Honkai Star Rail is an exciting turn-based RPG offering us the experience of exploring the vastness of outer space. Long-time fans of the series or players coming from Genshin Impact might wonder: can you play this awesome game on a controller instead of a mouse and keyboard? In this guide, we will show you how you can connect your console gamepad and control your game, eliminating the clunkiness of computer peripherals.
How to play Honkai Star Rail using controller on PC
Your ability to play Honkai Star Rail using a controller on PC will depend mainly on the type of controller that you want to use. Some have native Windows support, while others need proprietary drivers for the system to recognize them. Once you set your controller up for Windows to recognize it, launching the game and enjoying the experience is a simple matter.
The game will automatically detect the controller as an input method, and you will immediately be able to use it. You can check the layout of the controls in the game's settings menu, and while you are in there, you might also want to take a second to adjust the in-game settings to optimize your experience.
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How to play Honkai Star Rail using a controller on mobile devices
Unfortunately, at the time of writing this article, there is no way to play Honkai Star Rail using a controller on mobile devices. HoYoverse has never addressed this question, and it remains to be seen if it will ever be supported officially. I have tried a few gamepads, including my Playstation 5's Dualsense controller, but without success.
Certain third-party apps can enable you to map your gamepad's controls to the on-screen buttons inside the game, enabling a communication link between your controller and your mobile device. This solution is still far from perfect, and you will still need to use the game's touch controls on your device's display to move your character and attack.
If you still like the physical feedback that pressing physical buttons provides yet want to remain portable, you will be pleased to know that Honkai Star Rail can be played on Steam Deck, albeit through third-party modifications. So, if you own a Steam Deck and want the best of both worlds, you can still enjoy the haptic goodness without being stationary.
If you're looking for more guides to help you on your adventures in Honkai Star Rail, you've come to the right place! Check out Honkai Star Rail how to unlock dailies,= and Will Honkai Star Rail be on Steam? here on Pro Game Guides!
Luka Rakocevic works as a full-time staff writer at Pro Game Guides and is a new-generation gamer. Backed with old-school gaming knowledge, his oldest gaming memories are on SNES, trying to beat Super Mario. Games are his big inspiration, and he frequently draws from that well to create new art. He prefers narrative-driven games like God of War, Killzone, Half-life, Uncharted and similar.
Luka mainly writes science fiction in his free time. When he's not home banging away at his computer keyboard, you will most likely find him at a local pub or a metal concert in the middle of a mosh pit.