Honkai: Star Rail

Honkai: Star Rail is HoYoverse’s free-to-play turn-based space-fantasy RPG, where players travel between worlds aboard the Astral Express, build four-character teams, and break enemy Toughness by matching elemental weaknesses. It launched on PC, Android, and iOS/iPadOS on April 26, 2023, followed by PlayStation 5 on October 11, 2023.

Latest update

Version 4.4, “In Ravages Does the Whistle Sound,” went live on July 15, 2026. HoYoverse’s update notes add Himeko • Nova, a mech-piloting damage dealer with support attacks, alongside the Fate/Star Rail Night collaboration event.

Release date and status

Honkai: Star Rail launched for PC and mobile on April 26, 2023 and later reached PlayStation 5 in October 2023. It remains a free-to-play live-service RPG with optional in-game purchases. The game continues through numbered versions that add story chapters, characters, events, enemies, and combat content while preserving the same Trailblazer account progression within a server.

Platforms and availability

The released version covers PC, Android, iOS/iPadOS, and PlayStation 5. PC and mobile launched on April 26, 2023, while the PlayStation 5 version followed on October 11, 2023.

Gameplay overview

Honkai: Star Rail is a turn-based space-fantasy RPG set across worlds shaped by the Aeons. The core loop combines exploration, story quests, character building, and four-character battles, but shared Skill Points, out-of-turn Ultimates, and elemental Toughness Breaks make team sequencing its defining strategic layer.

Story, setting, or main mode

The player is the Trailblazer, a protagonist implanted with a Stellaron who joins the Astral Express. The crew travels between worlds connected to the influence of the Aeons, encountering local crises, factions, and civilizations while following the Path of the Trailblaze. Major destinations include Herta Space Station, Jarilo-VI, the Xianzhou Luofu, Penacony, and later worlds introduced through continuing updates. Each world combines exploration, story quests, puzzles, combat encounters, and side missions.

Trailer, screenshots, and media

The official release trailer and screenshots are shown below.

Developer and publisher

Honkai: Star Rail is a HoYoverse space-fantasy RPG. Its live-service structure expands the Astral Express journey through version updates, while the core battle system remains built around four-character teams, turn manipulation, weakness breaks, and character synergies.

Honkai: Star Rail is developed by HoYoverse and published by HoYoverse.

Download and availability

The game is free to download on PC, Android, iOS/iPadOS, and PlayStation 5. Optional purchases include Oneiric Shards and other account-based products, but the main story and core combat progression are available without an upfront game purchase. The web redemption service is separate from the game client and is used for eligible promotional codes tied to a HoYoverse account and server.

System / Device Requirements

PC and mobile requirements come from HoYoverse’s release FAQ and pre-installation notice. The PC minimum lists an Intel Core i3, 6 GB RAM, and GeForce GTX 650-class graphics, while the recommended tier steps up to an Intel Core i7, 8 GB RAM, and GeForce GTX 1060-class graphics. Mobile guidance lists Android 8 or later with supported chipsets and 4 GB RAM, plus iPhone 8 Plus or later and iOS 13 or later for Apple devices.

Ratings & Comments