Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey

About

"Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey" is a third-person open-world survival game that takes players on a journey exploring the stages of human evolution from 10 million to 2 million years ago in Neogene period Africa. Gameplay includes exploring harsh environments, learning and evolving skills to pass down to future generations, and ensuring basic needs like eating, drinking, and sleeping are met to survive. As players grow their clan, they must make choices that will impact the evolution and survival of their species.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey screenshot

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,154 reviews

gameplay326 positive mentions

grinding376 negative mentions

Unique concept that immerses players in the experience of early human evolution.
Beautiful graphics and a vast, explorable world filled with diverse biomes and wildlife.
Challenging gameplay that rewards exploration and experimentation, making each discovery satisfying.

Steep learning curve with minimal guidance, leading to frustration for new players.
Clunky controls and mechanics, particularly for keyboard and mouse users, making gameplay difficult.
Repetitive gameplay loop that can become tedious after a few hours, with limited content and progression.

gameplay
1,626 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
67%
13%
The gameplay of *Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey* is characterized by a steep learning curve and a lack of clear instructions, which can lead to initial frustration for players. While the mechanics encourage exploration and experimentation, many find the gameplay repetitive and clunky, particularly in combat and crafting systems. Overall, the game offers a unique experience that rewards patience and discovery, but it suffers from issues such as poor controls and limited variety in gameplay mechanics, which may deter some players.
- “The core gameplay revolves around managing a small clan of primates that gradually evolves and adapts to the surrounding world.”
- “The game throws you into a wild world and forces you to figure out the mechanics on your own, which adds to the authenticity of the evolutionary process.”
- “Deep learning curve in the beginning since not a lot of stuff is explained to you, but once you get a good understanding of the core mechanics of the game, it is really fun to explore new possibilities that you could discover.”
- “The controls and gameplay are so clunky and counter-intuitive, it feels less like being a monkey fighting for survival, and more like trying to wrestle a monkey for your own survival.”
- “The mechanics are poorly explained, leading to a steep learning curve that can be both confusing and frustrating.”
- “The gameplay loop became a little rote and boring by the second to last/last evolution because I had explored everything, so I was mostly just grinding out neurons just to change generations and evolve.”
graphics
554 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
39%
5%
The graphics of the game have received a mixed reception, with many players praising their beauty and immersive quality, particularly in depicting the expansive environments and nature. However, some reviews note that the graphics can feel dated or unpolished, especially for a game released in 2021, and there are mentions of graphical glitches and performance issues. Overall, while the visuals are often highlighted as a strong point, they are sometimes overshadowed by gameplay and control concerns.
- “Overall, the graphics, the sounds, and overall gaming experience is phenomenal!”
- “The graphics are amazing, the gameplay is very interesting.”
- “The graphics are excellent and the world very immersive.”
- “I did buy this game on sale for $9.99, I am not sure I would pay full price for it since it is an older game and the graphics are a little unfinished looking.”
- “First impressions: graphics from 2007, awkward animations, immediately came across with invisible borders like in Tomb Raider 3.”
- “The graphics are unpolished, the sort of thing you would see in the PS2 era, but it fits with the gritty prehistoric themes and they can still pull off some impressive vistas with it.”
grinding
390 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
3%
96%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it can become excessively tedious and repetitive, especially in the later stages. While some appreciate the slow, evolutionary progression as a realistic element of the survival genre, others find the lack of variety and direction leads to a frustrating experience. Overall, players who enjoy grind-heavy gameplay may find it rewarding, but those who prefer more dynamic and engaging mechanics might be put off by the monotony.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's not really grindy like an MMO or anything, but I 100% believe that no one should be looking at guides or tips or advice while playing this game.”
- “The gameplay loop became a little rote and boring by the second to last/last evolution because I had explored everything, so I was mostly just grinding out neurons just to change generations and evolve.”
- “Fun for the first couple hours as you explore and discover new things, but after that the game very quickly becomes tedious and repetitive as you figure out that there is nothing left to discover other than new areas with the same sticks, berries, coconuts as the last 15 areas you've been to and there will never be any different weapons or fighting mechanics.”
- “The game is very grindy but I like that personally.”
story
334 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
77%
9%
The game's story is often described as minimal or non-existent, with many players feeling that it lacks a clear narrative or direction. While some appreciate the opportunity for emergent storytelling and personal experiences within the game, others find the vague quests and lack of guidance frustrating, leading to a sense of aimlessness. Overall, the game is seen as more of a sandbox experience where players create their own stories rather than following a structured plot.
- “Honestly one of the best games I've ever played in a long time, sure it's repetitive at times and can be quite frustrating as well but if you're a human evolution enthusiast, love huge open world games, or just enjoy games where you make your own story, then this game is for you.”
- “This game isn't bad and tells a compelling story about the evolution of humankind.”
- “The game tells the story of human origin by making you experience it.”
- “There isn't a real story of any kind; I'm not particularly invested in any of these monkeys, so I really don't care if any of them live or die.”
- “The game sends you on quests with extremely vague descriptions.”
- “There's no story, no objective, no purpose to evolution.”
music
194 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
46%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive and atmospheric qualities, effectively complementing the diverse environments and enhancing the overall experience. Many players highlight the soundtrack's ability to engage them for hours, with some recommending adjustments to volume settings to better hear important sound cues. While the music is generally considered beautiful and fitting, a few critiques mention its repetitiveness and occasional masking of gameplay prompts.
- “Immersive, beautiful world and music that you can disappear into for hours.”
- “The music is lovely, the atmosphere is gorgeous yet somehow intimidating.”
- “The soundtrack is beautiful as well as the ambiance of the wild... if you're part of the people who made this happen; thank you <3 as a nerd with a bit of science-y interest this game is amazing and fascinating to explore.”
- “The end of the game doesn't close you out either; you go through all the credits and then are just left on a black screen with music that sometimes pulses those annoying white spots.”
- “I get the impression there's supposed to be music, but even with all three volume sliders up to 100%, there's no music.”
- “The soundtrack is fine but it just seems to cut in and out at the weirdest times.”
atmosphere
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
79%
17%
4%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining stunning graphics with well-executed sound design that enhances the experience of exploring a primal world filled with wildlife and environmental dangers. Players appreciate the deep sense of immersion, with ambient sounds and a captivating soundtrack contributing to feelings of uncertainty and domination as they progress. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both relaxing and intimidating, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The sound is also well-executed: the environment is filled with the sounds of wildlife, helping you fully immerse yourself in the game’s atmosphere.”
- “With a strong emphasis on graphics, gameplay, and atmospheric elements, the game aims to immerse players in a primal world of survival and adaptation.”
- “Deep atmosphere and the amazing world of ancient earth, filled with sounds, dangers, and possibilities... I totally enjoyed all that.”
- “I picture gamers becoming ultra frustrated with the wonky camera, the unpredictable fall-off-tree-and-plant-your-face-into-the-dirt controls; for me, it just adds to the general atmosphere of being an oblivious ancestor looking to make sense of a wild nature.”
- “That certain atmosphere of the unknown?”
- “Easy to get into the mental atmosphere of these primal times.”
humor
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is largely centered around the antics of the monkeys, with players finding amusement in the absurdity of their actions and the challenges they face, such as throwing chimps off trees or struggling with gameplay mechanics. While many players appreciate the comedic elements and the game's ironic take on evolution, some feel that the humor can wear thin after extended play, leading to a mix of enjoyment and frustration. Overall, the game successfully delivers a lighthearted experience, though opinions vary on its long-term entertainment value.
- “There's something deeply ironic about how a game about evolution is hilariously shallow.”
- “The fact that playing as a literal ape is too hard for some people is hilarious.”
- “My only gripe is the micromanagement of who has what in which hand when you want to mass produce something for the group; it's kinda funny though when everybody goes to turn in their spears and one or two of your clan are left holding a stick because they just couldn't keep up with the class.”
stability
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous glitches and bugs that significantly hinder gameplay. While some users note minor issues that are manageable, others describe the experience as frustratingly unpolished, with game-breaking problems and long loading times. Overall, the consensus is that the game feels incomplete and requires substantial improvements to its stability.
- “The game runs great.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and the game runs great for me on maxed settings.”
- “Was really looking forward to trying it, but the opening cutscene and loading takes at least 5 minutes and can't be skipped, and before it even finishes, it freezes on me.”
- “Very frustrating game, has elements of a great experience, but never gets there: it's a bit buggy at times and not really 'cooked' enough.”
- “Seeing if support can help, but for the time being - this is a buggy mess, stay away, unfortunately.”
replayability
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
69%
12%
Overall, the game has low replayability, with many players noting that the initial exploration and discovery are the most enjoyable aspects, which diminish in subsequent playthroughs. While some elements, like random mutations and skill trees, offer slight variations, the core experience remains largely unchanged, leading to a consensus that once the game is completed, it lacks the incentive to replay. Despite this, the first playthrough is often described as satisfying and worth the investment of time.
- “Even if you have to restart, the game's replayability ensures that you'll find new things on subsequent playthroughs.”
- “Lastly, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey has a high amount of replay value due to the complex skill tree, environmental variables, and the game's survival aspects.”
- “P.S. As for replayability, not so sure yet since I haven't finished my first playthrough, but given that mutations are random, and the fact that you can 'build' your species according to whatever you want to do, I guess it would be playable with multiple lineages no problem.”
- “However, the replay value of the game is still small.”
- “There is 0 replayability with this game.”
- “But I have to say that once you have completed the game it is not very replayable, but one game lasts tens of hours.”
optimization
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
42%
29%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth performance, particularly on the Steam Deck, while others report significant issues, especially for PC users relying on keyboard and mouse controls. Many reviewers noted that the game feels poorly optimized for PC, with clunky controls, random FPS drops, and graphic glitches detracting from the experience. Additionally, Linux users have reported particularly bad performance, highlighting a lack of depth in settings and a clear preference for controller use in the game's design.
- “It is something that usually bothers me a lot and in most games pulls me out of the immersion, but in this case I don’t know if it is because the implementation of some new patches or because I am very lucky, but most performance issues have been minor and have not compromised my experience in a substantial way.”
- “Runs smoothly on Steam Deck.”
- “Performance-wise, the game functions well and had no issues running, though I do wish the settings were a tad more in-depth.”
- “A warning for Linux users: it has extremely bad performance.”
- “The game is quite badly optimized, as there are random FPS drops that made the game unbearable to play even for the little amount of time I played it.”
- “Several graphic glitches and random stuttering make it almost impossible to play due to its fast-paced nature.”
emotional
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a deeply emotional experience while engaging with the game, often forming strong attachments to their monkey clans and feeling genuine sorrow when they face loss. The game evokes a range of feelings, from frustration to joy, as players navigate survival mechanics and explore a beautifully crafted environment. Despite its lack of a traditional narrative, significant moments—such as learning new skills and witnessing the tribe's struggles—create a heartfelt connection that resonates with players.
- “I have gotten super invested in my monkey clan; I cried when my first monkey died.”
- “The environment can be truly beautiful, and putting in the hours and exploring the map have been a meaningful and even emotional experience.”
- “Certain moments were emotional: realizing that the tribe ensures children will survive at all costs, due to the mechanic of hiding spots; walking upright for the first time, or becoming omnivorous; crafting a pointy stick (loving that basalt chopper); playing as a whole tribe instead of a single character; or sacrificing the elders to expand the tribe's territory in the first stages of the game, for the sake of the lineage's survival.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of "Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey" is not explicitly addressed in the reviews, but players express frustration with gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While the game aligns with its advertised design goals, issues with controls and camera functionality may lead to dissatisfaction, potentially impacting players' willingness to invest further in the game.