Overview
Once Human is a free-to-play survival game from Starry Studio, a NetEase subsidiary, released on Windows on 9 July 2024. Steam describes it as a survival game set in a strange post-apocalyptic future where players cooperate to fight hostile creatures, uncover mysteries, compete for resources and build their own territory. Per Wikipedia, the setting is a world after the Starfall, when an alien substance called Stardust mutated most life into hostile Deviations.
OtaHub's take
Gameplay mixes survival with looter-shooter mechanics: hunger, hydration and sanity meters, base building, capturing friendly Deviations as helpers and Monolith boss fights. Steam cites about 100 gun blueprints across seven categories and territory that can be placed and relocated. Temporary servers wipe periodically, while the Eternaland area persists. OtaHub's free survival roundup calls it worth a try even though it no longer makes the splash it did at launch.
The game is on Windows, iOS and Android (23 April 2025), and per Wikipedia has PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions dated 25 August 2026. The Steam version is free with in-app purchases. At launch it exceeded expectations with over 230,000 concurrent Steam players, causing server queues. Wikipedia lists a Metacritic score of 71, and the Steam page showed Very Positive reviews (80% of 92,834 when read).
Verdict
Once Human suits players who enjoy survival, shooting and base building and want a big world without paying upfront. Steam's recommended specs are hefty with 100GB of storage, and since it has in-app purchases, watch your spending before grinding for the long haul.
