Is Honkai older than Genshin? A Deep Dive into miHoYo‘s Action RPGs

As a long-time fan and avid gamer, I get asked this question a lot: Is Honkai Impact 3rd older than Genshin Impact? And the answer is a resounding yes – Honkai predates Genshin by about 4 years when it comes to their initial launch dates.

But as many fans have noticed, these two hit games share not just a developer in miHoYo (now HoYoverse), but some intriguing similarities that suggest a deeper connection. Could Genshin Impact be set in the same universe as Honkai Impact 3rd? Or is Genshin perhaps a sequel or prequel in an overarching miHoYo multiverse?

As an enthusiast who has researched the complex lore and backstories behind these games extensively, let me break down what we know so far about how Honkai and Genshin relate:

A Brief History of Honkai Impact 3rd‘s Development

According to official company history, miHoYo was founded in 2012 and released their first game FlyMe 2 in 2013. However, their major breakout success came with the launch of their second title Honkai Impact 3rd in 2016.

Honkai Impact 3rd is an anime-inspired hack-and-slash action RPG set on a post-apocalyptic Earth. Players control squads of Valkyrie pilots to battle invading enemies called Honkai. The game pioneered miHoYo‘s signature combo-driven real-time combat, gorgeous 3D anime visuals, and emotionally resonating storytelling.

Key Visual for Honkai Impact 3rd (Source: miHoYo)

While initially only launched in China, Honkai Impact 3rd‘s story continued evolving through major narrative arcs focused on new battlesuit outfits for popular Valkyries like Kiana Kaslana and Raiden Mei. Over 4 years, the game steadily amassed 60+ million global registrations according to HoYoverse – proving it as an IP with incredible appeal.

Genshin Impact Later Achieves Runaway Success

Fast forward to 2020 when miHoYo (renamed HoYoverse in 2022) launched their most ambitious title yet: the open world action RPG Genshin Impact.

Heavily inspired by Breath of the Wild with a vibrant anime aesthetic, Genshin transports players across the magical realm of Teyvat to gather allies and reclaim lost power. Blending free exploration with deep character stories made possible via monetized gacha mechanics, Genshin Impact became nothing short of a global gaming sensation – now boasting over 60 million players worldwide with nearly $4 billion in lifetime revenue.

Genshin Impact Key Visual (Source: HoYoverse)

So while Honkai laid the foundations through earlier success, Genshin‘s crossover mass appeal has made it miHoYo‘s most profitable title internationally. However, fans noticed intriguing hints that these two tentpole game worlds might be connected…

Speculation Abounds of a Shared Honkai Multiverse

Rather than distinct intellectual properties, some theorists posit that Honkai Impact and Genshin Impact may take place in a shared "Hoyoverse" – with both games set in different periods of a single broader science fantasy universe ruled by mysterious godlike beings and primal elemental forces. A few compelling hints behind this theory:

• Several Genshin characters share names, visual designs, and backstories highly reminiscent of key Honkai Valkyries
  • The Electro Archon Baal (Raiden Shogun) is extremely similar to Raiden Mei
  • Yae Miko mirrors the Honkai ninja Yae Sakura
  • Unknown God resembles Herrscher of the Void
• Environmental storytelling references past advanced civilizations (e.g. Dragonspine‘s mechs)
• HoYoverse tied Genshin and Honkai directly via in-game crossover events
• Leaked developer interviews hint at more explicit connections to be revealed

While concrete proof is lacking, these clues provide enough circumstantial evidence for many to speculate that Honkai and Genshin form one linked saga – whether as outright sequels, spiritual successors, alternate timelines, or bubble universes splitting off from the main Honkai Impact storyline.

But setting theorizing aside, what core differences exist in terms of actual gameplay for curious gamers?

Core Gameplay Differences Between Honkai and Genshin

Those intrigued to play miHoYo‘s titles after digging into their layered lore may wonder – how do Honkai Impact 3rd and Genshin Impact compare in terms of real combat mechanics and progression?

While the two games share vibrant anime-inspired worlds with gacha monetization fueling character rosters, several key contrasts exist:

In summary:

• Honkai offers pure unadulterated action as you directly control battlesuit-wearing Valkyries in faced-paced arena fights demanding quick reactions and high skill ceilings from masters
• Genshin delivers a more relaxed open world RPG with tactical planning required to cast elemental spells and deploy skill combos amidst exploration and stories. Slower burns with bigger payouts for patient players.

So while superficially similar as anime gacha RPGs from the same producer, at their core Honkai and Genshin provide distinct flavors based on whether you prefer battle arenas or open worlds.

So In Conclusion: Honkai Came First, But Questions Remain…

To answer the opening question then – yes Honkai Impact 3rd predates Genshin Impact by 4 years given it‘s initial 2016 release compared to Genshin‘s 2020 launch.

However, HoYoverse seems to be hinting at a deeper mythos tying their two flagships together in a single lore universe. And many theorize that as Genshin‘s story unfolds over the next 5 years, direct crossover revelations may confirm those speculative connections explicitly.

For myself as a passionate fan who adores both titles, their fandoms, and analyzing every new update for clues – that remains part of the excitement! We have much more left to explore in terms of these games‘ relationships to one another both narratively and in real-world collaborations.

Whether you prefer Honkai Impact‘s pulse-pounding mech action or Genshin‘s laidback cross-world adventures, miHoYo/HoYoverse has proven themselves as visionary developers pushing anime gaming into unprecedented mainstream popularity worldwide.

I for one can‘t wait to see what additional mysteries, stories, and spin-offs they unravel across this interestingly intertwined Hoyoverse over the coming years!