Summary
The Hoyoverse games are connected, no matter how loose the threads that bind them may be. Players see it in references in each title, from overt character crossovers like the recentHonkai Impact 3rdandHonkai: Star Railcollab and passing mentions of places likeHSR’s Belobog inZenless Zone Zero. While the games' universes are quite contained,Honkai: Star Railstands out as the title that could branch out and tackle the concept of multiverses best.
The lore behind the interconnected Hoyoverse is established but hidden behind item descriptions and long transcripts of cutscenes across different games. The gist is that the worlds of each title may exist as leaves of the Imaginary Tree, which is known as the origin of all life in the Hoyoverse. The branch the leaves are attached to represents a linear timeline. It’s unclear whether theHonkai: Star Rail,Genshin,HI3rd, andZZZuniverses exist in the same or different branches. Some fans even speculate that they all exist in the same universe, with each world existing on a different planet or solar system.
The Imaginary Tree may not take the form of a tree at all. It could just be a way for people in the Hoyoverse to visualize and explain their vast and complicated universe.
Why Honkai: Star Rail is the Perfect Game to Tackle Hoyoverse’s Multiverse
Traveling from one universe to another is nearly impossible, as ordinary humans would not survive traveling through space and time without specialized technology. This is because the distance from one leaf (bubble universe) to another is unknown, and the effects of traveling through the air between them are unclear. However, Team Nameless may hold the key to solving that difficult task.
Honkai: Star Railhas the perfect vehicle for multi-dimensional travel:The Astral Express, a spacecraft that looks and functions like a train. Akivili, the Aeon of Trailblaze, crafted it to transport his followers (known as the Nameless) to different parts of the galaxy. Generations of Trailblazers have used it to witness significant events across countless planets. When the Aeon suddenly disappeared, the Nameless ended up abandoning the Express. Himeko eventually found the crashed spacecraft, repaired it, and became its navigator.
How the Astral Express Could Travel to Different Universes
The Astral Express now chugs along the galaxy, retracingthe Star Rail that Akivili laid outfor the train before they disappeared or died. While it’s a formidable vehicle for traversing from one planet to another, it could be the perfect tool for traveling between universes, too. One way this could be possible is if Akivili were to return. Aeons are godlike beings who preside overHSR’s universe, so they could be aware of other universes or even have the power to perceive and travel to them. Such a trait is right up Akivili’s alley as the Aeon of Trailblaze. He could give the Astral Express Crew heightened Trailblazing capabilities or lay down safe paths for them to traverse different universes on the Imaginary Tree.
Welt Yang, one of the Astral Express’ current crew members, has also done his fair share of universe-hopping. He originally existed in theHonkai Impact 3rduniverse as the 1st Herrscher and the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy. He has saved Earth multiple times and eventually left his world with his traveling companion,Void Archives. Sometime during their trip, they found themselves stranded in theHonkai: Star Railuniverse. Luckily, they were rescued by Himeko and they joined the Astral Express crew. Welt’s vast knowledge of space travel and his experience of traveling from one universe to another could help in explaining the link between the games’ worlds.
It only makes sense forHonkai: Star Railto be the title that ties together MiHoYo’s multiverse. After all, it shares parallel universe characters withHI3andGenshin, like Himeko and Raiden. There’s also a rumor thata Kevin Kaslana-like character is debuting inHSRsoon. It’s prime time for the Hoyoverse to explain such occurrences, andHonkai: Star Rail’s Astral Express Crew is the perfect companion for fans to connect the dots with.
Honkai: Star Rail
WHERE TO PLAY
Board the Astral Express and roam the universe in search of myths and legends. From global interactive entertainment brand HoYoverse comes a new space fantasy RPG. Harness the spirirt of the Trailblaze in a cel-shaded space fantasy adventure where you’ll embark on an unforgettable intergalactic odyssey. You and your fellow Astral Express passengers will hop from world to world, resolve conflicts, form friendships and uncover a wealth of mysteries. In this exciting new free-to-play game, you’ll journey through immense worlds of the unknown and bond with a series of memorable characters. Choose your companions and arrange the ultimate four-person combat team to help you take down a looming threat to the universe.
