The Untold Differences Between Honkai Star Rail and Genshin Impact Will Shock You!

Honkai: Star Rail, despite being released just over two months ago, has already captured the attention and enthusiasm of many players who have become deeply engrossed in the captivating narratives surrounding its characters. While the primary storyline remains unfinished, this latest addition to the HoYoverse franchise boasts a wealth of lore waiting to be discovered through a range of in-game sources. As players delve deeper into the vast universe of Honkai: Star Rail, their emotional connection with the characters continues to grow, extending even to the leaked and unreleased ones.

What adds further intrigue to the game is its canonical connection to Genshin Impact within the intricate HoYoverse multiverse. While the two games share similarities in terms of character roster and designs, there is one noteworthy feature that distinguishes Genshin Impact from Honkai: Star Rail—character birthdays.

Honkai: Star Rail is Missing Birthdays

A majority of the characters in Honkai: Star Rail do not have their birthdays and zodiac signs listed in the game. The only characters with known birthdays are the Trailblazer, which players will determine at the beginning of Honkai: Star Rail, and March 7th. March 7th's exact birthday is technically unknown because she was rescued by the Astral Express Crew from Six-Phased Ice that was floating in space. Since she had no knowledge of herself or her origin, she chose to adopt March 7th, the day she was saved, as her name and birthday.

It is unusual for Honkai: Star Rail to leave out birthdays, especially considering that HoYoverse has included them for Genshin Impact and even Honkai Impact 3rd characters in the past. In Genshin Impact, character birthdays are celebrated with special messages, the character's favorite dish, and other gifts when players log in on their birthdate. With nearly 70 playable characters in the game, this results in a lot of monthly benefits for players. Genshin fans also express their love for their favorite characters by sharing screenshots, fan art, and more on social media during their birthdays.

Honkai: Star Rail is still a new game, so HoYoverse might not have finalized the characters' birthdays yet. Some characters in other HoYoverse titles have set birthdays, like Sushang (April 3) and Bronya (August 18) in Honkai Impact 3rd, but these could change in Honkai: Star Rail. A fun theory is that time in Honkai: Star Rail works differently, so the characters' birthdays and zodiac signs might be different from other games. This makes sense considering that characters in the HoYoverse multiverse aren't always the same.

On the bright side, Honkai: Star Rail still celebrates birthdays. Like Genshin Impact, players receive 100 Stellar Jades and a special Birthday Cake from Pom-Pom when they log in during the Trailblazer's birthday. The cake isn't consumable, but it's a great keepsake to commemorate their first birthday in Honkai: Star Rail.

Honkai: Star Rail can take inspiration from Genshin Impact in how it celebrates its characters' birthdays. Players could receive special messages and gifts upon logging in on the designated date, and there can be unique dishes that players can consume to enhance their stats. This would not only bring attention to characters who haven't been featured in the main story or side quests recently but also serve as a valuable strategy for a game that plans to introduce new units in the upcoming months. By establishing canon birthdays, players can form stronger connections with their favorite characters, as well as anticipate the arrival of new ones. Honkai: Star Rail is currently accessible on Android, iOS, and PC, with a PlayStation version currently under development.