Once Human

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 110,327 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Once Human Game Cover
Once Human is a fantastic MMO based in an interesting post-apocalyptic landscape, but still has some growing to do to reach the peak of the genre.
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"Once Human" is a post-apocalyptic survival game where players must navigate a world infested by an alien substance called Stardust. The latest update introduces a new PvE scenario, "The Way of Winter," which features a challenging temperature survival mechanic and requires players to work together to build and upgrade the Thermal Tower. As a Meta-Human, players can utilize the power of Stardust to fight, build, and explore in a chaotic world.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 110,327 reviews
gameplay4,108 positive mentions
grinding3,981 negative mentions
  • The graphics of 'Once Human' are stunning and create a breathtakingly immersive atmosphere.
  • The humor and chaotic gameplay contribute to a lighthearted experience, especially when played with friends.
  • The game offers engaging mechanics and high replayability, particularly in its cooperative gameplay and crafting systems.
  • The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to lag, bugs, and performance problems even on high-end systems.
  • The story is often criticized for being convoluted and underdeveloped, with poor voice acting and repetitive quests.
  • The monetization model has drawn criticism for being overly aggressive and resembling a 'cash grab' despite the game being free-to-play.
  • gameplay11,230 mentions

    The gameplay of "Once Human" has received mixed reviews, highlighting both its engaging mechanics and significant flaws. Players appreciate the blend of survival, crafting, and exploration elements, as well as the cooperative gameplay features, which create a fun and immersive experience. However, many criticize the repetitive nature of the gameplay loop, the seasonal reset mechanic that wipes progress every six weeks, and various technical issues, including bugs and lag, which detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these drawbacks, the game is praised for its graphics and potential, especially considering it is free-to-play with no pay-to-win elements.

    • “The gameplay is engaging and there's always something new to discover.”
    • “The crafting system is intuitive, allowing for a wide range of customization, which keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is fun, although I feel like I have nothing to do sometimes if I am alone.”
    • “The game is full of bugs, the UI has a lot of over-complicated features, and you will be spending a lot of time on YouTube to figure out unintuitive and unexplained game mechanics.”
    • “The grind is excessive, and the game feels like more effort was put into cosmetics than into the gameplay or world-building.”
    • “The gameplay quickly becomes repetitive and lacks meaningful content to keep you engaged.”
  • story10,858 mentions

    The story in "Once Human" is described as a mix of engaging and convoluted elements, with players noting its potential but also its shortcomings. Many reviews highlight the game's rich lore and intriguing world-building, yet criticize the execution, including poor voice acting, repetitive quests, and a lack of character depth. The seasonal reset mechanic, which wipes progress and forces players to replay the same story content, has drawn significant criticism, leading to frustration among those who wish to fully explore the narrative. Overall, while the game offers a captivating setting and gameplay, the story often feels secondary and underdeveloped.

    • “After investing over 200 hours into Once Human, I can confidently say that this game is a remarkable experience that blends survival mechanics, exploration, and immersive storytelling in a captivating post-apocalyptic world.”
    • “The storyline unfolds gradually, revealing a rich lore that keeps you invested in the world.”
    • “The story is engaging and the creatures you fight sometimes give you a jump scare but still fun.”
    • “The story is bland and feels like a byproduct of AI.”
    • “The story is a convoluted mess, and the voice acting of the bird sounds like it's AI generated.”
    • “The story is weak as well but tbh every thing else makes it enjoyable for me.”
  • graphics5,749 mentions

    The graphics of "Once Human" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and detailed environments, often described as breathtaking and immersive. Players appreciate the unique aesthetic that combines elements of horror and sci-fi, although some have noted performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems, leading to lag and graphical glitches. Overall, while the graphics are a highlight of the game, optimization remains a concern for many users.

    • “The atmosphere is palpable, with stunning visuals that create a hauntingly beautiful world.”
    • “Graphically, once human is stunning.”
    • “The graphics are visually stunning, the gameplay is extremely addicting (I've invited 4 friends so far to come play and they can't get enough of it).”
    • “Honestly, this game just has graphics.”
    • “It is a really fun game, lots of good things about it but eventually you will end up pulling your hair out because of lag and graphics issues.”
    • “The only complete part of this game are the visuals, which are buggy and glitchy even when running smoothly.”
  • grinding4,311 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews from players. While some find the grind enjoyable and rewarding, particularly in the context of crafting, building, and resource gathering, many others criticize it as tedious and overly repetitive, especially given the seasonal resets that wipe progress every six weeks. Players appreciate the variety of activities available, but the necessity to repeatedly farm for materials and gear can detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration for those who prefer a more casual playstyle.

    • “Gameplay is fun and not too grindy.”
    • “It's not that grindy if you like to sometimes just go gather resources and build, or go explore and go fighting.”
    • “Progression feels just right, it's not grindy, it's not too easy and it feels rewarding.”
    • “Hundreds of hours of grinding just wiped away for something that the game itself is at fault for.”
    • “No one wants to replay the same story and levels every few weeks and few get to finish the whole story because most of your time must be spent grinding for resources, especially acid, which is scarce and required for most important things.”
    • “So until the season wipe of players levels and goods is stopped, don't bother with this game as it will be nothing but repetition and endless grinding for nothing as you lose everything after a few weeks.”
  • optimization2,471 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and lag, even on high-end systems. While some users have noted improvements over time, the consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, requiring significant work to address these issues for a smoother gameplay experience. Developers are actively working on updates, but many players feel that the current state of optimization is unacceptable, impacting overall enjoyment and playability.

    • “Probably the best optimized game, it runs so smooth even on the highest graphics.”
    • “The developers have clearly put thought into optimization, and regular updates show they’re listening to player feedback.”
    • “Optimization is solid, with detailed graphics and smooth animations, even during large-scale battles.”
    • “The game has awful optimization and despite those issues, they still clumped everyone into 3 worlds in the server I'm in.”
    • “From the horrible optimization that causes the game to not properly load in enemies and areas for minutes at a time (while said invisible enemies are attacking you), to game breaking bugs, to boring story, to voice deliveries that sound like they got random people to read lines instead of actual voice actors, this game has nothing to give you.”
    • “The game is not optimized and has a whole world of lag and has lots of bug issues.”
  • stability2,028 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with players reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that significantly disrupt gameplay. Common issues include freezing during loading screens, graphical glitches, and problems with the building mechanics, which many find frustrating. While some players acknowledge the game's potential and express hope for future improvements, the overall consensus is that the game is currently a buggy experience that detracts from its enjoyment.

    • “Has been an absolutely amazing game, very minimal bugs, runs great. I love it and would highly recommend.”
    • “The game is beautiful, creative, and not too buggy at all for a work in progress.”
    • “It runs great from day one - that's hard to find these days even with AAA titles.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess and lags at even the lowest settings.”
    • “The game is riddled with connectivity issues, bugs, and glitches.”
    • “The map is really pretty and well designed, but it is empty and lifeless with very little actual content, its a bug ridden mess at a level that makes this nearly or entirely unplayable at times, and its just not fun.”
  • monetization1,618 mentions

    The monetization model of "Once Human" has drawn mixed reactions from players, with many labeling it a "cash grab" due to its reliance on expensive cosmetic microtransactions and loot boxes. While some appreciate that the game avoids pay-to-win mechanics, others criticize the aggressive pricing and complexity of the monetization system, which includes multiple currencies and a battle pass tied to individual characters. Overall, while the game is free-to-play and offers enjoyable content, concerns about its monetization practices and potential future changes remain prevalent among the player base.

    • “The most fair monetization model in its genre.”
    • “Currently monetization is solely focused on cosmetics, which is great for a f2p game.”
    • “The game is good, the combat is very clean, the scaling is fun and it doesn't even feel like every other free to play game that shoves microtransactions in your face all the time and the game isn't pay to win.”
    • “First of all, this game feels like a cash grab.”
    • “It's a shame that a game with so much potential is tarnished by such a greedy monetization scheme.”
    • “The game's monetization strategy is problematic.”
  • atmosphere860 mentions

    The atmosphere in *Once Human* is widely praised for its stunning visuals and immersive sound design, creating a hauntingly beautiful post-apocalyptic world that captivates players. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to blend eerie landscapes with atmospheric soundscapes, enhancing the sense of tension and exploration. While some players note minor performance issues and the presence of player-built structures that can detract from immersion, the overall consensus is that the game's rich atmosphere is one of its strongest features, making it a must-try for fans of atmospheric survival games.

    • “The atmosphere is palpable, with stunning visuals that create a hauntingly beautiful world.”
    • “The sound design complements the visuals perfectly, with an atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the immersion.”
    • “From the moment I stepped into this post-apocalyptic world, I was blown away by the stunning visuals and eerie atmosphere.”
    • “To sum it up, Once Human is a post-apocalyptic game that has a lack of 'post-apocalypse' atmosphere; it is extremely easy to survive in this wasteland, and its business model is based around seasons and battle passes, which, for an open-world post-apocalyptic multiplayer game, is not the best.”
    • “The story is almost non-existent, and the atmosphere is severely lacking.”
    • “Players have littered the world with bases, camps, and messages that seem to last forever and ruin the game environment and break any sort of atmosphere it's going for.”
  • music646 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality and variety, enhancing immersion and complementing the gameplay effectively. Players enjoy the diverse genres available, particularly on the in-game radio, though many express a desire for more songs and stations to prevent repetition. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's ambiance and emotional impact.

    • “The sound design complements the visuals perfectly, with an atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the immersion.”
    • “From the haunting soundtrack to the tight gameplay mechanics, 'Once Human' is a masterpiece for fans of the survival genre.”
    • “The atmospheric soundscapes, combined with an evocative musical score, enhance the immersion, making the experience feel more intense during combat and exploration.”
    • “The music is lame and the voice acting is poor and doesn't match the English subtitles.”
    • “The current lists are very small, and players hear the same 5-6 songs over and over.”
    • “The lack of any real music is also heavily apparent while wandering around.”
  • humor494 mentions

    The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying its quirky, absurd moments and the comedic potential of various glitches and bugs. Many reviews mention that the game's jankiness often leads to hilarious situations, making it a fun experience, especially when played with friends. Overall, the blend of humor and chaotic gameplay contributes to a lighthearted atmosphere, despite some frustrations with technical issues.

    • “You get to enjoy the elements of a zombie apocalypse but laid back and humorous.”
    • “My last territory purification was hilarious, I had like 12 nutcrackers just standing in the base AFK and only one was shooting mobs, the resonant filter was literally butt naked getting hammered by mobs all over and the walls protecting it were all destroyed, I didn't even bother to shoot because of the lag, somehow purification got completed.”
    • “It's as if Mad Max had a baby with a sci-fi fever dream, and the result is a hilariously wild ride through a post-apocalyptic playground.”
    • “I would call it campy, but it's not funny or trying to be funny.”
    • “It's like the devs were not sure what sort of game they wanted to make; it's lucky this game was free. There are so many simple small things wrong with this game, it's not funny.”
    • “It's a good game, but the bass problem made the game not funny anymore.”
  • replayability198 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, with many players praising its engaging mechanics, procedural content, and seasonal resets that keep the experience fresh. While some users note a decline in content after extensive play, the multiplayer aspect and diverse gameplay options contribute to its overall replay value. Overall, it is considered a fun and immersive survival game that offers significant replay potential, especially when played with friends.

    • “The new content feels well thought out and adds a lot of replay value to the game.”
    • “Endless possibilities: with a vast open world to explore, countless secrets to uncover, and a thriving online community, 'Once Human' offers endless replay value.”
    • “High replayability comes from the open-world design and procedural elements, ensuring each playthrough is unique.”
    • “But after you reach max level, 90% of the map is worthless to ever return to, as everything dies with one bullet, offering no entertainment value or replayability.”
    • “The server system is pretty awful and splits the game's population apart; however, the worst of all is the lack of content after the first 50-100 hours or so. It falls off like a cliff, unlike most MMOs where there is some replayability or more casual content to do.”
    • “Even if you look past all the obviously borrowed components of the game, this is still a decently absorbing survival crafter to play with friends, but there's just not a lot of content and not a lot of replayability.”
  • emotional198 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players praising the supportive and wholesome community that enhances their experience, while others criticize the lackluster story and voice acting that fail to evoke strong emotional connections. Some players find moments of genuine emotional resonance through gameplay and side quests, but many express frustration over technical issues and a narrative that feels predictable or uninspired. Overall, while the community's positivity stands out, the game's emotional depth is often overshadowed by its shortcomings.

    • “The visual details and gloomy atmosphere made me feel completely connected, as if I were part of the story.”
    • “Once Human weaves a story that's both gripping and emotionally resonant.”
    • “From well-developed characters to engaging dialogue, every element contributes to an experience that goes beyond just a game - it’s an emotional journey.”
    • “This game is not for me because it looks like it really wants to handhold you and tell a boring story, way more than any fighting or survival.”
    • “Seems to be a boring story where I'd rather just skip the dialogue altogether because it is not interesting enough.”
    • “First you have a kind of sad tutorial area where the game is set on a linear path, but nothing fancy actually happens there, just a really boring story that is all over the place - you meet the aliens, there is a random anime girl, you shoot the aliens, you get to a random anime girl's house, and collect wood and stone, then a 50-meter-high alien pole thing spawns and you defeat it by shooting its head (which is a meta satellite dish) with a crossbow.”
  • character development190 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning character designs and customization options that enhance the overall experience. However, some players criticize the lack of depth in character development and storytelling, noting that it can hinder emotional investment in the game world. Overall, while character design is frequently highlighted as a strong point, the actual development and narrative aspects are seen as needing improvement.

    • “The character development and lore are also top-notch, making you care about the world and the people in it.”
    • “It’s rare to find a game that combines a gripping story with deep character development so effectively.”
    • “Character development feels rewarding.”
    • “There's no character development or customization options at all.”
    • “The plot can feel disjointed and the character development is minimal, which makes it hard to become fully invested in the world.”
    • “The character designer is particularly disappointing, offering ugly models that seem like an afterthought.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

Buy Once Human

Play time

30hMedian play time
81hAverage play time
9-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 902 analyzed playthroughs

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