Honkai: Star Rail – All Returning Characters From Other Hoyoverse Games So Far

Highlights

• Honkai: Star Rail introduces brand-new and alternate versions of existing characters from the HoYoVerse games, creating a diverse roster for players.
• Players can expect resemblances between characters in Honkai: Star Rail and Genshin Impact, like Clara resembling Klee, offering a familiar feel across games.
• Transitioning Stigmata characters like Kafka and Welt to playable characters in Honkai: Star Rail adds depth to the storyline and expands gameplay options.

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 to Honkai 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 in Genshin Impact as well, with characters like Yae Miko and Raiden Shogun (Ei) essentially having their Honkai impact 3rd counterparts like Yae Sakura and Raiden Mei amongst many other.

Fans of HoYoVerse games, including Genshin Impact, will notice some similarities between the games, such as the gacha system and character advancement. In fact, even with the initially released characters in Honkai: Star Rail, players can already see striking resemblances to characters from Genshin Impact, such as Clara resembling Klee. With its unique universe and diverse set of characters, Honkai: Star Rail is 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.

12 Carole and Carole Pepper

Although Carole isn’t a playable character in Honkai: Star Rail yet, 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.

11 Yanqing / 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.

10 Luocha and Otto Apocalypse or Void Archive

While Luocha and Otto Apocalypse as well as Void Archive from Honkai Impact 3rd do not share the same name, their visual resemblance is highly uncanny. Additionally, these characters also share the same voice actor. Furthermore, in Honkai 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 into Honkai: Star Rail during 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 from Honkai Impact 3rd or 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 of Honkai Impact 3rd as a playable character to Honkai: 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.

9 Kafka and Kafka (Stigmata)

Kafka’s transition from being a Stigmata in Honkai Impact 3rd to a playable character in Honkai: Star Rail has 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.

In Honkai: 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 in Honkai: Star Rail.

8 Acheron and Raiden Mei / Raiden Shogun

While there isn’t a resemblance in the name this time, as was the case between Raiden Mei from Honkai Impact 3rd and Raiden Shogun (Ei) from Genshin Impact, Acheron is essentially the variant of this beloved character in Honkai: Star Rail due 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.

7 Welt and Welt Yang (Stigmata)

Welt is another character who has transitioned from a Stigmata to a playable character in Honkai: Star Rail, much like Kafka. However, unlike Kafka, Welt has had a significant role in the Honkai Impact 3rd storyline. 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 in Honkai: 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 in Honkai: Star Rail and 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.

6 Sushang and Li Sushang

Li Sushang, while a more prominent character in the 7 Swords Visual Novel, is not a significant figure in Honkai 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 in Honkai: Star Rail.

In Honkai: 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.

5 Natasha and Raven (Natasha Cioara)

Raven, also known as “Natasha Cioara,” was initially introduced in Honkai Impact 3rd as 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.

In Honkai: 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. Her path of being The Abundance also reflects that she’ll focus on healing.

4 ​Silver Wolf and Bronya (Haxxor Bunny)

Bronya in Honkai Impact 3rd has multiple forms, and in Honkai: 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.

3 Bronya 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 that Genshin Impact may introduce a unique form of Bronya, possibly as the Cryo Archon, given her appropriate element and Russian origins, which align with Snezhnaya’s theme.

2 Seele and Seele Vollerei

Throughout the Honkai franchise, Seele has appeared in various games with distinct designs. However, in Honkai: Star Rail, she takes on a look that closely resembles her appearance as Seele Vollerei in Honkai Impact 3rd. Additionally, she also seems to share a similar personality with her former self and utilizes the Quantum Element in combat. Despite the changes in the Honkai universe, it’s interesting to see how certain characters maintain their core traits and characteristics across different iterations.

1 Himeko and Murata Himeko

Himeko is undeniably the new version of Murata Himeko in Honkai: Star Rail, but there appear to be some initial differences in her role and personality. However, as players delve deeper into the story of Honkai: Star Rail, they may discover more similarities than initially thought.

Interestingly, it has been confirmed that Himeko will also make an appearance in Genshin Impact. In Genshin Impact, the Natlan’s Pyro Archon is named Murata and is said to have bright red hair, with her descendants inheriting this trait, including Vanessa and Diluc. While little is known about the appearance and personality of Genshin Impact‘s Murata, players can expect her to resemble both counterparts from the Honkai series.