POPULATION: ONE

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,686 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
POPULATION: ONE Game Cover
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Population: ONE is a fast-paced battle royale game set in a dynamic, ever-shrinking world. Players can climb anything, fly anywhere, and fight everywhere in this VR-only game. Team up with friends or take on solo quests, with the goal of being the last one standing. Gear up, loot up, and stay in the circle to win!

  • PC
  • Virtual Reality
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Oculus Quest
  • Oculus VR
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,686 reviews
gameplay262 positive mentions
stability44 negative mentions
  • gameplay618 mentions

    The gameplay of this VR battle royale is characterized by its unique climbing and gliding mechanics, which provide a refreshing sense of verticality and movement. While many players appreciate the fast-paced, arcade-like action and the accessibility of the controls, criticisms arise regarding the clunky gun mechanics and the building system, which some feel detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a fun and engaging multiplayer experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more realistic or complex shooter.

    • “The verticality and freedom of movement is unrivaled and the smooth, snappy gameplay feels fantastic even on the lower-powered Oculus Quest.”
    • “The climbing and gliding mechanics are such a fun way to explore the map and they open up insane possibilities for approaching combat.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are very well polished; climbing, flying, shooting, and reloading feel great, and become second nature fairly quickly.”
    • “I want to like this game, but there are just so many issues that hurt the gameplay.”
    • “First of all, the gun mechanics are the clunkiest that I've ever seen in a VR FPS; the climbing mechanic was actually pretty good, but when it comes to gameplay, it's lacking.”
    • “You will be terribly let down by the gameplay.”
  • graphics348 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they are simplistic, flat, and often reminiscent of mobile or early console titles. While some appreciate the stylized visuals and find them serviceable for gameplay, others criticize the significant downgrade from initial trailers and express a desire for higher graphical fidelity, especially on PC. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not be impressive, the fun gameplay compensates for their shortcomings.

    • “The graphics are crisp and gunplay is satisfying.”
    • “Graphically, it's not the most impressive, but in what it lacks in graphical fidelity, it makes up for in a stylized game that's incredibly fun to play.”
    • “While it may not graphically look the best, I think this is one of the most well-done games out there on the VR marketplace.”
    • “I wanted to play this on PC since Quest 2 has terrible visuals, but even on fast settings, this game reeks of low FPS.”
    • “The graphics are terrible.”
    • “The graphics are a massive downgrade from what was promised, so let's just get that out of the way.”
  • story278 mentions

    The game lacks a traditional narrative, with many users noting that it is primarily focused on gameplay rather than story development. While some players express a desire for more storytelling elements to enhance engagement, the consensus is that the game is designed as a multiplayer experience without a significant plot. Overall, it is characterized as a fun, action-oriented title that prioritizes gameplay mechanics over narrative depth.

    • “There's a lot of room for storytelling in the game, and I think the implementation of this would make it more interesting and engaging.”
    • “The gameplay is a blast, the community is cool, and the player base is large due to cross-play with the Oculus Quest headsets.”
    • “Another great thing is that this game is being heavily marketed with the Quest 2 and is completely cross-play, meaning that the player base for this game should stay large for the foreseeable future.”
    • “☑ no story”
    • “☑️ this game has no story”
    • “There is a lot of room for storytelling for the game, and I think implementation of this would make the game more interesting and engaging.”
  • optimization76 mentions

    The game's optimization receives mixed feedback, with many praising its smooth performance and fluid mechanics, particularly on Quest headsets, while others report issues like stuttering and poor performance on PC setups. Some users express frustration over the lack of clarity regarding performance requirements for different platforms, and note that updates can sometimes worsen performance. Overall, while the game is generally well-optimized for VR, particularly for standalone systems, there are concerns about its support for PC players and the impact of updates on performance.

    • “It's optimized really well, so it runs nice and all the movements feel natural and fluid.”
    • “This is by far the most optimized first-person shooter I have played yet. I have played all the FPS VR titles, and this one is the easiest to pick up; the tutorial is fast and tells you everything.”
    • “The unique mechanics of climbing and flying that this game introduces actually work very well, and the controls are so optimized that you never feel like you're fighting the game mechanics.”
    • “No solos, hackers in DM, free to play on only one platform, poor optimization, never seen more out of touch devs; updates are extremely slow and always lack content.”
    • “Performance minimum only applies if you're using anything other than a Quest headset (which Oculus fails to mention), resulting in even an i5 6600k, GTX 1060 3GB, 8GB DDR4 RAM system not being able to run it decently (over 20 FPS) once you drop down into a building.”
    • “Unfortunately, the developers make no effort to hide the fact that this game is made and optimized for Oculus, and Steam support is an afterthought.”
  • stability52 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that can significantly disrupt gameplay. While some users appreciate the developers' quick response to issues, others find the game unplayable at times due to these problems. Overall, despite its potential and enjoyable aspects, the game is considered quite buggy, especially in its current state.

    • “Overall this game is a must buy, it runs great even at 120hz 100% resolution on my Index and 1070 (overclocked).”
    • “Amazing VR experience, feels very polished and runs great.”
    • “Great fun, great game; played on Rift S, Ryzen 7, 5700XT, Windows 64, runs great.”
    • “The game is buggy, servers laggy, and the game constantly crashes on startup.”
    • “I would not be exaggerating to say that my 40 hours of Cyberpunk 2077 had fewer freezes than the 1.6 hours I had in this game.”
    • “There are plenty of minor glitches and even a few critical ones.”
  • monetization40 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players feeling that the focus on microtransactions detracts from the overall experience and development quality. Despite the game's initial purchase price, players report a plethora of optional microtransactions, including a battle pass, which some feel were not adequately disclosed prior to purchase. While some appreciate the availability of free cosmetic items, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game prioritizes profit over player satisfaction and meaningful updates.

    • “As expected, there are microtransactions in Population: One, just like basically every other battle royale game, but it’s all optional.”
    • “I also really enjoy the free skins and outfits mechanic; even without making microtransactions, you can still get some sick skins for free.”
    • “If the game developers spent more of the money they receive from in-game purchases on fixing their game, this would be a well-developed game.”
    • “It's a fairly expensive game that wants you to buy a battle pass and will surely be riddled with microtransactions (though optional).”
    • “Nowhere in the store description does it say this thirty-dollar game has microtransactions.”
  • replayability18 mentions

    The game is praised for its high replayability, particularly in social settings, with many players noting that each match offers a unique experience. While some technical issues and competitive concerns were mentioned, the potential for ongoing updates and new game modes could further enhance its longevity. Overall, it appeals to both casual and competitive players, making it a strong candidate for repeated play.

    • “The replay value here is huge as every match is different.”
    • “If the game keeps getting updates with events and new unlockables, it will be replayable forever.”
    • “Tons of fun with friends and has lots of replayability.”
    • “Lots of lag and desync, microtransactions, rubber bullets, the way sniper scopes work is an abomination, same goes for grenades. I would recommend several other VR shooters before this if you're competitive or want long-term replayability.”
    • “I know it's only published as a battle royale, but adding singles, duos, or even a 2-teams battle mode would massively increase replayability.”
    • “If the game keeps getting updates with events and new unlockables, it could be replayable forever.”
  • humor14 mentions

    The humor in the game is frequently highlighted by players, with many sharing amusing anecdotes from their experiences, such as unexpected tracking failures and the overall lightheartedness of the community. Reviewers appreciate the game's ability to create funny moments, contributing to a positive atmosphere with minimal toxicity, making it enjoyable even for those who are not typically fans of battle royale games. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the gameplay experience.

    • “The community is hilarious.”
    • “But I was dying in laughter at the hilariousness of the situation.”
    • “It's funny because I bought this game and I was thinking, 'Hmm, mixing BR with VR sounds like a very weird idea.' I'm not a fan of BRs myself, but I do enjoy them.”
  • grinding12 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite demanding, often describing it as tedious and requiring significant time investment. While some enjoy the overall gameplay experience, many feel that the grind can detract from the fun, with several comments suggesting that it may necessitate multiple play sessions to progress effectively.

    • “This game is freaking awesome! Reloading is fun, not tedious, but I do have one complaint: whenever I open the Oculus menu on my CV1, all the audio goes to my computer. Other than that, awesome!”
    • “One long, tedious grind.”
    • “Free battle pass (even though it feels very grindy).”
    • “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
  • music6 mentions

    The music in the game has been described as lacking the exhilaration typically found in battle royale games, with some players expressing frustration over the chaotic audio environment created by various user-generated sounds, including singing and inappropriate language. This mix of elements detracts from the overall experience, making it feel less immersive and engaging.

    • “This may be due to the music, graphics, or low number of players, but it doesn't give the same exhilaration that most battle royale games do.”
    • “It could be mature adults who attempt to be good role models, some person spamming religion (yes, it's happened a few times already... which is baffling to me... Jesus saves! bang-pop-pop-pop, haha, I killed you! *boggle*), a 6-year-old French kid singing some song (cute but annoying when you need the channel open for combat chat), or some immature player that targets young kids and ridicules them in-between bursts of profanity and other mature language.”
    • “This may be due to the music, graphics, or low number of players, but it doesn't give the same exhilaration that most battle royale games do.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a light-hearted and goofy vibe, with players encouraging influencers and leaders to foster an environment of fun and consideration. Reviewers suggest that embracing this playful tone could enhance the overall experience.

    • “This game has a goofy atmosphere, and I think they should lean into it.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players express a mix of emotions regarding the game, highlighting a sense of initial excitement for its wholesome premise, but quickly feeling overwhelmed and incompetent due to negative interactions with others, particularly when they are new to the game. This contrast suggests that while the game aims for a family-friendly vibe, the social dynamics can lead to frustration and emotional distress for newcomers.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

21hMedian play time
111hAverage play time
8-76hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 24 analyzed playthroughs

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