Revision 1

Overview

The main story of Honor of Kings: World spans 10 chapters and offers approximately 40 to 60 hours of narrative content. The story follows the Flowborn, a player-created character with the rare ability to channel the combat techniques of legendary heroes through the Flow style system. Set across the continent of Primaera, the narrative weaves together themes of family, duty, and self-discovery against the backdrop of an ancient conflict that threatens to reshape the world.

Liu Cixin Collaboration

The game's narrative framework was developed in collaboration with Liu Cixin, the acclaimed Chinese science fiction author best known for The Three-Body Problem trilogy. Liu Cixin contributed to the world-building and overarching mythology of Primaera, bringing his signature approach to grand-scale storytelling and civilizational themes. His involvement elevated the narrative ambitions of the project beyond what is typical for action RPGs, with the story exploring philosophical questions about power, legacy, and the relationship between ancient civilizations and the modern world.

While Liu Cixin's influence is most visible in the macro-level lore (the history of Primaera, the origin of Flow energy, the nature of the ancient conflicts), the day-to-day story writing and quest design were handled by TiMi Studios' internal writing team, who translated those broader concepts into individual story beats and character arcs.

The Antagonist: Xin

The primary antagonist of the main story is Xin, also known as the "Man-in-Black." Xin operates from the shadows, manipulating events across Primaera to achieve goals that are not immediately apparent to the player. His motivations unfold gradually across the 10 chapters, and early encounters paint him as a straightforward villain before later revelations add complexity to his character. Xin's connection to the ancient history of Primaera and the origins of Flow energy makes him more than a simple obstacle; understanding his motivations becomes central to understanding the world itself.

Encounters with Xin punctuate the story at key moments, serving as both narrative turning points and challenging boss fights. His combat abilities reflect his deep knowledge of Flow, making him one of the most dangerous opponents the Flowborn faces.

Mentor Yunyue

Yunyue serves as the Flowborn's primary mentor and one of the most important supporting characters in the story. A powerful guardian with deep knowledge of Flow and Primaera's history, Yunyue guides the player through the early chapters and provides context for the larger conflict. Her relationship with the Flowborn evolves over the course of the story, shifting from teacher and student to something closer to equals as the player's abilities grow.

Yunyue's own backstory is intertwined with the main narrative. Her history with the forces opposing Primaera and her personal sacrifices add emotional weight to the story's later chapters. She is among the most popular characters with the player community, frequently cited as a highlight of the narrative experience.

Themes

The main story explores several interconnected themes. Family, both biological and chosen, drives many of the character motivations and emotional arcs. Duty and the tension between personal desires and larger responsibilities create conflict for both the Flowborn and the supporting cast. Self-discovery is woven into the gameplay itself, as the Flowborn's growing mastery of Flow styles mirrors their increasing understanding of their own identity and purpose.

These themes ground the story's larger-than-life events in relatable human emotions. Even as the narrative deals with world-threatening conflicts and ancient powers, the character-level stories remain focused on personal relationships and individual choices.

Side Quests and World Events

Beyond the main story, Honor of Kings: World offers a substantial volume of side quests and world events. Side quests range from short fetch tasks to multi-step storylines with their own casts of characters and narrative arcs. Some side quests connect to the main story by providing additional context or foreshadowing future events, while others are self-contained stories that flesh out the lives of Primaera's inhabitants.

World events are time-limited or triggered activities that occur throughout the open world. These can include NPC emergencies, monster invasions, environmental anomalies, and seasonal celebrations. World events provide variety between main story chapters and keep the open world feeling dynamic and alive.