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

"HUMANKIND" is a turn-based strategy game, where you can create your own unique civilization by combining up to 60 historical cultures. The game features historically authentic events, decisions, and scientific breakthroughs as you lead your people from the Ancient to the Modern Age. With a strong emphasis on the journey rather than the destination, "HUMANKIND" offers a compelling and immersive experience, but be prepared for some grinding and bugs along the way. The game's exceptional atmosphere and wholesome story are complemented by splendid visuals and a beautiful soundtrack.

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

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 13,814 reviews
gameplay962 positive mentions
stability459 negative mentions
  • gameplay3,627 mentions

    The gameplay of "Humankind" is characterized by its innovative mechanics, such as the culture-switching system that allows players to adapt their civilization throughout different eras, enhancing replayability. However, many players have noted significant issues, including a steep learning curve, unbalanced mechanics, and frustrating bugs, particularly with the war support system that can lead to forced surrenders despite military victories. Overall, while the game offers a fresh take on the 4X genre with engaging visuals and unique features, it suffers from execution flaws that detract from the overall experience.

    • “While the initial learning curve is steep, once mastered, the gameplay surpasses that of Civilization VI.”
    • “It's a cool game: easy to approach and play at a basic casually engaged level, but with lots of deeper mechanics and number crunching if you want to dive in.”
    • “The ability to combine different cultures and eras is a clever mechanic that adds a layer of depth and replayability.”
    • “The gameplay loop is monotonous and repetitive, with elements like religion and civics feeling underdeveloped, and others like districts and yields being fundamentally broken.”
    • “The mechanics are really difficult to learn, and for someone relatively new to this type of game, it's more or less the same as Civilization VI.”
    • “The war support mechanic is broken, as is now, you basically lose war support per turn and the AI gains it.”
  • graphics1,100 mentions

    The graphics of "Humankind" have received widespread praise for their stunning visuals and artistic design, often described as beautiful and immersive. Many players appreciate the unique art style that differentiates it from competitors like "Civilization VI," highlighting the detailed environments and vibrant landscapes. However, some users have reported performance issues and graphical glitches, indicating that while the aesthetics are impressive, optimization and clarity in gameplay could be improved.

    • “Beautiful graphics and almost perfect UI.”
    • “The visuals are stunning, with beautifully designed cities that reflect players’ choices.”
    • “The graphics are amazing, the soundtrack is stunning, the gameplay is fantastic.”
    • “The graphics are pretty, but by trying to be more realistic than Civ, they made it even harder to tell apart buildings, resources, terrain types, and units.”
    • “The game looks fairly new, graphically, and the character and city models are well done, but it lacks much of an art style or a sense of soul.”
    • “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!”
  • music496 mentions

    The music in "Humankind" has received widespread acclaim for its beauty and cultural diversity, with many reviewers praising the soundtrack's ability to enhance the game's immersive experience. While some players noted that the music can become repetitive over extended play sessions, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature, rivaling that of other notable 4X games. Additionally, the game's art design complements the music, creating a visually and audibly captivating atmosphere.

    • “The music is fantastic!”
    • “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 music for the last 2 eras is always the same for all but 2 civs from the DLCs.”
  • stability479 mentions

    The game's stability has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and freezes, particularly during critical gameplay moments like battles and turn transitions. While some users note improvements since the initial release, the overall consensus is that the game remains plagued by various glitches that can disrupt the experience, making it feel unfinished and frustrating. Despite its engaging mechanics, the persistent technical issues have led many to recommend waiting for further updates before fully committing to the game.

    • “The game is polished and relatively bug free.”
    • “Overall the game looks and runs great.”
    • “I think this game is mechanically sound and largely bug free enough right now to warrant the $50 price tag.”
    • “After playing for well over 3 hours in a campaign, the turn button freezes. I've searched for solutions online, and even when they work, they only do so for a few more turns.”
    • “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.”
    • “The game is incredibly buggy, even after all this time.”
  • story352 mentions

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the immersive narrative and the ability to craft their own civilization's journey through cultural shifts and unique events. However, some critics argue that the storytelling feels superficial due to a lack of depth in quests and character development, as well as the jarring transitions between cultures that disrupt continuity. Overall, while the game offers a fresh take on civilization-building with a focus on narrative, it struggles to fully deliver a compelling and cohesive story experience compared to its predecessors in the genre.

    • “Amazing, story rich, mechanically interesting: what Civ 5+ should have been!”
    • “I really like the feeling of cultural and evolutionary progress in this game; it feels more like building a civilization and a story over a very long period, more so than any other Civ-type game for me.”
    • “Humankind is an excellent 4x strategy game from Amplitude Studios, with an emphasis on a unique narrative story as you progress from the Neolithic era to a post-modern world.”
    • “Unless you enjoy being arbitrarily punished for your strategic prowess and subjected to nonsensical storytelling, this game is a hard pass.”
    • “The game is great in terms of immersing you into the story, but the city cap definitely ruins that.”
    • “It feels a little lifeless in comparison to its storytelling.”
  • replayability225 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the variety offered by its culture-switching mechanics and diverse strategies, which can lead to unique experiences in each playthrough. However, some reviewers note that the lack of balance and the tendency for games to feel similar over time can diminish long-term replay value. Overall, while there is potential for high replayability, especially with mods and community support, many feel it falls short compared to established titles like Civilization.

    • “The ability to combine different cultures and eras is a clever mechanic that adds a layer of depth and replayability.”
    • “Humankind 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, ensuring things don't get stale very fast.”
    • “Unfortunately, 'different' is not 'better,' and although I enjoyed dissecting Humankind a lot, it's a very flawed game that doesn't nearly approach the genre's juggernaut in polish, quality, and replayability.”
    • “It was fun but generally not very replayable, with all matches ending up more or less the same.”
    • “The fame system makes the game play out very similarly each time, really hurting replayability.”
  • optimization220 mentions

    The game's optimization has received widespread criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, particularly in late-game scenarios where stuttering and lag become prevalent. While some users have found ways to optimize settings for better performance, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially on lower-end hardware. Frequent crashes, long loading times, and a lack of detailed graphical options further exacerbate the situation, prompting many to recommend waiting for patches before purchasing.

    • “Performance is worse than one would expect for a strategy game, but there are plenty of options to optimize it for your available hardware.”
    • “This flexibility in urban management can give you greater control over the growth and efficiency of your empire, which you'll surely appreciate as a player who values optimization and long-term planning.”
    • “The game looks great and runs smoothly late-game unlike a lot of other 4x games; general mechanics are awesome and more complex than Civ.”
    • “Yet, playing it feels terrible for how badly optimized it is.”
    • “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.”
    • “I have never seen such bad optimization.”
  • grinding186 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players describing it as excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly in the late game. Many reviewers noted that the micromanagement of cities, combat animations, and resource management become burdensome, detracting from the overall enjoyment and pacing of the game. While some elements, like city building and combat mechanics, show promise, they are often overshadowed by the tedious nature of the gameplay, leading to a frustrating experience for many players.

    • “Great 4x game, and the mechanics mean that the late game usually isn't too tedious.”
    • “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.”
    • “The gameplay is dull and repetitive, the systems don't really make sense, combat is tedious and time-consuming.”
    • “The end game is super slow and tedious.”
  • humor99 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the sarcastic narration and quirky events, while others find it repetitive and annoying after a few playthroughs. The game's comedic elements, such as the absurdity of AI decisions and the humorous interactions between cultures, can lead to entertaining moments, but the humor often feels forced or overdone. Overall, while the game has its funny moments, opinions vary widely on its effectiveness and appeal.

    • “It's both trying to paint this grand picture while also being -extremely- sarcastic/funny.”
    • “The narration is delightful and funny, and the military systems keep war strong without making it a one-stop solution to winning the game.”
    • “Beautifully made and with hilarious and thought-provoking content.”
    • “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, and then you say, 'Let's make sure the people are also getting some exercise!' Dude, you're not funny; you're just dumb.”
  • atmosphere55 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive graphics, art design, and soundtrack, creating a captivating experience that blends elements from various strategy genres. Many players appreciate the unique cultural and historical references that enhance the game's depth, while some critiques highlight a lack of character and storytelling. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the enjoyment and engagement of the gameplay.

    • “The atmosphere, the combat, and the ability to blend different cultures make for a unique and fun experience.”
    • “The atmosphere and the gameplay just mesh so well together, absolutely recommended to anyone!”
    • “But with Humankind, everything makes sense; the game is visually stunning, the mechanics and systems work well together, and it has an amazing atmosphere.”
    • “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.”
    • “This is a mechanically solid game, but it fails at the level of storytelling and atmosphere.”
  • monetization40 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many users labeling it as a "cash grab" due to the reliance on paid DLCs and microtransactions that seem to offer content that should have been included in the base game. Players express frustration over the game's advertising, which promises unique features and experiences that are not fully realized, leading to disappointment and a perception of exploitation. Overall, the monetization practices are seen as detrimental to the game's integrity and player experience.

    • “The game features microtransactions that are fair and don't feel intrusive.”
    • “I appreciate that there are no ads interrupting my gameplay experience.”
    • “The monetization model is balanced, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional28 mentions

    The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with some players feeling a sense of relief and heartwarming connection to its historical themes, while others express disappointment and frustration due to bugs and lack of depth in emotional engagement. Many reviewers highlight a disconnect between the game's mechanics and the emotional investment they hoped to achieve, leading to feelings of regret and a longing for more fulfilling experiences in other strategy games. Overall, the game elicits a range of emotions, from initial excitement to eventual disillusionment.

    • “The most enjoyable part for me was the tour as the first roots of human civilization, which is really heartwarming!”
    • “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.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The character development in the game is criticized for its limited avatar system and character design options, which restricts 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
135hAverage play time
7-60hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 127 analyzed playthroughs

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