Best if you want a modern, polished survival MMO with seasonal goals, flexible base-building, and sci-fi horror exploration that keeps content fresh without requiring a purchase.
Once Human delivers a survival loop that balances exploration, base-building, and combat against a backdrop of eerie post-apocalyptic zones. The core experience revolves around scavenging corrupted landscapes for resources, managing hunger and sanity meters, and fortifying your portable base while pushing deeper into hostile areas. What sets it apart is the seasonal server structure: every few months, the world resets with fresh objectives, events, and rewards, giving you clear milestones and preventing stagnation. The learning curve is friendly. Early quests walk you through crafting basics, base setup, and the sanity system—eating contaminated food drops your max HP, so you'll constantly weigh risk versus reward when looting. Combat feels like a standard third-person shooter with about 100 weapon blueprints across seven categories, each customizable with parts and perks. You'll start with simple firearms and gradually unlock mods that let you tailor damage types, handling, and utility to your playstyle. Boss fights and world events require better gear and often benefit from grouping, but you can tackle most open-world content solo at your own pace. Sessions naturally break into 20–30 minute chunks: a quick supply run, a base upgrade cycle, or a scouting trip into a new zone. The game respects shorter play windows but rewards longer sessions with event participation and deeper dungeon crawls. Base-building is surprisingly flexible—your Territory Core relocates anywhere, so you can stay near friends or move closer to resource-rich areas without penalty. The aesthetic leans into Fallout-style desolation with a sci-fi twist, and production values are strong for a free-to-play release. The seasonal reset is a double-edged sword. If you enjoy fresh starts, clear goals, and the thrill of racing through a new meta, it's energizing. If you prefer long-term persistence and watching your base grow over years, the wipes can feel deflating. Monetization is cosmetic-focused with optional battle passes that offer progression boosts—helpful but not mandatory. The active 2024–2025 community means reliable matchmaking and populated servers, and steady updates keep the loop from going stale. Performance scales well on mid-range rigs thanks to FSR support, making it accessible without cutting-edge hardware.
40 online
Once Human does not support crossplay, supports up to 40 players online, features co-op campaign mode.
Single Player • Multiplayer • Co-op • PvP • Online Multiplayer • MMO
Online-only shared-world survival game with PvE and optional PvP via scenario/server rules. Steam lists Online Co-op and MMO features; no local/couch co-op, split-screen, or LAN support. Players can form teams/warbands; servers are instanced per scenario and have a fixed player cap (commonly 40 per server). Cross-play not supported on PC launch (PC only release).
Important details about which version to buy and where to play.
PC via Steam with controller support through Steam Input profiles. FSR optimization helps mid-range hardware maintain solid frame rates.
Keyboard and mouse standard; controller support available. Key remapping, subtitle and dialog options, camera and motion settings, and volume sliders included. Optional auto-tracking and aim assists on some weapons help newer players. No deep accessibility menu, but quest waypointing is clear.
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If you enjoyed Once Human, you'll love these similar games. We've handpicked titles based on gameplay style, difficulty, atmosphere, and what players like you are enjoying. Whether you're looking for something with a similar vibe, more challenge, or the same multiplayer features, these recommendations have you covered.
Cooperative multiplayer games that emphasize teamwork and shared objectives, building on the social aspects of Once Human.
Shared survival loop built for squads: gather, craft, sail, and tackle bosses together, with seamless drop-in co-op that makes base projects feel communal.
Mission-based co-op shooter where roles and teamwork matter—extract with loot, survive swarms, and upgrade gear without the always-on MMO time demands.
Free-to-play co-op with endless progression: instanced missions, open zones, crafting, and build variety that scratches the looter-shooter + grind itch.
Creative building and crafting games that expand on the construction mechanics found in Once Human.
Hardcore open-world survival where building, raiding, and resource control drive emergent stories—strong base design meta and constant tension on servers.
Big sandbox survival with deep crafting tiers, massive base building, and creature taming for combat and logistics—great if you want sprawling projects.
Brutal survival sandbox with elaborate building sets, thrall capture/management, and PvE/PvP servers—strong sense of place and fortress crafting.
Mature, atmospheric alternatives to Once Human featuring darker themes, grittier visuals, and more serious storytelling.
Bleak, player-driven survival where hunger, infection, and mistrust shape every encounter—slower, tenser exploration with high-stakes losses and stories.
A grim, radioactive wilderness with harsh firefights and survival pressure—moody exploration and scavenging deliver a heavier, more oppressive apocalypse vibe.
Prison-island survival with gritty realism: metabolism, injuries, scavenging, and base building on persistent servers—slower, harsher progression than most.
Head-to-head competitive games for players who enjoy the competitive elements found in Once Human.
Extraction PvPvE tension: track monsters, banish targets, then escape while other teams hunt you—methodical gunplay and sound cues reward patience.
High-stakes extraction shooter with deep gear economy, brutal firefights, and meaningful loss—ideal if you want competitive survival tension and mastery.
PvPvE extraction loop focused on loot runs, crafting/upgrades, and risky evac choices—keeps the survival-shooter feel while leaning into player conflict.
We've included this game in 3 articles.
Once Human claims the #2 spot with strong 2024 production values, an active community, and a survival loop that blends hunger, sanity, and base-building with large-scale events. The entire core experience is free, seasonal updates deliver fresh content, and the post-apocalyptic setting hits hard. Battle pass monetization and some grind are present, but it remains the top pick for players wanting a visually impressive, currently thriving survival world.
Once Human ranks high for its modern release, active 2025 playerbase, and contiguous post-apocalyptic zones that blend exploration with seasonal events. Base-building, world bosses, and shared spaces deliver open-world freedom without requiring cosmetic spending. Seasonal resets won't suit everyone, but survival MMO fans seeking a creepy sci-fi vibe and reliable servers will find plenty to explore in this polished, recently launched world.
Once Human earns its spot as a modern survival shooter with solid co-op scaling and instanced PvE encounters. The seasonal server structure keeps goals fresh, and FSR support helps mid-range hardware stay smooth. Battle pass progression boosts and regular wipes may frustrate casual groups, but squads who embrace fresh starts will find rewarding base-building and teamwork depth in a polished F2P package.
Common questions about this game answered by our team.
Moderate difficulty overall. Early zones ease you in with forgiving survival mechanics; late-game areas and world events demand upgraded gear and coordination. Server type and group size let you dial challenge up or down.
20–30 minutes for focused tasks like supply runs or base upgrades. Longer sessions (1–2 hours) let you tackle world events, dungeons, and boss fights comfortably.
Yes, most open-world content is solo-friendly. Boss fights and high-tier zones benefit from grouping, but you can progress at your own pace without mandatory co-op.
Every few months, servers wipe progress and introduce new objectives, events, and cosmetics. You start fresh with updated content, which energizes some players but frustrates those who prefer persistent worlds.
No. Core gameplay is free. Battle passes offer progression boosts and cosmetics but aren't required to enjoy the full survival loop or compete in events.
