Summary
Honkai: Star Rail,the fourth installment in the Honkai series, is an upcoming free-to-play 3D role-playing video game developed and published by HoYoverse. As a sequel toHonkai Impact 3rd, it features both brand-new characters and alternate versions of existing characters from the previous game, along with returning characters from other HoYoVerse games. This is a trend players can notice inGenshin Impactas well, withcharacters like Yae Mikoand Raiden Shogun (Ei) essentially having their Honkai impact 3rd counterparts like Yae Sakura and Raiden Mei amongst many other.
Fans of HoYoVerse games, includingGenshin Impact, willnotice some similarities between the games, such as the gacha system and character advancement. In fact, even with the initially released characters inHonkai: Star Rail, players can already see striking resemblances to characters fromGenshin Impact, such as Clara resembling Klee. With its unique universe and diverse set of characters,Honkai: Star Railis sure to be an exciting addition to the HoYoVerse franchise.
Updated on March 3rd, 2024 by Elara Leclair:With more characters being added to the Honkai: Star Rail’s playable roster, players are noticing increasing similarities between these characters and existing ones from the HoYoVerse. Many hope to see their favorite characters from other games in the franchise added to Honkai: Star Rail. Some speculate that certain characters may be expies of others, with popular theories focusing on characters like March 7th. While recent announcements have not hinted at the return of previous characters except for Acheron, who bears a resemblance to Raiden Mei / Raiden Shogun, expectations remain high for the inclusion of well-known characters like Fu Hua, Yae Sakura, and Elysia as the game expands with the introduction of new worlds for the Trailblazers to explore.
12Carole and Carole Pepper
Although Carole isn’t a playable character inHonkai: Star Railyet, a promotional trailer shows her talking to Welt, hinting at her future availability. Her personality is currently unknown, but if consistent with her previous portrayal, players can expect her to be cheerful, energetic, and straightforward.
11Yanqing / Ma Feima
One of the most hidden expy characters is Yanqing, who actually originates from the Seven Swords Visual Novel in the HoYoVerse. In the visual novel, the character known as Yanqing in Honkai: Star Rail appears as an older character named Ma Feima. Despite the age difference, these characters bear striking physical similarities, including their hairstyle. Further confirming Yanqing as an expy of Ma Feima is a small text line mentioning that Ma Feima’s original name was Ma Yanqing.
10Luocha and Otto Apocalypse or Void Archive
While Luocha and Otto Apocalypse as well as Void Archive fromHonkai Impact 3rddo not share the same name, their visual resemblance is highly uncanny. Additionally, these characters also share the same voice actor. Furthermore, inHonkai Impact 3rd, Sushang actually calls Otto “Raksha,” which does bear a resemblance to the pronunciation of “Luocha.” For players who might still think this is just a big coincidence, the developers have also added a small easter egg intoHonkai: Star Railduring Luocha’s companion mission, where Welt recollects some memories regarding his encounter with Otto and finds Luocha suspicious.
While it is not entirely certain whether Luocha is actually Otto fromHonkai Impact 3rdor simply an alternate version of him, similar to characters like Kafka, Natasha, or Seele, one thing is certain: the developers wanted to bring one of the main antagonists ofHonkai Impact 3rdas a playable character toHonkai: Star Rail. While Luocha remains a highly mysterious character, with players speculating about who or what may be in the coffin, it is safe to say that there is much more to this character than meets the eye.
9Kafka and Kafka (Stigmata)
Kafka’s transition from being a Stigmata inHonkai Impact 3rdto a playable character inHonkai: Star Railhas caught the attention of fans. On top of that, she is in fact an important character in the story, being one of the Stelleron Hunters and being tied with the Trailblazer’s journey. Nevertheless, the differences in her character design are noticeable, including changes in her hair color, style, and clothing. While she was only an equippable item before, players can now experience her character in a more dynamic way.
InHonkai: Star Rail, Kafka is a member of the Stelleron Hunters, alongside others such as Blade, Silver Wolf, and Sam. While there remains much mystery surrounding this character, it is a welcomed addition to see that designs that were previously overlooked can eventually become playable characters inHonkai: Star Rail.
8Acheron and Raiden Mei / Raiden Shogun
While there isn’t a resemblance in the name this time, as was the case between Raiden Mei fromHonkai Impact 3rdand Raiden Shogun (Ei) fromGenshin Impact, Acheron is essentially the variant of this beloved character inHonkai: Star Raildue to her significant resemblance in looks, as well as her affinity with Lightning, which all of these characters share in common. Her current exact purpose is unknown, except for the given information such as her being a Space Ranger, or otherwise potentially being an Emanator.
While there is much more to learn about this character still, Acheron marks a significant milestone as the first character to be included as a playable character in all three of the most popular games of the HoYoVerse. This also further confirms that players can potentially look forward to others like Yae Sakura joining the roster in the not-so-far-away future, but it remains to be seen how many similarities she’ll have with her counterparts.
7Welt and Welt Yang (Stigmata)
Welt is another character who has transitioned from a Stigmata to a playable character inHonkai: Star Rail, much like Kafka. However, unlike Kafka, Welt has had a significant role in theHonkai Impact 3rdstoryline. As the leader of Anti-Entropy, Welt has played a key role in the conflict against the Honkai and has interacted with several important characters such as Bronya. Additionally, he has also made appearances in the manga.
With Welt’s transition to a playable character inHonkai: Star Rail, it is possible that other Stigmata characters from the Honkai universe may also become playable in the future. Players can look forward to seeing how Welt’s story unfolds inHonkai: Star Railand whether other Stigmata characters will follow in his footsteps. Interestingly, Welt remains the only character in Honkai: Star Rail who is not an expy but the actual character from a previous game in the franchise. This allows players to witness unique interactions whenever Welt recognizes certain characters, such as in the case of Luocha’s introduction.
6Sushang and Li Sushang
Li Sushang, while a more prominent character in the 7 Swords Visual Novel, is not a significant figure inHonkai Impact 3rd’s main storyline, although she is a playable character. Consequently, little is known about her, except that she is a strong Valkyrie and the daughter of one of Fu Hua’s disciples. Therefore, it is refreshing to see that she will also be a playable character inHonkai: Star Rail.
InHonkai: Star Rail, she is portrayed as a naive and enthusiastic newcomer to the Cloud Knights who wields a Greatsword and dreams of becoming a renowned member of the group. This shift in characterization is exciting for players who are familiar with her previous appearances, as it provides a new and refreshing take on the character.
5Natasha and Raven (Natasha Cioara)
Raven, also known as “Natasha Cioara,” was initially introduced inHonkai Impact 3rdas an antagonist with a cold and merciless personality. However, as the story progressed, players had the opportunity to learn more about her character and she eventually became a playable character.
InHonkai: Star Rail, her introduction is quite different, portraying her as an astute and kind doctor who works in the underworld where resources are scarce. She is known for being helpful and reliable, and people often turn to her for medical assistance. Herpath of being The Abundancealso reflects that she’ll focus on healing.
4Silver Wolf and Bronya (Haxxor Bunny)
Bronya inHonkai Impact 3rdhas multiple forms, and inHonkai: Star Rail, Silver Wolf seems to resemble her original form, commonly referred to as Haxxor Bunny Bronya. Although they share many similarities, Silver Wolf’s hair is styled differently. While some may assume that Silver Wolf is a returning character that represents Haxxor Bunny Bronya, it’s important to note that she is an entirely new character. However, she shares the same voice actors in multiple languages with Bronya from both games, despite being a different character.
3Bronya and Bronya (Silverwing)
Players may find it perplexing that in addition to Silver Wolf, who bears a striking resemblance to Bronya, there is also another character named Bronya who resembles Silverwing Bronya, an alternate version of the character with a more mature appearance. This naming convention only adds to the confusion. While it would have been more fitting for Silver Wolf to represent Silverwing, the developers and designers took a different approach.
As Bronya is a significant figure in the Honkai series, many players speculate thatGenshin Impactmay introduce a unique form ofBronya, possibly as the Cryo Archon, given her appropriate element and Russian origins, which align with Snezhnaya’s theme.
