What are the pros of Once Human?

Deep and creative base-building systems with high customization and options.. Exceptional free-to-play value offering hundreds of hours of content without an entry cost.. Strong visual design and atmospheric Lovecraftian horror setting.. Successful blend of survival, RPG, and shooter mechanics into a cohesive experience.. Engaging creature collection and open-world exploration..

What are the cons of Once Human?

Recent updates have introduced significant bugs and broken previously stable mechanics.. Drastic increase in the resource grind, specifically for acid and base protection.. Poor and deteriorating controller compatibility that worsens with each patch.. Artificial difficulty spikes used to extend playtime rather than providing fresh content.. Growing player concerns regarding more aggressive monetization strategies..

Once Human

Once Human is a Strange Worlds Survival Game set in a strange, post-apocalyptic future. Unite with friends to fight monstrous enemies, uncover secret plots, compete for resources, and build your own territory. Once, you were merely human. Now, you have the power to remake the world.

79%

Mostly Positive

DeveloperStarry Studio

PublishersNetEase Games, Starry Studio

Release DateJul 9, 2024

Free to Play

Peak Players231.3K

Controllerfull

PlatformsWindows

Massively Multiplayer

AI Review Summary

Once Human is a free-to-play open-world survival game that blends RPG, shooter, and Lovecraftian horror elements with highly praised base-building mechanics. While it offers hundreds of hours of content and impressive visuals, recent updates have sparked significant backlash due to increased grinding requirements and technical instability.

Pros

Deep and creative base-building systems with high customization and options.90%
Exceptional free-to-play value offering hundreds of hours of content without an entry cost.95%
Strong visual design and atmospheric Lovecraftian horror setting.85%
Successful blend of survival, RPG, and shooter mechanics into a cohesive experience.80%
Engaging creature collection and open-world exploration.70%

Cons

Recent updates have introduced significant bugs and broken previously stable mechanics.90%
Drastic increase in the resource grind, specifically for acid and base protection.85%
Poor and deteriorating controller compatibility that worsens with each patch.70%
Artificial difficulty spikes used to extend playtime rather than providing fresh content.75%
Growing player concerns regarding more aggressive monetization strategies.60%

Notable Mentions

The game is scheduled for a console release later this year.
Extremely high average playtime of over 400 hours indicates deep engagement for the core player base.
The game features a unique unsettling atmosphere rarely seen in the survival genre.

Confidence: 86%

Based on the 199 most relevant reviewsGenerated on Jul 13, 2026

Game Vitals

Live snapshot

Player Activity

Current peak

28.4K

Peak · last 90 days

28.4K

All-time peak

231.3K

Price

Current price

Free to Play

Lowest tracked

Free to Playsince Dec 5, 2025

Review Sentiment

Launch week

—

Last 30 days

92%

All-time positive

79%

Review Statistics

Total Reviews184.2K

Positive: 144.9K (79%)Negative: 39.3K (21%)

Reviews from Steam Deck

Dev Response Rate

420h

Avg Playtime at Review

82%

Credible Reviews