Summary
- Once Human offers a mix of genres, drawing inspiration from games like The Division and Palworld.
- Players seeking a break from Palworld's bright world may find Once Human's darker tone appealing.
- Both games feature third-person shooting and base building, with Once Human adding unique creature collecting.
Starry Studio's Once Human is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to genres, and there is certainly no shortage of imitation to be found in it either. As a free-to-play post-apocalyptic third-person open-world multiplayer survival game, Once Human has the opportunity to draw inspiration from a variety of other games, including Tom Clancy's The Divison, State of Decay, and, believe it or not, Pocketpair's Palworld. Palworld may lean heavily into its Pokemon influences with adorable creatures to collect, but it has more in common with Once Human than it may initially seem.
Although Palworld continues to roll out updates for its players, they still might find themselves needing a break from its bright, lively, and relaxing world for something a bit more serious, darker, and demanding. As it turns out, Once Human may be able to scratch that Palworld itch for some players and simultaneously break up the monotony of its regular gameplay loop in the process. At the very least, Palworld fans may want to give Once Human a try simply because it is a free-to-play game that will only cost them time in the long run.
Once Human and Palworld Have Some Things in Common
Once Human and Palworld Are Both Third-person Shooters With Base Building
The most obvious way in which Palworld and Once Human relate is in their identities as third-person shooters and base builders. There are certainly plenty of third-person shooters out there, so to liken the two simply based on that characteristic may not seem like enough to justify the comparisons. In fact, from a third-person shooter standpoint, Once Human has often been compared to Tom Clancy's The Division more than anything else. However, its other, more distinctive similarities to Palworld naturally lead to Once Human's third-person shooter qualities being compared to those of Pocketpair's base-building, creature-collecting phenomenon.
As is the case with many survival games, including Palworld, players can build increasingly complex bases in Once Human the more time they spend in the game. It's also possible to create a blueprint of a house in Once Human and then move it to a new location — a feature that Palworld, which is still in early access, doesn't currently have. That's not to say it won't eventually, however, as Pocketpair has been diligent to keep improving the game with regular quality-of-life updates. One of the biggest differences is Once Human's seasonal server wipe, which resets every player's level, map progress, and any structures they've built. Thankfully, players get to keep a blueprint of their house after the server wipes, allowing them to rebuild it as long as they have the necessary materials.
Once Human and Palworld Both Have Some Form of Creature Collecting
Palworld's greatest appeal is undoubtedly its Pokemon-like creature collecting, and Once Human happens to have a similar system of its own. However, instead of collecting adorable creatures in Once Human as they can in Palworld, players collect otherworldly Deviants, which can assist in battle and at the base. For example, Festering Gel can provide a makeshift cover for the player when it is thrown, and Digby Boy can help gather assorted minerals back at the player's base. All in all, Palworld's Pals function almost exactly like Once Human's Deviants, despite their stark differences in appearance.
Should Palworld players find themselves in a bit of a lull in the brightly colored open world they've come to know, they should consider giving Once Human a try. The third-person shooting and base-building gameplay loop is very much like what players can find in Palworld, but Once Human's Deviants are perhaps the strongest similarity it shares with Palworld. Add to that, no price tag at all, and Once Human sounds like a worthwhile vacation for Palworld lovers.
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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
