Honkai: Star Rail review
A space-opera RPG with clever turn-based battles
- HoYoverse
- Free + paid plans
- iPhone & iPad, Android, Windows
4.4 from 53.3K App Store ratings 10M+ Google Play downloads
Does it deserve #5?
Is Honkai: Star Rail worth it?
For most people, yes. Honkai: Star Rail scores 8.3/10 and ranks #5 in RPG & Adventure Games. It's best for RPG fans who like turn-based strategy and a story with jokes. Skip it if you want real-time action or can't stand gacha. Price: Free to play; Oneiric Shards from $0.99 and a $4.99 Express Supply Pass.
The verdict
Honkai: Star Rail is the HoYoverse RPG to pick if you'd rather plan than dodge. You ride the Astral Express between strange worlds, and battles are turn-based puzzles about weaknesses, buffs and timing, with auto-battle for the daily grind. The writing is funnier than you'd expect, and the voiced cutscenes look great. Like its siblings, though, the characters you really want come from gacha pulls.
- Turn-based tactical combat
- Auto-battle
- Space-hopping story
- Simulated Universe roguelite mode
- Regular version updates
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What's new
- Sep 2026Version 4.6 adds Pearl, a new Astropolis Trailblaze Mission and new outfits
- Aug 2026Version 4.5 adds new versions of Robin and Aventurine and more Astropolis story
- Jul 2026Version 4.4 Fate collab adds Rin Tohsaka and Gilgamesh, plus Himeko Nova
Privacy 6.4/10
App Store label: identifiers may be used to track you. Purchases, contact info, user content, identifiers, usage data and diagnostics may be linked to you.
What we like
- Strategic fights you can play one-handed
- Strong writing, voice acting and cutscenes
- Auto-battle cuts down the daily grind
What could be better
- Gacha for characters and Light Cones
- Daily energy limits progress
- Large download and frequent patches
RPG fans who like turn-based strategy and a story with jokes
you want real-time action or can't stand gacha
Questions about Honkai: Star Rail
Is Honkai: Star Rail worth it in 2026?
For most people, yes. Honkai: Star Rail scores 8.3/10 and ranks #5 in RPG & Adventure Games. It's best for RPG fans who like turn-based strategy and a story with jokes. Skip it if you want real-time action or can't stand gacha. Price: Free to play; Oneiric Shards from $0.99 and a $4.99 Express Supply Pass.
Is Honkai: Star Rail free?
Yes. It's free to play, with purchases for gacha pulls, a $4.99 Express Supply Pass and a paid battle pass.
Is Honkai: Star Rail turn-based?
Yes. Combat is turn-based with an auto-battle option, while exploring happens in real time.
What age is Honkai: Star Rail for?
It's rated 13+ on the App Store and Teen on Google Play.
What are the best alternatives to Honkai: Star Rail?
The closest alternatives are Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero and Wuthering Waves. See all of them ranked on our Honkai: Star Rail alternatives page.
Where does Honkai: Star Rail rank?
Honkai: Star Rail ranks #5 of 8 in our RPG & Adventure Games ranking, with an overall score of 8.3 out of 10.