Released 26 April 2023 Developer miHoYo (HoYoverse) Publisher HoYoverse
A free-to-play, turn-based RPG in which you travel between planets aboard a space train, collecting a party of characters and fighting in menu-driven battles where timing and team make-up matter. It is story-heavy, with regular updates that add new worlds and characters.
How it makes money
The game is free. The main purchase is the 'Warp', a random draw for new characters and Light Cones (weapons) that costs Star Rail Passes, which are bought with Oneiric Shards or earned slowly through play. On the Australian App Store, Oneiric Shards run from A$1.99 for 60 up to A$149.99 for 6,480. The top rarity of limited characters is guaranteed by pull 90, but the limited banner has a 50/50 that can hand you a standard character first, so a guaranteed featured character can take up to 180 pulls (roughly A$650 to A$750 at app-store prices by our arithmetic). There is also a monthly pass (Express Supply Pass, A$7.99) and a paid battle pass (Nameless Glory A$14.99, or A$29.99 for the bigger version).
Free on mobile, PC and PS5. Oneiric Shard packs on the Australian App Store run from A$1.99 (60) to A$149.99 (6,480).
Characters and Light Cones come from 'Warps' on limited and standard banners, paid for with Star Rail Passes bought with Oneiric Shards. ESRB lists 'In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)' and a 'Simulated Gambling' descriptor.
The 'Nameless Glory' battle pass is A$14.99 on the App Store, with 'The Nameless Medal' version at A$29.99, alongside free rewards.
minor part of the gameA top-rarity character is guaranteed within 90 pulls on the character banner, but a limited banner has a 50/50 so the featured one can take up to 180 pulls.
Real money buys Oneiric Shards, which convert into Stellar Jade and Star Rail Passes before they can be spent on pulls, so the real price of a pull is never shown.
Featured characters and Light Cones are on limited-time banners that rotate away after a few weeks.
Trailblaze Power is a refilling energy bar spent on many reward-giving activities, which limits how much you can farm each day.
The Express Supply Pass (A$7.99) gives Stellar Jade for each day you log in while it is active, and PEGI notes that a Monthly Card also grants currency. Daily tasks also pay out.
minor part of the gameNew characters arrive with each version and each is a separate chase, so a complete roster is never finished.
minor part of the gameFairer alternatives
What it costs
| What | Where | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oneiric Shard x60 Smallest currency pack |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS ↗ | A$1.99 | Oct 2026 |
| Oneiric Shard x6480 Largest currency pack |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS ↗ | A$149.99 | Oct 2026 |
| Express Supply Pass Monthly pass: 300 Oneiric Shards on purchase plus 90 Stellar Jade a day for 30 days when you log in |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS ↗ | A$7.99 | Oct 2026 |
| The Nameless Glory Battle pass |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS ↗ | A$14.99 | Oct 2026 |
| The Nameless Medal Larger battle pass version |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS ↗ | A$29.99 | Oct 2026 |
Store prices change often and sales are common; we record the regular price on the date shown.
Reviews from across the web
Praised the storytelling and the satisfying sense of progression.
Rated it very highly as a polished turn-based RPG.
Recommended it, arguing it is more than just a Genshin Impact reskinned for space.
Scores belong to the outlets that published them; follow the links to read the full reviews. Summaries are ours.
Age ratings
Age ratings judge content (violence, language, gambling themes). They say little about how hard a game pushes spending — that's what the badges above are for. About rating boards
Safety & parental controls
There is no real-time co-op, but players can add each other by player ID and message through the in-game friends list (Apple lists 'messaging and chat'). In 2025 the US FTC reached a settlement with the Genshin Impact publisher that included blocking loot-box sales to under-16s without parental consent; we found no source confirming a matching under-16 purchase block in Honkai: Star Rail or in Australia, so set spending limits in the App Store, Google Play or console settings.
Platforms & release
| Platform | Released | Store |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | 11 October 2023 | Store page ↗ |
| Windows PC | 26 April 2023 | — |
| iPhone and iPad | 26 April 2023 | Store page ↗ |
| Android phones and tablets | 26 April 2023 | — |
Facts last checked 22 October 2026. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, apps.apple.com, store.playstation.com, www.esrb.org, pegi.info, www.metacritic.com, opencritic.com, opencritic.com, store.epicgames.com, www.ftc.gov. Spotted something wrong? Send a correction.
