Honkai Star Rail recently got its highly anticipated 2.0 update on February 6, bringing a whole slew of features that include a massive new planet, Penacony, three new playable characters, and new activities and quests to complete.

This isn’t just a simple update, and for trailblazers who looked forward to it with eagerness, it’s proven to be quite the offering. For a lapsed player such as myself who boarded the Astral Express when the game first launched last year and took a break shortly after, the Honkai Star Rail 2.0 update looked enticing enough to get me on the train ride once again.

The Honkai Star Rail 2.0 update is quite stellar.

Of course, as with games of this type, the most exciting additions are the new characters. Honkai Star Rail’s 2.0 update includes not just one but three characters that will surely drain players of their saved-up Stellar Jades.

Black Swan is the one most players will be gunning for, given that she has been on everyone’s radar since her first appearance. She’s also a 5-star Nihility character, which bodes well for players looking to bolster their party for the challenges ahead.

The great thing about her skill set is how she applies a special damage over time effect, Arcana, that triggers more effects the more Arcana stacks there are. For tougher battles that can go on for a while, Black Swan is almost a necessity that, when paired properly with party members who can take advantage of the Arcana stack, can lead to a well-fought victory.

While Black Swan will surely garner attention, let’s not forget both Sparkle and Misha, both serving as reinforcements should your luck allow you to pull for them. In need of an additional freeze effect? Misha can do the job for you. On the other hand, Sparkle can also shine bright during battles, offering more strategic options because of her Dreamdiver skill which can advance forward an ally.

In case you missed out on previous Honkai Star Rail banners, no need to worry because Imbibitor Lunae and Jin Yuan will also return in the event warp, making the 2.0 update a good time to spend all of that Stellar Jade that you’ve been saving up.

Penacony, on its own, is a sight to behold. It looks dreamy, and that’s because you enter the dreamscape by sleeping, which is quite a nice touch considering its overall look and feel. The overarching theme of Penacony evokes an old-school retro city, with bright neon lights and billboards galore. It feels alive, and simply moving around is a treat for the senses.

With a new city comes new quests, bosses, and minigames. Penacony, being the entertainment locale that it is, has several activities that will surely pique your interest. Simply exploring the place will require the use of bubble bridges, or even a pinball machine that can take you to other areas.

There’s a prison break event that culminates in a boss fight that yields nice rewards, including a free 4-star character. Another event, called the Dreamchaser Bulletin, requires players to challenge various enemies around Penacony for even more useful items. These activities are fantastic and bring the whole Penacony experience to exciting heights.

Honkai Star Rail’s 2.0 update is a meaty one and is enough motivation for lapsed players such as myself to take the trip back on the Astral Express. While it may be a bit intimidating, to a certain degree, seeing all of the content I missed out on, experiencing Penacony made me realize why I played the game in the first place.

This time around, I may just take my time and not get caught up in all of the failed banner attempts.

Honkai Star Rail’s 2.0 update is now available on mobile devices, PS4, and PS5.