History ShoutOut / HonkaiImpact3rd

* [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ercongrats.png One scene]] in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbjBu85AUSA "Elysian Realm in a Nutshell"]] animation recreates the "Congratulations!" scene from episode 26.

** The minigame for the event is basically ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies'' with the Flame-Chasers acting the the plants. For example: Fu Hua is Peashooter, Pardofelis is Sunflower, Kalpas is Cherry Bomb, etc.

* An [[https://www.pocketgamer.biz/asia/interview/68023/the-making-of-mihoyos-honkai-impact-3rd/ interview]] with Creator/MiHoYo's president, Forrest Wei Liu, [[WordOfGod confirmed]] that ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' and ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'' were two classic action games that served as gameplay [[InspirationForTheWork inspirations]] for ''[=HI3=]''... And it shows in this game's movesets. There are even compilation videos on the Internet that highlight the similar animations and moves ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXsYyKNglwk such]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF-8beKoZOI as]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xRIFYcqE4Y these]]).

* The ''Evangelion'' references also show up in story-related elements. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMcIv6IO98A This interview video]] preceding the ''Honkai Impact 3rd x Evangelion'' [[{{Crossover}} collab event]] has also confirmed that ''Eva'' was a huge [[InspirationForTheWork inspiration]] for this game, overall, confirming that a lot of the references are intentional.

* The ''Evangelion'' references also show up in story-related elements:

** A checkpoint floor in the Endless Maelstorm is named "[[Series/MasterChef Master Chef]] of the Deep".

** A checkpoint floor in the Endless Maelstorm is named "Series/MasterChef of the Deep".

* "Summer Survival: Rhapsody Side A": One of the Dice skills is named [[Franchise/FateSeries "Unlimited Dice Works"]].

** The menu screen listing for the "Honkai Kingdoms" event featured [[https://www.reddit.com/r/houkai3rd/comments/bucjbz/is_that_a_neon_genesis_evangelion_reference/ Fu Hua in the "Gendo pose"]].

** In the Schicksal side's story, [[https://imgur.com/a/50L9Jub one cutscene]] has Fu Hua clearly imitating [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Gendo Ikari]]'s [[FingerTenting usual desk pose]], complete with ScaryShinyGlasses and being flanked by a second-in-command (in this case, Kiana in her Knight Moonbeam battlesuit).
** At one point, Rozaliya and Liliya make [[https://pm1.narvii.com/7180/4a47617e6b169bc42dffe2c9deaa52cfffaab41br1-720-407v2_hq.jpg poses]] taken straight from [[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure Josuke and Kakyoin]].

[[folder:Gameplay]]

*** Kiana's White Comet and Divine Prayer battlesuits have a few of the titular Bayonetta's attacks and techniques, including the Wicked Weaves and Witch Time.
*** Mei's "long blade extensions" are a homage to Shuraba (Bayonetta's katana)'s unique "Wicked Blades".

*** Kiana and Durandal share several attacks from Dante's moveset. Among them are Kiana's [[spoiler:Herrscher of Flamescion]] battlesuit which comes with a LauncherMove / MeteorMove combo that works like Dante's High Time / Helm Breaker, while Durandal's Palatinus Equinox battlesuit has a DefendCommand with a counter-mechanic in vein of Royal Guard and both suits also have their own spin on the "throw your weapon like it's a boomerang" move similar to Dante's Round Trip with Kiana using her guns and Durandal using her shield.

* Kiana's Knight Moonbeam battlesuit has the lyrics of the ''Anime/MyHime'' opening written on various parts of it. While too blurry to be read in-game, they're a lot clearer in the "[[https://youtu.be/ppDfdCnOF1o?t=119 Reburn]]" animation and in the "[[https://mangadex.org/chapter/617367/9 AE Invasion]]" manga. The English version of the manga chapter where the Moonbeam battlesuit appears also makes the reference more apparent, with the chapter being localized with the title "Fairytale They Believe" and including the song lyrics themselves on the [[https://mangadex.org/chapter/617367/16 last page]].

* The game features a number of nods to ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'':
** The most immediately obvious is in the game's English title--''Honkai''' '''''Impact 3rd''''', referencing Third Impact[[note]]the feared scenario where an Angel makes contact with Adam and annihilates all life on the planet, and which eventually does happen in ''The End of Evangelion'' but under different circumstances[[/note]]
** The very first game that [=miHoYo=] made was called "Fly Me 2 The Moon", a reference to ''Evangelion''[='s=] ending theme.
** The FutureSpandex look of the MECH-type battlesuits, especially Kiana's White Comet, is visually evocative of the Eva pilots' plug suits.
** The Honkai beasts' color scheme is reminiscent of the look of the Mass-Produced Evas from ''The End of Evangelion''.
** On the PC especially, it's very easy to see that two of the control pods on the bridge are labeled [[TheThreeWiseMen "Balthasar" and "Melchior"]]. Your bridge Valkyrie is often standing in front of the third pod, but someone small and easy to look past like Bronya does reveal the third is indeed named "Caspar" (or rather, Casper). These are the names given to the three cores of the MAGI supercomputer in the heart of NERV headquarters.
** The figure of Rei Ayanami is split between three characters. Bronya has her stoic personality and troubles with expressing emotion. Theresa, like Rei, is a clone of the BigBad's dead lover, made by him. Raven takes some design cues from Rei (gray hair in a shaggy bob haircut, red eyes, generously endowed) and also has a cold, stoic personality.

* The older Mei from the "Post-Honkai Odyssey" Open World has a similar look to [[Videogame/SenranKagura Ikaruga]], down to wielding her katana the similar way. One of her Ultimate Skills its also a lightning version of one of Ikaruga's ninja arts: a blue bird-shaped SwordBeam that flies to hit enemies multiple times.
* Valkyrie Gloria (Durandal)'s Ultimate Skill seems to be a mix of [[Videogame/FateGrandOrder Ereshkigal's Kur Kigal Irkalla]] (its initial strike and aftereffects) and [[Videogame/FateExtra Karna's Brahmastra Kundala]] (its second attack).
* One of the bosses of Post-Honkai Odyssey, code-named "Code XIII: Death" is one to one of ''Videogame/NierAutomata'''s bosses, Simone.
* "Honkai Weekly Trivia" tends to include these in the choices given to the player.

* The Herrscher Files [=10F=] stage opens with the warning text: "[[Anime/DragonBallZ Enemy power level over 9000]] detected, prepare for battle".

[[folder:Story]]

** In Ch. 17, the PillarOfLight that shoots up to the sky as part of the 2nd Divine Key's activation is shaped like a cross, akin to the cross-shaped explosions in Eva.
** In the "Reawakening" short animation tied to Ch. 20, [[spoiler:Dark Fu Hua]] tries to break through Project Bunny's barrier with her bare hands, mimicking Sahaquiel's attack against Shinji in ''[[Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion Rebuild 2.0]]''.
** In the "Shattered Samsara" animation (in the middle of ch. 22), [[spoiler:Kiana pulls Fu Hua out from the Fenghuang Down feather that she sealed herself and Herrscher of Sentience within]]; the shots used are almost similar to the scene in ''Rebuild'' where Shinji saves Rei from being absorbed by an Angel.
* Some of the settings are similar to ''Manga/{{Freezing}}''. Both feature female warriors called "Valkyries", they employ a technology called "Stigmata" (super-empowering implants, similar to this game), and the catastrophic events called "Nth Nova Crash" is similar to the "Nth Collapse/Honkai Impact" used in this game.

* In the updated chapter 2 Fu Hua quizzes Kiana on various game elements, and when she asks you to repeat the game's type advantage triangle you can either give her the correct answer or respond with the weapon triangle from ''VideoGame/FireEmblem''
* At one point in Ch. 7, there's a scene where Himeko walks on top of the Helios fighter craft, preparing to fight invading Honkai Beasts. The scene is framed like the infamous [[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure "DIO walk"]].
* In the side story "Gemina Tales", the girls are making a film where [[SelfParody they re-enact scenes from the story mode]]. Among them is one scene between Kiana and Fu Hua in Ch. 6, but it's played by Rozaliya and Rita, respectively. Then before the "fight", Rita - as Argent Knight - suddenly [[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure pulls a "Jojo" pose and summons her Crescent Harvest behind her, complete with the "menacing" effects]].
* In Ch. 13, Rita is weakened by an anti-Honkai gas bomb and cornered by multiple cyborg zombies, while her enemy [[spoiler:Raven of the World Serpent]] in a transmission screen gloats that her squadmates are in the same predicament. She then notices Rita smiling, saying that she has a "heart of stone". Rita then says that "I'm thinking of how we could repay you after you fall to our hands". It's almost a mirror to the scene in ''Manga/StardustCrusaders'' when Jotaro was under Steely Dan's mercy.
* At the start of Ch. 14, when Fu Hua describes [[spoiler:Kevin]] to Kiana, she says that he could be [[Film/TheDarkKnight "humanity's best protector, if he died in [the final battle in Previous Era]" ]]. He would then live on to do outrageously questionable deeds, even if it is to try to improve humanity and fight the Honkai.
* Like how ''Videogame/DevilMayCry'' tends to allude to classic literature (''Literature/TheDivineComedy'' and Creator/WilliamBlake's poems), Post-Honkai Odyssey has a shout-out to ''Duino Elegies'', a series of poetry by Creator/RainerMariaRilke. One of the files you can collect is a few excerpt of the poems, while "Otto" quotes one of the poems in one of the audio recordings.
* The main villain of Post-Honkai Odyssey, [[spoiler:Void Archives]], claims that he's a man-made machine that has kept humanity company for its short lifespan. He claims that he wants to save humanity, but in a way they wouldn't appreciate, as he has a rather flawed understanding of humanity. He used to accompany someone who "ruled" a vast "empire", until that someone died and he took on the latter's body, making everyone think said "ruler" has come back to life. He also had a low opinion of this "ruler". This guy is basically channeling [[Videogame/FateGrandOrder Goetia]].

* In ch. 17, when Mei laments over how she's too attached to her peaceful past life with Kiana, she ends up saying this:
-->[[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica I've always been such a naive fool...]]
* The climax of ch. 17 where [[spoiler:Mei, the secondary protagonist with lightning powers, after gaining a major power-up, decides to join the group of someone who's associated with snakes, with TheHero (her friend) not approving of it and them fighting each other because of it; the battle ends with a close-range struggle where Mei ultimately wins and leaves for good]], is reminiscent of Manga/{{Naruto}} and Sasuke's fight near the end of the pre-TimeSkip era. In the "Lament of the Fallen" video, [[spoiler:Mei]] can even use Sasuke's Chidori technique.

* Anniversary Memories Festival

* "Valkyries' Spring Feast" contains a garbled Creator/HPLovecraft reference. The stargazy pie that Kallen makes is so badly burnt that it actually knocks the Captain unconscious when he tries it. When he comes to, he says that he "gained audience with Azatoth (sic)...[t]he Deev Sultan who watches over that...darkness beyond..."
* Winter Rhapsody

* Honkai Kingdoms

* Seele's Summer Suite Event

* St. Freya Fiesta:

* Cooking with Kiana:
** One of the things you can make in the event is a Fruity Dango, with a description that references the viral "Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen" song

* Empyrean Legends

* Cybernet Havens

** The memetic line from ''VideoGame/ZeroWing'' gets a couple of nods:

*** Otto improves the durability of his mech by inputting the cheat codes [[VideoGame/{{Doom}} "IDDQD"]] and [[VideoGame/StarCraft "Power Overwhelming"]]. Later on he yells "[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration IT IS A GOOD DAY TO DIE]]".

* Honkai Kingdoms: Zero

* The Day You Vanished with the Stars

* The English name of the event in version 4.6 where the cast visits a mysterious island in Shenzhou, the game's FantasyCounterpartCulture of China? "[[Film/OnceUponATimeInChina Once Upon a Time in Shenzhou]]".

[[folder:Comics & Manga]]

* From the "Reach Captain Level" achievements, there is "[[Anime/LegendOfGalacticHeroes My Conquest is the Sea of Stars]]" and "To Denounce the Power of Justice and Love", a reference to the "To denounce the power of truth and love" catchphrase of Team Rocket from the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime.

*** A good number of Sakura's techniques are lifted from Vergil's. For example, the ChargedAttack of her Goushinnso Memento battlesuit is almost an exact replica of Vergil's iconic {{Iaijutsu|Practitioner}} move from the ''[[UpdatedRerelease Special Edition]]'' of ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4''.

*** A good number of Sakura's techniques are lifted from Vergil's.

* An [[https://www.pocketgamer.biz/asia/interview/68023/the-making-of-mihoyos-honkai-impact-3rd/ interview]] with miHoYo's president, Forrest Wei Liu, [[WordOfGod confirmed]] that ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' and ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'' were two classic action games that served as gameplay [[InspirationForTheWork inspirations]] for ''[=HI3=]''... And it shows in this game's movesets. There are even compilation videos on the Internet that highlight the similar animations and moves ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXsYyKNglwk such]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF-8beKoZOI as]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xRIFYcqE4Y these]]).

*** The "protagonist" of Post-Honkai Odyssey has his sword movements resembling [[Videogame/DevilMayCry4 Nero]], but with his right hand instead of Nero's left. His sword also resembles Red Queen.

* In chapter 25, a certain character gains a NextTierPowerUp by fusing with the remnants of her "role model", the newfound power allows her to freely summon a special {{BFS}} in her hands (while also still wielding guns), she gains access to a LauncherMove and aerial attacks, one of her attacks in her new form creates an exploding black hole, and she has a "rival" character who wields a Japanese sword. Oh, and she has white hair too. This describes both Dante in ''Videogame/DevilMayCry5'' and [[spoiler:Kiana as Herrscher of Flamescion]].

** The plot is eventually revealed to take cues from ''Franchise/TheMatrix''. Golem's "backup programming" considers Zhuge Kongming to be an "anomaly" that it is determined to erase from the timeline, very similar to how the Architect saw humans who rejected the Matrix as a "systemic anomaly" in the Matrix's programming. Golem's assassins (represented by Gray Serpent) are also very reminiscent of the Agents.

** The figure of Rei Ayanami is split between three characters. Bronya has her stoic personality and troubles with expressing emotion. Theresa, like Rei, is a clone of the BigBad's dead lover, made by him; and Raven takes some design cues from Rei (gray hair in a shaggy bob haircut, red eyes, generously endowed) and also has a cold, stoic personality.

** The figure of Rei Ayanami is split between 3 characters: Bronya (personality wise), Theresa (being a clone of the BigBad's dead lover, made by him), and Raven (appearance wise). Additionally, Raven takes some design cues from Rei (gray hair in a shaggy bob haircut, red eyes, generously endowed, and a stoic, cold personality).

** The figure of Rei Ayanami is split between 3 characters: Bronya (personality wise), Theresa (being a clone of the BigBad's dead lover, made by him), and Raven (appearance wise).

** In the Schicksal side's story, [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_6203.PNG one cutscene]] has Fu Hua clearly imitating [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Gendo Ikari]]'s [[FingerTenting usual desk pose]], complete with ScaryShinyGlasses and being flanked by a second-in-command (in this case, Kiana in her Knight Moonbeam battlesuit).

** In the Schicksal side's story, one cutscene has Fu Hua clearly imitating [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Gendo Ikari]]'s [[FingerTenting usual desk pose]], complete with ScaryShinyGlasses and being flanked by a second-in-command (in this case, Kiana in her Knight Moonbeam battlesuit).

*** Meanwhile, Mei's "long blade extensions" are a homage to Shuraba (Bayonetta's katana)'s unique "Wicked Blades".

*** The "protagonist" of Post-Honkai Odyssey has his sword movements resembling [[Videogame/DevilMayCry4 Nero]], but with right hand instead of Nero's left. His sword also resembles Red Queen.

* Himeko's sword motions resemble that of ''Videogame/MonsterHunter'''s greatsword attacks. Luna Kindred (Theresa)'s ChargedAttack also evokes the Charge Blade.

* The design of Violet Executer (Theresa) is similar to that of Iron Maiden Jeanne from ''Manga/ShamanKing'', with added juttings based on actual iron maidens.

* Himeko’s chibis will find a copy of ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men_Are_from_Mars,_Women_Are_from_Venus Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus]]'' in a bookcase, remark that it’s an interesting book, and wonder if it will help them find a partner.

** In the "Reawakening" short animation tied to Ch. 20, [[spoiler:Dark Fu Hua]] tries to break through Project Bunny's barrier with her bare hands, mimicking Sahaquiel's attack against Shinji in [[Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion Rebuild 2.0]].
** In the "Shattered Samsara" animation (in the middle of ch. 22), [[spoiler:Kiana pulls Fu Hua out from the Fenghuang Down feather that she sealed herself and Herrscher of Sentience within]]; the shots used are almost similar to the scene in Rebuild where Shinji saves Rei from being absorbed by an Angel.

* In the side story "Gemina Tales", the girls are making a film where [[SelfParody they re-enact scenes from the story mode]]. Among them is one scene between Kiana and Fu Hua in Ch. 6, but it's played by Rozaliya and Rita, respectively. Then before the "fight", Rita - as Argent Knight - suddenly [[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure pulls a "Jojo" pose and summons her Crescent Harvest behind her, complete with the "menacing" effects.]]
* In Ch. 13, Rita is weakened by an anti-Honkai gas bomb and cornered by multiple cyborg zombies, while her enemy [[spoiler:Raven of the World Serpent]] in a transmission screen gloats that her squadmates are in the same predicament. She then notices Rita smiling, calling her having a "heart of stone". Rita then says that "I'm thinking of how we could repay you after you fall to our hands". It's almost a mirror to the scene in ''Manga/StardustCrusaders'' when Jotaro was under Steely Dan's mercy.

* Like how ''Videogame/DevilMayCry'' tends to allude to classic literature (''Divine Comedy'' and William Blake's poems), Post-Honkai Odyssey has a shout-out to ''Duino Elegies'', a series of poetry by Creator/RainerMariaRilke. One of the files you can collect is a few excerpt of the poems, while "Otto" quotes one of the poems in one of the audio recordings.

-->'''Mei:''' [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica I've always been such a naive fool...]]
* The climax of ch. 17 where [[spoiler:Mei, the secondary protagonist with lightning powers, after gaining a major power-up, decides to join the group of someone who's associated with snakes, with TheHero (her friend) not approving of it and them fighting each other because of it; the battle ends with a close-range struggle where Mei ultimately wins and leaves for good]], is reminiscent of Manga/{{Naruto}} and Sasuke's fight near the end of the pre-TimeSkip era. In "Lament of the Fallen" video, [[spoiler:Mei]] can even use Sasuke's Chidori technique.

** The game that Fu Hua and Yae Sakura played? [[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Guilty Honkai III]], "the most hardcore fighting title in the history of gaming"
* "Valkyries' Spring Feast" contains a garbled Creator/HPLovecraft reference. The stargazy pie that Kallen makes is so badly burnt that it actually knocks the Captain unconscious when he tries it. When he comes to, he says that he "gained audience with Azatoth...[t]he Deev Sultan who watches over that...darkness beyond..."

** At one point, Rozaliya and Liliya make [[https://pm1.narvii.com/7180/4a47617e6b169bc42dffe2c9deaa52cfffaab41br1-720-407v2_hq.jpg poses]] taken straight from [[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure Josuke & Kakyoin]].

** The "Vodka Non-Alcohol" refrigerator is designed like a giant [[BlandNameProduct Coca Cola can]], with the same font and red/white color scheme and all. In addition, the fridge also contains a [[CreatorCameo caricature of Brother Wei]] doing his best impression of [[VideoGame/{{Fallout}} Vault Boy]]

** Book of Fuxi once notes that people with long-winded entrances tends to end up unlucky, like [[Series/GameOfThrones the Mother of Dragons]].

* At the bottom of [[https://walkthrough.honkaiimpact3.com/article/show/48/11896 a web page detailing what's coming up in patch 4.7]], there's an animation of Theresa in her new outfit running up to and drop kicking the fourth wall. This is also how Gold Ship from ''VideoGame/UmaMusume'' [[https://youtu.be/7XKMLBbxT_8?t=7 celebrates if she gets first place]]

** The start of the event has the Captain bumping into Theresa and remarking on her outfit

* "Stellar Mythos": One of the cited InUniverse theories about Durandal's true origins is that [[VideoGame/GenshinImpact she's a traveler from a distant land looking for her twin brother.]]

** Some of the Valkyries' skill names are references to other media:
*** Lightning Empress - "[[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Dragon May Cry]]"
*** Dimension Breaker - "VideoGame/MetalGear"
*** Fallen Rosemary - "VideoGame/GodEater"