"HUMANITY" is a single-player Science Fiction Platformer game with a good story, delightful game mechanics, and compelling graphics. As a dog, command massive crowds of people to solve puzzles and march towards salvation in 90 story-mode stages, enhanced by action-focused elements, platformer-like levels, and epic boss battles. The user-generated content feature allows for unlimited challenging stages created by other players and the ability for you to create and share your own levels, available in optional VR mode.
Humanity offers a unique blend of puzzle mechanics reminiscent of Lemmings, with engaging gameplay that evolves throughout the game.
The game features beautiful visuals and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the overall experience, making it a joy to play.
The inclusion of a level editor and user-generated content provides endless replayability, allowing players to create and share their own puzzles.
The game shifts from puzzle-solving to more action-oriented gameplay in the later stages, which may frustrate players expecting a pure puzzle experience.
Some mechanics can feel imprecise, particularly the dog control, which can lead to frustrating moments during gameplay.
The soundtrack can become repetitive over time, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
gameplay
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
63%
3%
The gameplay in "Humanity" is a refreshing blend of puzzle mechanics reminiscent of classic titles like Lemmings, gradually introducing new elements that keep the experience engaging and varied. While the initial stages are praised for their clever design and strategic depth, some players feel that later levels shift towards less satisfying action-oriented mechanics, sacrificing the intricate puzzle-solving for trial-and-error gameplay. Overall, the game offers a unique and enjoyable experience, with a strong emphasis on evolving mechanics and creative challenges throughout its extensive level design.
“Humanity is a refreshing puzzle game with amazing lemmings-esque gameplay, where you play as a shiba inu who has the job of guiding humans to the goal of each level while avoiding others and collecting the sometimes optional gold by placing turns, jumps, and other commands.”
“The game does a great job of gradually revealing new tricks and mechanics to meet the ever-increasing challenges of the next trials.”
“With its charming visuals, clever level design, and addictive gameplay, this title shares a spiritual kinship with the beloved Lemmings franchise while adding its own unique twists.”
“The first two thirds of the game were genuinely joyous, but the rate at which the game devolves into a frustrating mess of questionable design, poorly telegraphed mechanics, and unreliable unit behavior makes the joy and satisfaction vanish.”
“But the game takes itself seriously enough, and the gameplay eventually evolves far beyond Lemmings.”
“One main mechanic it introduces later on becomes a bit unwieldy, which can make it frustrating when the game is also demanding precise inputs or tight goals.”
music
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
44%
7%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its unique charm and ability to enhance the atmosphere, while others find it repetitive or even bothersome. Many appreciate the integration of the soundtrack with the visuals, creating an immersive experience, but some express disappointment over the lack of distinct tracks for each level. Overall, the music is seen as a significant aspect of the game, though its appeal may vary based on personal taste.
“And topping it all off was the music, how it set the mood for every stage of the story.”
“The music and art direction are both superb, and the story is succinctly-told yet very powerful.”
“Excellent game with very satisfying puzzles and an amazing electronic soundtrack!”
“The music didn’t resonate with me due to the short loops.”
“I didn't like that each level or chapter of the game didn't have its own dedicated song given the team's pedigree.”
“The music is atrocious though, it's really novel in the beginning of the game when you are still introduced to mechanics and every level is like 3 minutes.”
story
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
70%
6%
The game's story mode, while secondary to the puzzle-solving mechanics, is surprisingly engaging and features a succinct yet impactful narrative that explores philosophical themes about humanity. Players appreciate the variety of puzzles and the seamless integration of story progression with gameplay, making for a captivating experience that keeps them hooked throughout the approximately 12-14 hour playtime. Although some feel the story could have leaned into absurdity more, the overall aesthetic, music, and the ability to create and share levels enhance the game's appeal beyond the main narrative.
“So I was a little shocked at how much I was engaged in the story, an element I thought was going to be the minimum framework to justify the weird puzzle-solving scenarios.”
“While the story may delve into profound depths, it offers an intriguing philosophical narrative that leaves an indelible impression, inviting contemplation and evoking a sense of fascination.”
“The main story is short and sweet, adding concepts along the way which keeps up the variety all the way through to the end.”
“The game is trying to tell a story, but I wonder if it would have been better if it gave up the story in favor of being as ridiculous as possible.”
“Story is passable but cosmetic, which is fine in a puzzle game, I guess.”
“The story doesn't make any sense, but uses interesting metaphors about human nature that somehow explain to the player what the heck he is seeing on his screen.”
graphics
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
49%
7%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their minimalistic yet captivating design, which enhances the overall immersive experience, especially in VR. Users appreciate the original art style, smooth animations, and the harmonious blend of visuals with a mesmerizing soundtrack, creating a unique and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere. While some mention minor glitches, the overall consensus is that the visuals contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout in the puzzle genre.
“The graphics are crisp and animations are smooth.”
“The game is aesthetically pleasing, with relatively simple graphics being all that's needed for a super entertaining gameplay loop.”
“The art style is delightful, showcasing vibrant environments that feel straight out of a dream.”
“I assume that was because the graphic & environmental design is really bare bone & all gray.”
“In short, the game's music, audio, and graphic features are far too simplistic, yet everything else about it is done brilliantly, including the marketing through videos, including the live action humour.”
“The tranquil aesthetics of humanity are a signature of the team behind Tetris Effect, Child of Eden, Lumines, and Rez.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of engaging puzzles and tedious platforming, with players often feeling frustrated by repetitive tasks, especially when aiming for 100% completion. While some mechanics offer unique challenges, they are underutilized, leading to a sense of monotony in certain stages. However, the ability to progress without starting over and the inclusion of achievements provide a balance that mitigates the grind for some players.
“Starts out as a very promising puzzle game, but then it abandons its most interesting mechanics in favor of much more tedious and frustrating ones.”
“Most puzzles are nice difficulty, some are pretty easy and some are quite hard, and a few can feel pretty tedious, especially if you want to go for 100%.”
“These stages become more tedious than hard when enemies are involved.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting smooth performance even on lower-end systems and during intense gameplay scenarios. The effective use of Unity's threading system contributes to a lag-free experience, and it supports various VR drivers for optimal performance. However, some players noted that the game can push their computer's fans significantly.
“There are plenty of mechanics to keep the game from feeling stale, and the game runs smoothly.”
“From a game perspective, it runs smoothly on PC on a 5K screen at 120Hz.”
“Excellent use of Unity's fancy threading system means that while there are thousands of humans on screen, I've not once had a performance dip.”
“Note that humanity supports both native SteamVR drivers and native Meta/Oculus drivers for optimal performance.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers significant replayability through its robust level creator and sharing features, allowing players to engage with a nearly endless supply of user-generated content. Revisiting previous levels with new skills and strategies also enhances the experience, ensuring that players can continually discover new paths and challenges. Overall, the combination of user levels and a creative level editor contributes to a dynamic and engaging gameplay experience.
“The addition of the level creator and sharing adds some great replay value, with quality user levels finding their way to the front of the offerings.”
“Additionally, the inclusion of a robust level editor provides endless replayability, allowing you to create and share your own mind-bending challenges.”
“I also really dig the level editor and online map element, which is a smart way to add replay value and creativity to the game.”
“It is interesting to revisit previous levels and with all the baggage collected from the experience during the adventure in humanity and discover new paths that previously seemed impossible, making sure that there is no monotony and increasing its replayability.”
“Additionally, the inclusion of a robust level editor provides endless replayability, so you can create and share your own mind-bending challenges.”
“I also really dig the level editor and online map element which is such a smart way to add replay value and creativity to a game.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes a strong emotional response, blending surrealism with heartbreak, particularly through its unique use of humans in gameplay, which amplifies the player's feelings of empathy and loss. Players describe it as a bizarre yet impactful experience that challenges their emotional engagement.
“The most surreal, emotional, and bizarre puzzle-platform game you will play.”
“This was a heartbreaking experience, and I mean that in the worst way possible.”
“Using humans instead of lemmings is brilliant, as you instantly react more emotionally when seeing many humans fall to their death.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as surreal and somewhat lacking, with some players finding it cute but not particularly memorable. While the presence of a cute dog and funny graphics adds charm, the overall comedic impact seems minimal, overshadowed by the game's engaging puzzles and soundtrack.
“Cute dog guiding funny humans... as a cat, this game is very cute and fun!”
“Cool puzzles and funny graphics, but the soundtrack is so good that it makes the entire game incredible.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is largely praised for its fitting soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience and complements the clever puzzles. However, some users find the atmosphere irritating at times, despite acknowledging the quality of the puzzles. Overall, it blends elements reminiscent of classic puzzle games, creating a unique vibe.
“I enjoyed the atmosphere in the game, mainly created by the fitting soundtrack.”
“Easy choice if you enjoy clever puzzles, and the music gives a nice atmosphere.”
“Lemmings meets Pikmin with Japanese puzzle game vibes, and a great soundtrack adds a lot to the atmosphere.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with users noting that while there are occasional glitches, the gameplay is mostly smooth and the graphics are appealing. Players appreciate the game's relatively bug-free experience at launch, which is a commendable achievement in today's gaming landscape.
“It's super rare that a game comes out feeling bug-free and complete from day one, so I've got to commend the game on this!”
“The stability of this game is impressive; I haven't encountered any crashes or major glitches.”
“I appreciate how smooth the gameplay is; it really enhances the overall experience.”
“When you activate a button, it freezes the gameplay and shows you what changed.”
“The game offers some nice graphics; however, there are some ugly glitches here and there.”