Summary
- Once Human is a unique blend of genres and influences, creating a one-of-a-kind experience in the gaming world.
- The game draws inspiration from titles like The Division and Fallout 76, incorporating similar mechanics and gameplay elements.
- While Once Human shares similarities with other open-world shooters, its evolving narrative and unique enemy types set it apart.
There is almost nothing like Once Human, largely because it is not like any one thing. Instead, Once Human tries its best to be a little bit of everything thrown into one big pot, as it technically falls under multiple genres and borrows many of the elements that make those genres unique. As a free-to-play, multiplayer, open-world, third-person shooter, post-apocalyptic survival horror game, Once Human has clearly been inspired by plenty of other titles, with games like Tom Clancy's The Division and Fallout 76 being some of the most obvious influences.
Once Human may be a melting pot of influences, but it still holds its own as a one-of-a-kind experience that is almost impossible to find anywhere else. Frankly, it could be argued that Once Human derives its uniqueness from having a vast library of inspirations to draw from, as it is very difficult to compare it to a single game. Even so, it's worth looking at how Once Human compares to other games like The Division and Fallout 76 which share its most prominent features.
Once Human: Server Wipe, Explained
Once Human follows seasonal mechanics, and this guide explains everything you need to know about the Seasonal Server Wipe.
Once Human's Place Among Other Open-World Shooters
How Once Human Compares to The Division
Even within the first hour of Once Human, it's easy to spot its Tom Clancy's The Division influences. While The Division isn't a survival game like Once Human, the two games have very similar character animations, gunplay, and loot mechanics. There is a natural emphasis on using cover during combat in Once Human and The Division, although The Division may encourage players to use cover more often. The loot mechanics in both games are also nearly identical, apart from Once Human's emphasis on survival lootables over gear alone.
One of the biggest differences between The Division and Once Human is enemy types. In The Division, players spend their time in the game fighting other human NPCs, whereas Once Human pits players against otherworldly and horrific mutants called Deviants. This ultimately makes Once Human more of a horror experience, whereas The Division is simply post-apocalyptic. Finally, The Division's open world is far more urban than Once Human's, as Once Human often sees players in wide open areas that are less cluttered than those encountered in The Division. Nevertheless, there are plenty of worthwhile areas to explore in both games, many of which have an abundance of loot to find.
How Once Human Compares to Fallout 76
Once Human may look and feel more like The Division at times, but it also shares some similarities with Bethesda's action RPG Fallout 76. Once Human is a lot like Fallout 76 in a multitude of ways, from its base building and crafting to its farming and looting. At the same time, while the two games offer much of the same from a gameplay standpoint, each one outdoes the other on certain fronts.
For example, Once Human's story evolves and progresses with each season through its Seasonal Scenarios, whereas Fallout 76's seasons only add minor side stories to the overarching narrative. This ultimately puts Once Human at a longevity advantage, as it is more likely to sustain a consistent player count than Fallout 76 thanks to its evolving narrative model. As far as open worlds go, however, Fallout 76 has much more variety in its world than Once Human, which is ironic considering Fallout 76 takes place in the series' iconic Wasteland. Most of the assets in Once Human are, unfortunately, constantly reused throughout its world, allowing monotony to set in fairly quickly as players explore.
There are certainly other third-person shooters and survival games that Once Human compares to, but the two open-world shooters it is most like are undoubtedly Tom Clancy's The Division and Fallout 76. Those inspirations haven't failed Once Human either, as they have made it the solid experience that it is and one of the more successful indie titles currently on the market.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 74 /100 Critics Rec: 54%
- Released
- July 9, 2024
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Starry Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Starry Studio, NetEase, Inc.
- Engine
- Once Human engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
WHERE TO PLAY
The apocalypse changed everything. Human, animal, plant… all are infested by an alien creature – Stardust. As a Meta-Human, you can survive the contamination and use the power of Stardust. Play alone or join others to fight, build and explore. When the world is in chaos, you are our last hope.
You wake up in the middle of nowhere. You'll have to brace yourself for the cruelty of nature (from monsters to lack of food); however, Stardust's influence does not restrict to living things, it also affects the soil and water. Eating polluted food and drinking dirty water will reduce your Sanity. When your Sanity drops, your max HP would drop accordingly. To eat or not to eat, it's a question.
Battle numerous enemies that are once human, and challenge bosses from another dimension to gain powerful items and ease Stardust pollution. You are not only fighting for yourself, but also fighting for the survivors.
- Genre(s)
- Survival, Shooter, Open-World
