Best HoYoverse Games in 2024: Top 9 miHoYo Experiences

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While HoYoverse is today known for its free-to-play RPG behemoths, the Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail developer took years to reach this point. Before the barrage of updates and expansions for the best HoYoverse games, the developer worked on smaller-scale projects across genres.

While some of them are no longer available globally, their past offers an interesting glimpse into a cultural force in the gaming industry.

Key Takeaways

  • Games from miHoYo span multiple genres, from side-scrolling shooters and mystery titles to sprawling action RPGs.
  • Legend of Saha was a simple adventure game that led to the development of FlyMe2theMoon and Zombiegal Kawaii.
  • Among miHoYo’s latest RPGs, Honkai: Star Rail opts for turn-based combat, while Zenless Zone Zero and Genshin Impact stick to real-time combat.
  • Most of these games include Gacha elements that offer unique characters for real-world money.
  • Despite the release of newer titles, Genshin Impact is the best game from HoYoverse, thanks to its deep RPG systems and engaging combat.

Best HoYoverse Games in 2024

We rank all the best HoYoverse games that miHoYo developed and cover everything you need to know about these experiences.

9. Legend of Saha

Legend of Saha is primitive but had some good ideas for its time
Legend of Saha is primitive but had some good ideas for its time. Source: miHoYo

Quick Overview

Legend of Saha may be primitive and far from the miHoYo games we know today, but it showcased the young studio’s creativity, especially considering the limited time frame in which it was made.

Key Features:

  • Genre: Isometric platformer
  • Combat: No direct combat other than hazard avoidance
  • Story: Misei Nanatsuki on an adventure through the Heavens
  • Multiplayer: None
  • Release year: 2010
  • Monetization: None
  • Availability: No longer publically available (hosted on archive sites)
Read about Legend of Saha in detail:

A flash game built for a student competition, Legend of Saha is miHoYo’s first game and a humble beginning that looks nothing like the games that the studio released after it. With basic controls to evade projectiles and a story told via walls of text, there’s not a lot going for it. Built for the second China Game Developers Conference (CGDC), it went on to win a cash prize from Shanda Games.

Despite its barebones nature, Legend of Saha held a spark that led to the creation of miHoYo’s new games like Genshin Impact. Be it evading enemy attacks or building lore into its games, these ideas have grown alongside the studio’s library. Legend of Saha pales in comparison to new miHoYo games, but it’s on this list because it shows just how far the studio has come over the years.

8. Zombiegal Kawaii

Zombiegal Kawaii delivers on the zombie-slaying action
Zombiegal Kawaii delivers on the zombie-slaying action. Source: miHoYo

Quick Overview

Zombiegal Kawaii is a side-scrolling shooter available for iPhone and iPad devices. In it, you can change into a range of different clothing options and attack with dozens of weapons.

Key Features:

  • Genre: Side-scrolling shooter
  • Combat: Ranged and melee combat
  • Story: Kiana Kaslana has to protect her high school from a zombie invasion
  • Multiplayer: None
  • Release year: 2013
  • Monetization: Free-to-play with optional “medal” microtransactions
  • Availability: Download on the Apple App Store
Read bout Zombiegal Kawaii in detail:

Zombiegal Kawaii moves miHoYo into side-scroller territory as it pits your player against hordes of zombies. Also known as Houkai Gakuen, this game was inspired by the manga Highschool of the Dead and the side-scrolling game Zombie Town. Unlike most zombie games at the time, this game features adorable zombies to maneuver around and fight against. Doing so becomes more challenging as the game progresses.

Protagonist Kiana returns from FlyMe2theMoon to dish out some zombie punishment and upgrades her gear over time. miHoYo’s monetization offers minor upgrades that can either be bought with real-world money or earned by grinding for a couple of hours. Thanks to its simple gameplay and silly characters, the game was a bigger hit than FlyMe2theMoon.

7. FlyMe2theMoon

FlyMe2theMoon has a simple premise, making it ideal for mobile devices
FlyMe2theMoon has a simple premise, making it ideal for mobile devices. Source: miHoYo

Quick Overview

FlyMe2theMoon is a portrait-orientated mobile game where you fly up through 60 levels in an attempt to make it to the moon.

Key Features:

  • Genre: Vertical platformer
  • Combat: No combat (hazard avoidance)
  • Story: Kiana Kaslana wants to fly to the moon
  • Multiplayer: None
  • Release year: 2011
  • Monetization: Completely free to play (no microtransactions)
  • Availability: Download on the Apple App Store
Read about FlyMe2theMoon in detail:

After Legend of Saha, miHoYo stepped things up a notch with FlyMe2theMoon, an adorable platform game that involves evading obstacles, racing, exploration, and more side activities. It’s all about timing and precise inputs to dodge threats and survive the levels. You play as Kiana Kaslana and are on a mission to reach the moon through various missions and activities.

While its gameplay isn’t ground-breaking, it’s a simple platform game built with the rise of smartphones in mind. With 60 levels to beat, FlyMe2theMoon can be challenging, but it’s far from the most developed game on this miHoYo games list. Fun side activities outside evading obstacles keep it engaging, and its cutesy aesthetic remains a core pillar of all miHoYo games released since.

6. Gun Girl Z

Gun Girl Z is a side-scrolling action game featuring the company's familiar anime art style
Gun Girl Z is a side-scrolling action game featuring the company’s familiar anime art style. Source: miHoYo

Quick Overview

Gun Girl Z is a side-scrolling shooter featuring a ton of anime girls which is available for smartphones. It’s since now defunct, but a version of the game is still playable via the Google Play Store.

Key Features:

  • Genre: 2D side-scrolling shooter
  • Combat: Run-and-gun shooter with dozens of weapons
  • Story: A group of girls saving the world from the apocalypse
  • Multiplayer: Yes (but now defunct)
  • Release year: 2014
  • Monetization: Optional microtransactions (store now closed)
  • Availability: Download on the Google Play Store
Read about Gun Girl Z in detail:

Gun Girl Z retains the side-scrolling combat of Zombiegal Kawaii while bringing in a brand-new story set in St. Freya Academy. Here, high school girls train to become Valkyries and fight the Honkai, a mysterious force. This was the first miHoYo title with a proper narrative that developed with story arcs and NPC dialogue. If you want to try it out, you’re out of luck. Also known as Houkai Gakuen 2, it’s only available on Chinese and Japanese servers now.

With more weapons and a multiplayer mode, the game added compelling reasons for players, both old and new, to try it out. A Guild system was also implemented, and frequent updates meant that players kept returning to beat more foes. The success of Gun Girl Z redefined miHoYo games and helped the studio expand into bigger projects.

5. Tears of Themis

This visual novel adventure was a departure from the studio's previous works
This visual novel adventure was a departure from the studio’s previous works. Source: miHoYo

Quick Overview

Tears of Themis is a fantasy romance visual novel game set in the near future. There are a total of four love interests, complete with in-depth voice acting and high production values.

Key Features:

Read about Tears of Themis in detail:

Tears of Themis switches gears from side-scrolling combat into mystery romance and plays like a visual novel. Set in the city of Stellis, you play as lawyer Rosa who works on different cases to help people in the year 2030. It doesn’t take long for you to get acquainted with four potential love interests. Your choices help you complete cases and get closer to these characters.

As you clear time-limited events, earn more rewards that can help you in its Gacha system. While it’s not particularly original, it represents the willingness of miHoYo to experiment and tackle new genres. Otome fans will find a lot to like here, and its stunning art and well-written romances are worth exploring, even if you aren’t into visual novels.

4. Honkai Impact 3rd

Honkai Impact 3rd laid the foundations for the company's flagship titles
Honkai Impact 3rd laid the foundations for the company’s flagship titles. Source: miHoYo

Quick Overview

Honkai Impact 3rd is the first big mainstream hit for miHoYo, available on both PC and mobile. It features 3D cell-shaded graphics, with more intense action than prior titles.

Key Features:

  • Genre: Third-person spectacle fighter
  • Combat: Melee and ranged with special attacks
  • Story: Kiana Kaslana goes on a mission to save the world
  • Multiplayer: Online co-op functionality
  • Release year: 2016
  • Monetization: Free to download (includes Gacha elements and microtransactions)
  • Availability: Download on Steam; Download on Google Play; Download on App Store
Read about Honkai Impact 3rd in detail:

Honkai Impact 3rd pushed miHoYo to Gacha stardom with 3D action RPG elements that were a massive step up from their previous games. One glance is enough to tell just how much Genshin Impact borrows from this game’s foundation. Bayonetta and Devil May Cry are two franchises that the developers have cited as inspirations behind the game’s tight hack-and-slash combat. Thanks to a compelling cast of characters and a neat story, Honkai Impact 3rd gained a massive following.

Constant updates with new content helped bring even more players into the fold. A major update, Honkai Impact 3rd—Part 2, was released in February 2024. It’s not as popular as miHoYo’s newer games now, but a few years ago, no one could contest the popularity of this title. In two years, the game helped the studio grow from seven people to 200 employees.

3. Zenless Zone Zero

Zenless Zone Zero is the company's latest game
Zenless Zone Zero is the company’s latest game. Source: miHoYo

Quick Overview

Zenless Zone Zero is the latest HoYoverse game which returns to the action-packed real-time combat of the company’s prior titles like Honkai Impact 3rd.

Key Features:

  • Genre: Action-RPG
  • Combat: Real-time melee combat
  • Story: ZZZ takes place in New Eridu, the last surviving human city
  • Multiplayer: ZZZ has asymmetric multiplayer (no co-op)
  • Release year: 2024
  • Monetization: Free to download (includes Gacha elements and microtransactions)
  • Availability: Download on Epic Games; Download on Google Play; Download on App Store
Read about Zenless Zone Zero in detail:

The latest HoYoverse sensation, Zenless Zone Zero, switches gears from Genshin Impact’s fantasy setting. Urban landscapes greet you in New Eridu as you encounter the studio’s refined action RPG mechanics across both progression and combat. Your characters dart around Hollow locations with fluid animations, and in true miHoYo fashion, these alternate dimensions are packed with detail and look incredible.

Collecting new stylish characters to parry enemy Ethereal attacks and trigger skills remains a key focus of the game. HoYoverse’s redeem code option lets you use codes to grab limited-time resources to make this grind easier.

The main story is a welcome departure from the grand world-saving adventure format. Instead, two techie siblings are the focus here as they run into all kinds of adventures in this dystopic world. Despite being the latest game from the studio, fans weren’t too pleased with its combat system. Devoted Honkai: Star Rail and Genshin Impact players ended up sticking to these titles as they still receive constant updates.

Check out the best Zero Zone Zenless codes and the Zero Zone Zenless tier list for more.

2. Honkai: Star Rail

Honkai: Star Rail remains massively popular and is a must-play for RPG fans
Honkai: Star Rail remains massively popular and is a must-play for RPG fans. Source: miHoYo

Quick Overview

Honkai: Star Rail is a turn-based RPG featuring the company’s signature anime character aesthetic, inspired by some of the genre’s greats.

Key Features:

Read about Honkai: Star Rail in detail:

After the incredible success of Genshin Impact, miHoYo wanted to test the waters with another experiment. By learning from previous efforts, Honkai: Star Rail is a turn-based RPG centered around space travel. As you travel between planets via the Astral Express, you’ll run into characters and Stellaron foes and work through a lengthy storyline.

These worlds are packed with details, from object interactions to quirky NPCs. You’ll find plenty of pop culture references in character dialogue and item descriptions too. Thanks to an auto-battle option, you can clear easier segments of the game quickly to level up your characters. This, in turn, fuels your party to take on bigger threats in careful manual battles. While some players might consider this the pinnacle of the best miHoYo video games, others prefer Genshin Impact’s satisfying real-time combat.

For more, check out the best Honkai: Star Rail codes.

1. Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact's fresh updates and slew of content means it's the best of its kind
Genshin Impact’s fresh updates and slew of content means it’s the best of its kind. Source: miHoYo

Quick Overview

Honkai: Star Rail is a turn-based RPG featuring the company’s signature anime character aesthetic, inspired by some of the genre’s greats.

Key Features:

  • Genre: Action RPG
  • Combat: Real-time ranged and melee combat
  • Story: The Traveller is separated from their twin sibling.
  • Multiplayer: Optional co-op
  • Release year: 2020
  • Monetization: Free to download (includes Gacha elements and microtransactions)
  • Availability: Download on Epic Games; Download on Google Play; Download on App Store
Read about Genshin Impact in detail:

Finally, we have Genshin Impact, the action RPG that made Gacha games go mainstream. Brimming with things to do and characters to meet, the game’s open world of Teyvat is split into seven nations. Each of them features unique monsters and bosses to beat, quests to clear, and allies or foes to meet. You play as the Traveler, collecting loot and working your way to new characters with powerful abilities. While HoYoverse’s daily check-ins aren’t mandatory, doing these tasks can quickly become a part of your routine if you aren’t careful.

You also get to master an elemental reaction system that involves switching between elemental attacks and characters to dish out the most damage. It’s fairly easy to pick up despite all the story content added over the years. This helps it appeal to hardcore Gacha players and newcomers who want to team up with their friends. While some criticisms point to it borrowing ideas liberally from games like Breath of the Wild, there’s a lot that Genshin Impact does right to set itself apart in the free-to-play space. Among the miHoYo/HoYoverse games we’ve ranked, we’d pick Genshin Impact as their best entry so far.

For more, you can read everything added in the Genshin Impact 5.0 update.

miHoYo Games List

  • Legend of Saha (2010) – Adventure game
  • FlyMe2theMoon (2011) – Platform game
  • Zombiegal Kawaii (2012) – Side-scrolling zombie shooter
  • Gun Girl Z (2014) – Side-scrolling shooter
  • Honkai Impact 3rd (2016) – 3D action RPG
  • Tears of Themis (2020) – Detective adventure
  • Genshin Impact (2020) – Action RPG
  • Honkai: Star Rail (2023) – Turn-based RPG
  • Zenless Zone Zero (2024) – Action RPG

The Bottom Line

All HoYoverse games tend to hop between multiple genres and are distinct enough to try at least once. From side-scrollers to setting foot in another universe, it’s clear that miHoYo doesn’t shy away from experimenting. Will a new HoYoverse game take over your HoYoverse launcher? To stand a chance, it’ll have to promise the kind of support that Genshin Impact has enjoyed for years.

While most of their games add in Gacha monetization, their newer entries offer more value for your investment while letting free players work toward in-game progression in a meaningful way. If you’re wondering where you should start on miHoYo’s games list, we recommend going with either Honkai: Star Rail, Genshin Impact, or Zenless Zone Zero. Regardless of which game you pick, a satisfying journey through exotic lands awaits you.

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Antony Terence
Gaming Writer
Antony Terence
Gaming Writer

Antony Terence has over four years of experience and bylines at some of the biggest gaming publications out there. He specializes in city-builders, shooters, and strategy titles but won’t turn down a good JRPG or the occasional rogue-like indie gem. Catch him at board game cafes or tech stores.