April 26th.

Genshin Impact’s Follow Up Title Honkai: Star Rail Hits PC and Mobile April 26th

Get ready to travel into space aboard the flying express train, as Honkai: Star Rail will be released on April 26th for PC, Android and iOS, with pre-installation available on April 23rd. The title which is being developed by Hoyoverse is a follow-up to the massively successful online Action-RPG title Genshin Impact. The game will also be coming to platforms PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 “later”.

Unlike its predecessor though, Honkai: Star Rail uses turn-based combat rather than the action-orientated battles featured in Genshin. Players will explore an open world and collect different characters to boost their roster. The game has a sci-fi aesthetic, with anime-inspired visuals. The free-to-play game will be available on PC and mobile, with microtransactions as its main monetisation. While the games are unrelated to each other, this is the next title to be released by Hoyoverse.

Time to Battle

Recently Hoyoverse held a special program going over some finer details about turn-based battles in Honkai: Star Rail. Each character features their own abilities, with Basic Attack, Skill Attack and Ultimate as well as Talents which will be automatically triggered in combat. The Basic Attack will build up Skill Points, which can be spent on Skills. There are also Skills that do not require Skill Points to be used but can be unique to certain characters such as Arlan who can use HP in exchange. As the battle wages on, attacks and skills will build up energy which will go towards the character’s Ultimate. Usually, an ult can be unleashed in the same turn, performing some stunning animations.

But the character’s abilities are not limited to battle. Characters also have a special Technique which can be used before engaging in combat. For example Seele’s Technique uses stealth to remain undetected by enemies. While Welt’s Technique creates a “special domain” which can slow down enemy movement. Some of these Techniques can be used to gain the upper hand before the battle starts.

Free to Play Model

Gaining characters is also similar to Genshin, whereby the player can use Warps to summon characters. One banner previewed for version 1.0 showed that for every 10 Warps, there is a guaranteed 4-star or above character. If you’re unfamiliar with gacha-styled games, characters are given a star rating, 5 being the best. 4-star characters are also good to have, as these can be as support characters or to round out a team.

Of course, there is some luck involved in what you get, but a pity system is usually in place to allow for better odds once you’ve pulled a certain number of times. Genshin gives quite a generous amount of Primogems which can be earned in-game as well as during events. Honkai: Star Rail could very well have a similar design with Warps, which would make it more friendly to those who aren’t interested in whaling.

Gaining new characters isn’t necessary to complete the main story, but it may prove useful in more challenging content. As each character has their own special Technique, some may be more compelling than others to summon.

Honkai: Star Rail version 1.0 “The Rail Unto the Stars” will officially launch on April 26 at 10:00 (UTC+8)!

Thanks for your patience, Trailblazers. The pre-installation will start on April 23!
Pre-register Now: https://t.co/5Ch5B8m8I8#HonkaiStarRail #BoardingPreparation pic.twitter.com/rnRZn8fWny

— Honkai: Star Rail (@honkaistarrail) March 24, 2023

Challenging Content

The Forgotten Hall will be the game’s more challenging mode, pitting players through different stages limited by “Cycles”. If you are unable to complete the battle within the limited number of Cycles available, you will fail. The stage will present different conditions, and rewards will depend if you meet them. For example by not having any downed characters, winning with at least 20 cycles left etc.

Another interesting mode is the Simulated Universe, a sort of maze-type mode with roguelike features. Players can try different team setups to overcome the more difficult enemies. Completing it for the first time will grant players a 4-star character, Herta. Players also gain points to use on weekly rewards.

Honkai: Star Rail even has its own Fight Club, with different tournaments. Pitting players against random enemies with a certain set of rules. Earning points and ranks during the time-limited event.

All Aboard the Star Rail Express

The game has already gathered quite some interest, gaining over 2 million in sign-ups before the title has even launched. Honkai Star Rail is a new addition to the Honkai universe, taking place in an alternate universe from Honkai Impact 3rd. The game follows the journey of a Trailblazer aboard the Astral Express in a sci-fi open world. While players will encounter some familiar faces from the previous title, they will also meet alternate versions of characters. Assembling a team of fighters, players will engage in tactical battles using their special combat abilities. Honkai Star Rail aims to attract both new and old fans of the franchise.

With the success of Genshin Impact, it is a wonder if Honkai Star Rail will follow suit with gaining traction. There are some similarities between the game’s monetisation method, hybrid PC/mobile platforms and as a gacha character collector. It could attract those looking for a mix of open-world exploration and turn-based combat rather than fast-paced battles. Genshin has added a lot of different concepts from a mini-card game to player housing. Whether this title will be as vast is too soon to tell, but there’s definitely potential to expand.

Honkai: Star Rail will launch April 26th for PC, iOS and Android, with pre-installation available on April 23rd.

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For a rundown of recent RPG news find it here in Top RPG News Of The Week: March 26th (Elden Ring, Lords Of The Fallen, Starfield And More!)