Humankind Game Cover
Embracing player motivations from start to finish, Humankind refreshes the 4X genre – even with a couple of technical kinks.

In Humankind, a turn-based historical strategy game, you'll craft your own civilization by combining up to 60 cultures from different eras, such as Babylonians, Mayans, Umayyads, and British. Your choices in scientific development, moral decisions, and response to historical events will shape your unique story. The Heritage Collection includes the main game and additional culture packs.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 10,800 reviews
gameplay760 positive mentions
stability374 negative mentions
  • gameplay2,881 mentions

    The gameplay of "Humankind" has received mixed reviews, with players praising its innovative mechanics such as the culture-switching system and tactical combat, which offer a fresh take on the 4X genre. However, many criticize the game for its unbalanced mechanics, particularly the war support system and pollution mechanics, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences. Overall, while the game shows promise with its unique features and engaging visuals, it requires further refinement and balancing to fully realize its potential.

    • “Once the mechanics are mastered, the game itself becomes engaging and worthwhile as you grow your unique civilization.”
    • “The gameplay is well thought out, fun, engaging, and leaves one always clicking for one more turn.”
    • “Humankind introduces innovative features such as the fame system, which incentivizes players to make impactful decisions throughout history to leave their mark on the world.”
    • “It takes a long time to understand Humankind - there are so many different mechanics in play, and so many choices to make without much guidance.”
    • “The game's mechanics, particularly in regard to warfare, are downright infuriating.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is just too tedious and not... fun.”
  • graphics880 mentions

    The graphics of "Humankind" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and unique art style, which many players find to be a significant improvement over its competitor, "Civilization VI." The game features beautifully designed landscapes, detailed unit models, and a vibrant color palette that enhances the overall aesthetic experience. However, some players have reported performance issues and graphical glitches, particularly in late-game scenarios, which can detract from the immersive experience.

    • “The graphics are beautiful, the music is stunning, the gameplay is fantastic.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous, some of the concepts are good and an improvement over civilization.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, the early game is fun and I really like the dynamic culture events that lead into new ones.”
    • “They spent more time on the graphics than gameplay and instruction.”
    • “Currently it looks like a territory painter: all districts are similar, infrastructures are just icons, no specific building inside city center or districts, virtually no graphics for improvements: there are no mines, plantations or whatsoever like in civ games, instead just random tiny houses and assets painted on top of resources barely distinguishable from districts.”
    • “The graphics aren't good enough to really marvel at your buildings or troops anyway, but on top of that everything looks the same between civs/cultures - the districts for food, production, money .. it's all the same!”
  • stability389 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs, crashes, and freezes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users have experienced issues such as unresponsive UI elements, game-breaking glitches, and problems with saving and loading games, leading to frustration and a lack of enjoyment. Despite some improvements since launch, the overall consensus is that the game remains unstable and requires further development to address these ongoing issues.

    • “Apart from these awful design decisions, the game runs well, has a polished UI, and is relatively bug free.”
    • “The game is polished and relatively bug free.”
    • “Overall the game looks and runs great.”
    • “Had so much potential but incredibly buggy and broken; you just lose the time you spend on the game.”
    • “I really want to like this game, but 2 years post-launch and this game is still buggy as all hell and littered with game-breaking glitches.”
    • “It's impossible to make it into the late game without any crashes; constant crashes, frozen turns, buggy combat... the game will cease to function during the late game.”
  • music372 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beauty and immersive quality, with many players praising the diverse and culturally representative soundtrack that evolves with the eras. While some find the music repetitive over extended play sessions, the overall consensus is that it significantly enhances the gaming experience, making it a standout feature alongside the game's stunning visuals. However, there are occasional reports of audio bugs and issues with volume levels that detract from the enjoyment for some players.

    • “And let’s talk about the soundtrack—it evolves so smoothly with the eras, it could very well be its own time machine.”
    • “The soundtrack further enhances the experience, immersing me in the grandeur of each era and fostering a sense of connection to the unfolding historical narrative.”
    • “The music is absolutely beautiful in this game.”
    • “I had to turn off all music and voices for the game by my second or third attempt because it was so annoying and repetitive.”
    • “The music is not catchy - for any 4x game, the thing I like is the music rather than the grind/gameplay - to have a pleasant tune playing in the background so you can hum along - this game music just isn't 'humm-able'.”
    • “The british narrator is the most annoying video game NPC I have ever had the displeasure of listening to and the music is ear bleeding; I'm so glad I didn't buy the music DLCs.”
  • story288 mentions

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the depth and emergent storytelling potential tied to civilization-building, while others criticize the lack of a cohesive narrative and meaningful choices. Many feel that the game offers a unique opportunity to craft personal stories through cultural evolution, but the frequent shifts in civilizations and the absence of robust quest systems detract from immersion and continuity. Overall, while the game attempts to blend storytelling with strategy, it often falls short compared to its predecessors, leaving some players longing for the richer narratives found in titles like Endless Legend.

    • “There's so much depth to your nation and tons of potential for emergent storytelling.”
    • “In Humankind, you will build an entire civilization from scratch, weaving and building different real-world cultures together, and you will be holding the pen that writes the story of how your people thrived or perished through the decisions you make along a game session; it is truly a joy to play.”
    • “The focus on the narrative or story of the nation is something I have not seen in a game of this style, which really interested me in the game.”
    • “Unless you enjoy being arbitrarily punished for your strategic prowess and subjected to nonsensical storytelling, this game is a hard pass.”
    • “It is as if you're passively let through a storyline with a bunch of insignificant choices.”
    • “This game is trash; you can't play with friends because their servers are unstable and there's no single-player experience besides the multiplayer game against NPCs—no story or campaign.”
  • replayability186 mentions

    The reviews indicate a mixed perception of replayability in the game, with many players appreciating the variety offered by the culture-switching mechanic and the potential for unique playthroughs. However, several critiques highlight issues such as balance problems, repetitive gameplay, and a lack of engaging content that diminish long-term replay value. Overall, while some players find the game highly replayable, others feel it falls short compared to established titles like Civilization.

    • “Humankind, on the other hand, offers a refreshing take by allowing players to craft their own civilizations through different cultures and eras, resulting in unparalleled variety and replayability.”
    • “The many options for nations through the time periods in history allow for literally thousands of options, making it much better for replayability and ensuring things don't get stale very fast.”
    • “The choosing a people/culture mechanism every age is extremely clever, and I can see this adding immense replayability to the game.”
    • “The big problem is that it lacks replayability, so that I wasn't really seeing why I should go back after the second time.”
    • “Decent game for one campaign, but has next to no replay value afterwards.”
    • “It's fun the first or second time you play, but you quickly realize there is little to no replay value.”
  • optimization180 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly in the late game where frame rates drop dramatically and stuttering occurs. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay on mid-range systems, others have found the game unplayable even on low settings, citing bugs and long load times as major concerns. Overall, there is a consensus that the game requires substantial optimization and bug fixes to enhance the player experience.

    • “Performance was fine for me on an average 2070 FE and I didn't experience many bugs at all.”
    • “The optimization can definitely be improved, but for now it's acceptable.”
    • “Almost nothing is optimized.”
    • “The game's performance stutters and struggles as cities grow more and more, and all the numbers inflate to usually nonsensical levels of production, science, or gold.”
    • “It's a poorly optimized buggy mess at the moment.”
  • grinding142 mentions

    The grinding aspect of "Humankind" has been widely criticized for its excessive tedium and repetitiveness, particularly in city management, combat, and progression systems. Players report that the game becomes increasingly dull and frustrating as it progresses, with many mechanics feeling unnecessarily complex and time-consuming, leading to a gameplay experience that often requires more patience than enjoyment. Overall, while the game has innovative ideas, the execution often results in a grind that detracts from the fun.

    • “There are no tedious mechanics that clutter the game like faith units and faith combat.”
    • “Not tedious for a 4x.”
    • “If it wasn't as tedious, I'd enjoy it more, but at the same time, it is nice to have a little say in the battle by flanking or having higher ground.”
    • “The game has so much potential, but it's spoiled by unrealistic systems that zap the fun out of the game and make it too tedious.”
    • “Very repetitive, incredibly grindy and tedious towards the end.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is just too tedious and not fun.”
  • humor79 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the narrator's sarcastic remarks and quirky events amusing initially, but many feel that the humor quickly becomes repetitive and annoying over time. While some appreciate the comedic elements and find the interactions between cultures entertaining, others criticize the humor as forced or lacking depth, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game's humor can be hit or miss, often depending on personal taste and the number of playthroughs.

    • “The narration is delightful and funny, and the military systems keep war strong without making it a one-stop solution to winning the game.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and the hilarious commentary from the narrator can make you laugh even when you're deep in the middle of a war.”
    • “The writing and the voice acting of the game is so great - much better than Civ and previous Endless games - the humor and the sarcasm are top-notch.”
    • “I also do not like how the narrator in this game is snarking at me all the time; he's certainly not funny.”
    • “"You have 30 farming districts, let's make sure the people are also getting some exercise!" Dude, you're not funny; you're dumb.”
  • atmosphere36 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive art design, music, and overall aesthetic, creating a unique and enjoyable experience that blends elements of grand strategy and role-playing. While many players appreciate the game's beautiful graphics and engaging ambiance, some criticize it for lacking character and depth in storytelling, leading to a mixed reception regarding its atmospheric impact. Overall, the game is seen as a visually stunning and atmospheric experience, though opinions vary on its emotional engagement and narrative depth.

    • “The atmosphere, the combat, and the ability to blend different cultures make for a unique and fun experience.”
    • “The game's art design and soundtrack also add to the atmosphere and make the experience immersive.”
    • “Loving the atmosphere and feel of this game, beautiful map and not too much information on the UI makes it easy on the eyes.”
    • “Humankind lacks the character and atmosphere of their previous games (Endless Legend, Endless Space 2, and Dungeon of the Endless) which are all excellent.”
    • “There's no roleplaying, immersion, or atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is simply... blah.”
  • monetization27 mentions

    The monetization practices of the game have been widely criticized as exploitative, with many reviewers labeling it a "cash grab" due to the frequent release of overpriced DLCs that add minimal content while core gameplay issues remain unaddressed. Players express frustration over the prioritization of profit over game balance and development, feeling that essential features should have been included in the original purchase rather than sold separately. Overall, the sentiment reflects disappointment in the game's approach to monetization, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “There are no ads, which makes for a seamless gaming experience.”
    • “The monetization model is fair and doesn't disrupt gameplay.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers optional purchases without forcing them on players.”
    • “This is a cash grab and the most elaborate troll I've ever seen in gaming.”
    • “Boring civ clone that has turned into a cash grab for extra content that should have been in the original overpriced purchase.”
    • “It just feels like an unfortunate cash grab that never really got the support it needed to be a great game.”
  • emotional23 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed feelings among players, with some expressing initial captivation and investment in the gameplay, while others feel frustrated by bugs and a lack of meaningful engagement with the game's systems. Many reviewers highlight a sense of disappointment, as the game's potential for emotional storytelling and cultural depth is overshadowed by mechanical issues and a perceived lack of depth in strategic choices. Overall, while there are moments of emotional connection, they are often marred by gameplay frustrations that detract from the overall experience.

    • “Yes, I was emotionally captivated by the passion behind some parts of the game.”
    • “In another, I had a +100 turn conflict with the Harrappans, which was great for emotional investment and storytelling.”
    • “I really loved this game at first... I still do... it's just heartbreaking for me as a fan to see it getting milked and having nothing to show for it overall.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The character development aspect has been criticized for its limited avatar system and character design options, which restrict players' ability to create and customize their characters.

    • “The avatar system, or character designer, is very limited.”
    • “Character progression feels stagnant and lacks meaningful choices.”
    • “The characters lack depth and their development feels rushed.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

21hMedian play time
160hAverage play time
7-65hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 90 analyzed playthroughs

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