POPULATION: ONE

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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!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,042 reviews

gameplay147 positive mentions

stability25 negative mentions

Engaging and fun gameplay with climbing and gliding mechanics that enhance the experience.
Active player base due to crossplay, allowing for quick matchmaking and diverse interactions.
Great community with friendly players, making it enjoyable to team up and communicate.

Graphics are subpar, especially for PCVR, as they seem optimized for Quest, leading to a lack of detail.
Gunplay feels simplistic and arcade-like, with issues in reloading mechanics and sniper scope functionality.
No solo mode available, forcing players to team up with randoms, which can lead to frustrating experiences.

gameplay
358 mentions
41 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this VR battle royale is characterized by its unique climbing and gliding mechanics, which are widely praised for their intuitiveness and fun factor, enhancing player movement and exploration. While the gunplay and reloading mechanics receive mixed reviews—some finding them clunky compared to other VR shooters—many appreciate the game's fast-paced, arcade-like style that encourages tactical gameplay. Overall, the game offers a solid, engaging experience, though some players express a desire for improvements in gun mechanics and a more varied gameplay environment.
- “The gameplay is a blast, community is cool and the player base is large due to cross-play with the Oculus Quest headsets.”
- “The climbing and flying 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.”
- “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.”
- “The problem is that it tried to copy Fortnite's terrible platform building mechanics, which adds a layer of unrealistic boredom that is hard to get over.”
graphics
195 mentions
19 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing them as bland, simplistic, and reminiscent of older titles, particularly due to the need for optimization for Oculus Quest compatibility. While some appreciate the game's performance and fun gameplay, others express disappointment over the significant downgrade from initial trailers and the lack of higher graphical settings for PC users. Overall, the visuals are seen as a compromise for cross-platform play, with many hoping for future updates to enhance graphical fidelity.
- “The graphics are crisp and the gunplay is satisfying.”
- “Graphically, it's not the most impressive, but what it lacks in graphical fidelity, it makes up for with a stylized game that's incredibly fun to play.”
- “The graphics are good enough for VR, and graphics are not what this game is trying to do.”
- “The graphics are terrible.”
- “The graphics are weak but honestly who really cares when the game is this fun?”
- “The graphics are awful!”
story
156 mentions
10 % positive mentions
81 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional narrative, with many users noting that it feels more like a gameplay-focused experience rather than one driven by story. While some players express a desire for more storytelling elements to enhance engagement, the overall consensus is that the game is primarily about the mechanics and multiplayer interactions rather than a compelling plot.
- “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.”
- “If you ignore the amount of kids on quests and just focus on gameplay, you will find a game that successfully merges the VR and battle royale genres together.”
- “The game has a high player base as it is supported on all platforms, including the Quest, so finding games is very easy.”
- “☑ no story”
- “☑️ this game has no story”
- “The game straight up feels like a low quality quest game.”
optimization
41 mentions
39 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
22 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization receives mixed reviews, with many players praising its smooth performance and fluid mechanics, particularly on Oculus Quest devices. However, some users report issues such as stuttering, especially on PC with certain hardware configurations, and a lack of optimization for Index controllers. While the game is generally well-optimized for VR, there are concerns about the developers prioritizing Oculus compatibility over broader PC support, leading to occasional performance dips and graphical compromises.
- “Its 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 gameplay mechanics are tight, and the game is highly optimized for a smooth experience.”
- “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. This results in even an i5 6600k, GTX 1060 3GB, 8GB DDR4 RAM system not being able to run it decently (under 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.”
stability
29 mentions
14 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with numerous users reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and occasional crashes that hinder gameplay. While some players appreciate the developers' quick response to issues, many still experience significant problems, particularly with map design and matchmaking. Overall, despite its fun gameplay and potential, the game is currently marred by stability issues that need addressing.
- “Overall this game is a must buy, it runs great even at 120Hz 100% resolution on my Index and 1070 (overclocked).”
- “Great fun, great game. Played on Rift S, Ryzen 7, 5700XT, Windows 64, runs great.”
- “Amazing VR experience; it feels very polished and runs great.”
- “Unfortunately, it is full of bugs/glitches and broken maps.”
- “The game is buggy, servers laggy and 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.”
monetization
21 mentions
10 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the prevalence of microtransactions despite the game's initial purchase price, which ranges from €25 to $30. While some appreciate the availability of free skins and cosmetics, others feel that the focus on microtransactions detracts from the game's development and overall quality. Additionally, concerns about ads and gameplay mechanics have led some players to recommend caution before spending on in-game purchases.
- “As expected, there are microtransactions in the game, 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.”
humor
9 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by amusing gameplay moments, such as the absurdity of gliding while in a T-pose and the unexpected fun of VR mechanics. Players appreciate the lighthearted community atmosphere, which fosters laughter and camaraderie, while also noting the game's surprisingly well-optimized performance adds to the overall enjoyment. Overall, the blend of tactical gameplay and humorous situations creates a uniquely entertaining experience.
- “Fun shooting, fun tactical gameplay, and gliding requires you to T-pose, which is hilarious.”
- “Being able to glide around like a flying squirrel is pretty hilarious and interesting.”
- “But I was dying in laughter at the hilariousness of the situation.”
replayability
9 mentions
44 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
33 % negative 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 balance concerns were mentioned, the potential for ongoing updates and diverse gameplay modes could enhance its longevity. Overall, it appeals to both casual and competitive players, suggesting a strong foundation for replay value.
- “Amazing VR game, best one in my opinion. The replayability and social aspect is infinite, movement is quick and agile, groundbreaking for VR.”
- “If the game keeps getting updates with events and new unlockables, it will be replayable forever.”
- “The replay value here is huge as every match is different.”
- “Lots of lag and desync, microtransactions, rubber bullets, the way sniper scopes work is an abomination. 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 singles, duos, and maybe even a 2-teams battle mode would massively increase replayability.”
- “If the game keeps getting updates with events and new unlockables, the game will be replayable forever.”
grinding
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious and time-consuming, with some describing it as requiring a "second life" to manage. While the game is enjoyable overall, the grind is noted as a significant drawback, with many feeling it detracts from the overall experience.
- “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!”
- “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Free battle pass (even though it feels very grindy).”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
music
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as a mixed bag, with some players finding it lacking in excitement compared to other battle royale games. While there are moments of fun, such as players dancing together in the lobby, the overall experience is marred by disruptive behavior and inappropriate content from some users.
- “Last night I ran into the entire pre-game lobby dancing on a man-made dance floor, jamming out to the music.”
- “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.”
- “Last night I ran into the entire pre-game lobby dancing on a man-made dance floor, jamming out to music.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players appreciate its wholesome and family-friendly nature, others express frustration and feelings of incompetence due to negative experiences with the community, particularly when new players are treated poorly. Overall, the game fosters a supportive environment for some, but can also lead to discouragement for newcomers.
- “The controls are pretty solid, and the community I've played with is wholesome and actually uses communication and callouts.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a light-hearted and goofy vibe, with users encouraging a focus on fun and consideration for others. 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.”