The Curious Case of the Honkai-Genshin Multiverse: Are These Games Actually Siblings?
Ever felt déjà vu while exploring Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd, and Honkai: Star Rail? Your imagination isn’t playing tricks. These games, made by HoYoverse (previously miHoYo), are deeply connected. Let’s explore their links.
Unraveling the Threads: Honkai and Genshin’s Shared Backyard
Think of a cosmic tree. This is the Imaginary Tree. On it, worlds blossom like leaves. Honkai Impact 3rd, Genshin Impact, and Honkai: Star Rail exist as distinct leaves of the same tree. They share a universe. It’s like neighboring countries in one landmass; unique, yet part of a whole. Genshin Impact isn’t officially part of Honkai, but a spiritual cousin, a spin-off. Their similarities echo a common origin. HoYoverse confirms they sit in the same multiverse, on the branches of the Imaginary Tree.
Before jumping to conclusions, note Genshin’s Traveler won’t board the Astral Express. Their stories are mostly independent. Think parallel worlds co-existing, each with their own tales. Teyvat, Genshin’s world, isn’t a spot on the Star Rail map. You can’t stroll through Mondstadt while exploring Penacony. Yet Teyvat isn’t entirely isolated. Hints, like mentions of the Primordial One and Global Samsara, subtly connect Genshin to the broader Honkai story. Like familiar spices in different restaurants, they hint at shared heritage.
Honkai Impact 3rd and Honkai: Star Rail: Closer Cousins?
If Genshin is a cousin, then Honkai: Star Rail is a sibling to Honkai Impact 3rd. They exist in the same universe. Honkai Impact 3rd happens in a single solar system, while Star Rail explores galaxies. Picture Honkai Impact 3rd as a local drama and Star Rail as an epic space opera in the cosmos. Star Rail serves as a spiritual successor to Honkai Impact 3rd. They offer distinct worlds yet share DNA. For timeline enthusiasts, Star Rail unfolds after Honkai Impact 3rd. It’s the future in the same grand universe.
Teyvat: A World Unseen (Yet Hinted At?) in Star Rail
Teyvat sits firmly on the Imaginary Tree. It shares a cosmic neighborhood with Honkai games. But Teyvat isn’t physically accessible in Honkai: Star Rail. Don’t pack your bags for a trip to the Golden House via the Astral Express. It’s more of a conceptual presence. Teyvat exists in the same design but remains separate in Star Rail. Many theories swirl online. Some fans think Teyvat may fit into Star Rail‘s Simulated Universe, a digital playground. Others ponder it as a ‘fake’ world. For now, these remain fun speculations, adding mystery to connected universes.
Crossovers: When Universes Collide (Officially!)
No direct travel between Teyvat and Star Rail exists yet. Still, HoYoverse loves crossovers. Mark your calendars! A Honkai Impact 3rd x Honkai: Star Rail event starts November 28, 2024! Sparkle enters Honkai Impact 3rd with her S-rank battlesuit, Thousand-Faced Maestro: Cameo! It’s a cross-dimensional party! Don’t forget the Honkai Impact 3rd x Genshin Impact collab, “Outworld Traveler,” which brought Fischl into Honkai as a SP Battlesuit. These events aren’t just fun; they nod to these worlds’ interconnectedness.
Characters and Lore: Familiar Faces in New Worlds
Let’s discuss characters! Fischl arrived in Honkai Impact 3rd. Yet the most notable universe-hopper is Welt Yang. He crossed over from Honkai Impact 3rd to Honkai: Star Rail. Welt isn’t just a cameo; he’s key in Star Rail, carrying his story across dimensions. The enigmatic Traveler from Genshin and the mysterious Unknown God also play roles. Lore fans guess they come from a ‘leaf’ of the Imaginary Tree linked to Honkai Impact 3rd. It resembles a cosmic family reunion, echoing characters across realities. Kiana, central to Honkai Impact 3rd, also resonates in Star Rail. K-423 mirrors her at the start while Kiana Kaslana carries deep history as daughter of Siegfried Kaslana and Cecilia Schariac. Sparkle, the clever Masked Fool, adds layers with her new battlesuit. She uses a fake name, enhancing the character web’s complexity.
Game Mechanics: Gacha and Pity Across Universes
Beyond lore, mechanics are shared. If gacha has been a challenge for you in one game, you’ll find it familiar in others. The Pity system ensures you eventually get your favorite characters and weapons. Even when base odds feel like a rare find, pity guarantees persistence rewards. It’s a common system full of excitement and eventual payoff across these interconnected worlds.
HoYoverse: The Architects of these Worlds
These universes originate from HoYoverse’s creativity. Founded in 2012 in Shanghai, the company, once miHoYo, has become globally significant. They crafted the Honkai franchise, romantic mystery game Tears of Themis, global sensation Genshin Impact, and the upcoming Zenless Zone Zero. HoYoverse builds an empire of intertwined universes for all to explore.
Honkai: More Than Just a Name
Finally, let’s explore “Honkai.” The name springs from the Japanese term 崩壊 (hōkai), meaning “collapse” or “decay,” reflecting the Chinese 崩坏 (bēng huài). This collapse theme is central throughout Honkai games, uniting these universes thematically. For fans tracing Honkai history, Guns Girl Z is another title for Honkai Gakuen (崩壊学園) in Japanese and Benghuaixueyuan 2 (崩坏学园2) in Chinese, showcasing Honkai’s evolution. Interestingly, most Honkai: Star Rail characters (except Welt) are “expys” or counterparts. They may share names and looks with characters from other HoYoverse games but are fundamentally distinct. Think of them as alternate universe versions across the multiverse. It’s a playful nod from HoYoverse, delivering familiar faces with fresh tales in expansive, connected worlds. So keep an eye out, Trailblazers and Captains; the Honkai-Genshin multiverse is vast, mysterious, and full of surprises.
