Source: HoYoverse
With HoYoverse further expanding their roster of games with the release of Zenless Zone Zero, we’re sure you’re pretty curious about their other titles!
HoYoverse has steadily been growing in popularity ever since Genshin Impact took over the world back in 2020. Now with 4 active titles under their belt, here’s what HoYoverse game you should check out depending on your playstyle.
Genshin Impact
Action role-playing, open world exploration, fantasy
Available on PC, iOS, Android, PS4, and PS5
Genshin Impact is HoYoverse’s most successful game to date. Boasting millions of players since its 2020 release, this fantasy ARPG tells the story of the world of Teyvat, and the journey you must take to discover how you and your missing sibling’s fates intersects with that of its gods.
Genshin Impact is host to a vast open world composed of eight nations, five of which have already been released. Gameplay-wise, players will integrate themselves into each nation as the Traveler, a mysterious otherworldly adventurer who hails from a different world.
Players can control up to 4 characters to explore, do quests, and battle with enemies. Each character has unique abilities dependent on their “vision” – a mysterious source of power that bestows receivers with the ability to control a certain element.
The elements are: Anemo (wind), Geo (earth), Electro (lightning), Dendro (plant growth), Hydro (water), Pyro (fire), and Cryo (ice). These elements have symbiotic relationships with each other, allowing players to build teams that are dependent on reactions that can increase damage output.
All characters currently available are distinguished through their rarity. 5-star characters have powerful kits, a signature weapon, and an exclusive burst animation, while 4-star characters are easier to attain and do not have burst animations.
Characters can be attained through Genshin Impact’s Gacha system, called Wish. Players will need to use in-game currency called Primogems, where players can further purchase Acquaint fates, which is used for the standard banner, and Intertwined fates, which is used for limited banners.
The gacha has four banner types: Event banners, where newly released or limited 5-star characters are available, the Weapon banner, where 5-star weapons can be exclusively obtained, the Chronicled Wish banner, where you can attain random rerun characters and weapons, and finally the Standard banner, where all 4 star characters, standard 4 star weapons, standard 5 star characters, and standard 5 star weapons can be pulled for.
Genshin Impact’s battle system is simple enough for casual players to enjoy, but flexible enough for dedicated players to go all out. Enemies, which consist of monsters and humans with elemental affinity, are more often than not overworld obstacles you can face to get chests, unlock puzzles, and more.
Genshin Impact also boasts endgame content that allows players to undergo a variety of increasingly difficult battles through the Spiral Abyss and the recently released Imaginarium Theatre.
Genshin Impact’s selling point is definitely exploration. Players will be treated to beautiful landscapes, interesting world story quests, and a variety of puzzles to solve. If you’re into games that put a spotlight on world building and design, then Genshin Impact is the game for you!
Honkai Impact 3rd
Action role-playing, hack and slash, sci-fi
Available on PC, iOS, Android
HoYoverse’s most beloved game and magnum opus, Honkai Impact 3rd is an ARPG sci-fi game that tells the story of an alternate reality earth ravaged by the mysterious, world ending phenomenon called Honkai.
Players will act as the Captain of the Hyperion, a battleship which houses the Valkyrie, girls who are attuned to Battlesuits that are capable of taking on the myriad of Honkai infested enemies. Throughout the game, we will follow the stories of Kiana Kaslana, Raiden Mei, and Bronya Zaychik, Valkyries whose fates are intertwined, and whose journeys will result in whether or not humanity will survive against an impending cataclysm.
The gameplay of Honkai Impact 3rd is a step more difficult compared to Genshin Impact, so it’s perfect for players who are up for a challenge.
Reminiscent of Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, Honkai Impact 3rd employs a hack-and-slash battle system, where players will have a team which consists of 3 Battlesuits, ideally with specific roles such as a Main DPS, Buffer/Support, and Sub-DPS.
The Battlesuits are ranked from B to SSS, and are separated into groups like Biologic, Psychic, Mecha, Imaginary, and Quantum. Each group has a unique DMG and support capability. Each battlesuit is also attuned to specific elements like Lightning, Ice, Physical, and Fire.
The Battlesuits can be attained through the Gacha system called Supply. Through the use of in-game currency called crystals, players can pull for characters both old and new through 7 supply banners.
There isn’t much in terms of open world exploration for Honkai Impact 3rd, as the game focuses more on its battle arenas. More often than not, players will need to beat a ranking system to further their battle journey.
If you’re the type of player who would rather beat up enemy after enemy than explore, then Honkai Impact 3rd is the game for you!
Honkai: Star Rail
Role-playing, turn-based, rogue-like dungeon exploration, sci-fi
Available on PC, iOS, Android, PS5
HoYoverse’s first venture into turn-based combat, Honkai: Star Rail has sent waves all over the world, essentially becoming a global sensation since its release in 2023.
Set in the vast expanse of space, players will explore the galaxy as the amnesiac Trailblazer. Having joined the Nameless of the Astral Express, you travel to different worlds in order to seal Stellarons, known as the Cancer of Worlds, and assist those in need of help.
Honkai: Star Rail focuses on turn-based combat, similar to games like the Persona series or Baldur’s Gate 3. In this regard, HSR’s battle system allows players to take the time to form strategies without the pressure of an enemy breathing down your back.
Characters are distinguished by the Paths they follow, which dictate their role in battle, the following being:
- The Hunt: single-target damage dealers
- The Erudition: area-of-effect damage dealers
- The Destruction: generalist damage dealers with various gimmicks
- The Abundance: healers
- The Preservation: Shielders and tanks
- The Harmony: buffers
- The Nihility: debuffers and damage-over-time
Characters also have elemental alignments that synergise with breaking enemy Toughness. The elements are: Ice, Fire, Lightning, Wind, Quantum, Imaginary, and Physical.
HSR has no weapons per se, instead having Light Cones. Lightcones provide Paths-specific buffs, and are the equivalent of weapons from Genshin Impact.
Characters can be gained through the Warp system, which is separated into 3 sections: Event Warp, where event limited 5 stars are made available, the Light Cone Warp, where 5-star limited Lightcones can be pulled for, and finally the Standard Warp, where all standard characters and Light Cones can be obtained from.
Exploration isn’t really a big focus in HSR, but there are currently 4 planets currently released. Instead, the real meat for HSR is its various battle modes and rich story.
HSR’s endgame battle content include Memory of Chaos, the AOE-focused Pure Fiction, and the boss rush Apocalyptic Shadow mode. There’s also the Simulated Universe, a rogue-like mode where you battle through various stages. The Simulated Universe itself also has different variations with their own gameplay twists, including Swarm Disaster, Gold and Gears, and the Divergent Universe.
As for its story, HSR really gets the ball rolling with the Belobog arc while the recently-concluded Penacony arc is downright excellent. The game also does a very good job of balancing its heavy themes and dramatic moments with a delightful and whimsical ‘space comedy’ vibe.
Honkai: Star Rail is the perfect game for casual players who enjoy making calculated moves to defeat enemies rather than keyboard smashing away to victory.
Zenless Zone Zero
Action role-playing, adventure, hack-and-slash, sci-fi
Available on PC, iOS, Android, PS5
The newest title released on 4 July, Zenless Zone Zero is HoYoverse's foray into an urban fantasy ARPG where contemporary civilization has been destroyed by a certain calamity called the “Hollows”. In the midst of this disaster, the last beacon of civilization, New Eridu, has risen to the occasion with the power of their technology and resources to defeat its formidable enemies.
Players will take on the role of Proxy, a professional trained in taking on the “Hollows”, and will recruit allies along the way.
Zenless Zone Zero’s gameplay is perfect for players who love to get that adrenaline rush. The combat system focuses on fluid character swapping, attacks, and Quick Time Event (QTE) combos.
Players may observe its similarity to Honkai Impact 3rd’s combat, but ZZZ holds itself up through more refined and effective attacks, dodges, and counter-attacks. The difficulty curve is also not as steep as with HI3, allowing ZZZ to be completely beginner friendly.
But don’t let that user-friendly facade fool you, ZZZ also has harder game modes that are guaranteed to give you finger cramps.
In terms of Gacha, Zenless Zone Zero follows the same model as with Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail.
If you want to know more about Zenless Zone Zero, why not check it out? Along with its launch come rich rewards for new players to enjoy!
