NetEase's free-to-play survival game Once Human is out now on PC, available for download via Steam or Epic Games Store. We've been following it ever since it showed up on PC Gaming Show's 2023 Preview in late 2022. Over time, Once Human garnered a sizable following, becoming Steam's fifth most-wishlisted upcoming game and the most-played demo at the latest Steam Next Fest.
It's early to judge its success, but the game has already broken into Steam's Top 10 chart with over 131K concurrent players. We'll have to wait at least until the weekend to evaluate its peak potential, though. Meanwhile, let's recap what it is all about. The setting is firmly in the so-called 'New Weird' genre, and the developers have cited SCP Foundation, Lovecraftian Horror, and post-apocalyptic aesthetic in general as inspirations.
The premise is that a mysterious alien substance known as Stardust has contaminated Earth, reducing the planet to a post-apocalyptic state and turning life as we knew it into a twisted nightmare. Players, however, step into the role of Metahumans, who can resist the contamination and use Stardust to get more powerful. That said, this is still a survival game, so you must take care not to consume polluted food or water, as that would reduce your Sanity. When your Sanity drops, your max Health drops accordingly.
At launch, the world of Once Human includes five regions, five factions, and over fifty types of Deviants spread across more than one hundred Strongholds. Fans who played the previous test events will be able to continue the main storyline in the new "Blackheart" region, where players will encounter new enemies and uncover more secrets of the apocalypse, as well as a host of new open-world side quests. Lowe will also feature more Deviant challenges, including Identity V and Paper Doll from the Onmyoji series.
Building your own Sanctuary is a major feature of Once Human. These homes can be constructed anywhere in the wilderness and decorated to your liking. Players will be able to safeguard their hard-earned treasures behind walls and protect them with an arsenal of defensive weapons.
Servers support up to 4000 players, a much higher count than the average survival game, allowing players to form alliances or wage war on others. On that note, a new PvP mode called Highway Pursuit has been added to the game, offering special reward vehicles and providing attacking players with valuable loot if they seek it out. However, entering the vicinity of each vehicle will enable PvP, so players are advised to take caution when others are nearby.
To celebrate the launch of Once Human, pre-registered fans can claim the AKM skin "The Call of the Giant Octopus," a Meta's Cap, a piece of furniture, and a pair of Dragon Fist gloves. New players can complete missions or invite friends to join in order to receive gifts including cosmetic items and accessories.
