In 2024, NetEase (the folks behind Marvel Rivals, most recently) released on PC from one of its subsidiaries, Starry Studio, Once Human , a F2P post-apocalyptic, action, survival, online multiplayer game. It apparently did well enough there that, earlier this year, it was announced that it’d be coming to consoles, which is when it hit my radar and watch-lists, as I regularly remain on the lookout for new multiplayer titles to try in my household. Was I paying close enough attention when the news hit in mid-June that an open beta for the game was about to hit consoles? Almost. While I missed the chance to join on the Xbox, I managed to successfully join on the PS5. I went in knowing very little, having only watched a few official and creator videos about the game. It took a while for me to get my bearings; but now with thirty hours of gameplay under my belt, I think I’m hooked.

I don’t know that I could regale anyone with Once Human’s story, because I’m still not sure I fully understand it myself, but the idea is that players take on the roles of “meta-humans” – creations of a mysterious company called Rosetta – in a post-apocalyptic world that’s been befallen by a horrific celestial event called the “Starfall.” With it, most of the world’s inhabitants succumbed to an alien substance called “Stardust,” but some were transformed by it in terrible creatures ranging from zombie-like humans to massive monsters.  As meta-human, players are tasked with figuring out Rosetta’s intention (seems they may have caused the Starfall) while uncovering the past of the world that once was.

In truth, the game’s story isn’t the most compelling reason to play Once Human, it isn’t particularly deep or weighty, but it is nice to have goals alongside the general sandbox. Once Human’s world is what makes it, as it’s strange, vast, and full of secrets, and lots and lots of loot. Battling world bosses is one thing; an endgame in Once Human may be to find every last plan and deviant.

Ah, but what is a “deviant?” Think: Pokémon, in that, you gotta collect ‘em all! That said, the game uses to term to describe every non-human creature, good and bad, and the deviants the meta-humans collects and control are generally good. Some serve as companions in combat, some help improve players’ crafting abilities, and others help with gathering resources. Lest anyone think otherwise, making a base of one’s dream is another endgame in Once Human! At first, it’s all punching trees for wood and hitting rocks for stone, but before too long, players are given much-improved tools, like a jackhammer and chainsaw, for collecting. Or, one could instead put a resource-gathering deviant to work for them. What the case may be, resources abound, which means that inventory management becomes a thing, too.

One other aspect of Once Human that may help set it apart from the pack is that story and exploration are tied to different scenarios, three of which, all PVE, have been available during the beta. I spent my time in the Manibus novice scenario and had an excellent time. Its easy-going gameplay made progress feel possible and enjoyable. For more of a challenge, there were two harder scenarios, Way of Winter and Endless Dream, along with a PVP option called RaidZone. Interestingly, to dive into other scenarios, players have to make separate characters for each. I’ve not gone that route yet, as I imagine the gameplay is generally the same (excepting PVP) with more difficult enemies.

As of writing, my time in the Once Human open beta, which is ongoing until early August, has dwindled. But that’s because all progress will be wiped after the beta is over in preparation for the full console version that will be released at the end of August. In the infamous words of the Terminator: I’ll be back! Once Human is a weird conglomeration of Fallout 76 mixed with Palworld, sprinkled with a dashes of The Walking Dead and H. P. Lovecraft, and it has gotten under my skin the best way. I look forward to restarting my meta-human’s adventures, maybe with a friends or two, in Once Human’s strange, new world soon.

All images, including lede, were captured by author during PS5 gameplay of Once Human open beta (© Starry Studio, NetEase Games).