Is Once Human Free on PC?
Yes. Once Human is a completely free-to-play survival game available on PC through Steam. There are no upfront costs — the game is free to download, install, and play. Cosmetic items and season passes are available for purchase, but the core gameplay loop is entirely free.
The game was developed by Netease Games and launched in July 2024. It quickly became one of the most-played survival games on Steam, peaking at over 150,000 concurrent players in its first week.
Once Human System Requirements
| Minimum | Recommended | High Settings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10/11 64-bit | Windows 11 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-8600K / AMD Ryzen 5 2600 | Intel Core i7-8700K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | Intel Core i7-12700K / AMD Ryzen 7 5800X |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| GPU | NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB / AMD RX 580 | NVIDIA RTX 2070 / AMD RX 5700 XT | NVIDIA RTX 3080 / AMD RX 6800 XT |
| VRAM | 6 GB | 8 GB | 10 GB+ |
| Storage | 40 GB SSD | 40 GB NVMe SSD | 40 GB NVMe SSD |
| DirectX | DirectX 11 | DirectX 12 | DirectX 12 |
Important notes:
- SSD is strongly recommended — HDD causes severe loading delays and texture pop-in
- 16 GB RAM is the practical minimum; the game regularly exceeds 8 GB RAM usage
- Integrated graphics are not supported — a dedicated GPU is required
How to Download Once Human on PC
Once Human is available exclusively through Steam.
Step 1: Install Steam If you don't have Steam, download the Steam client from store.steampowered.com. Create a free Steam account.
Step 2: Search for Once Human In the Steam Store search bar, type "Once Human." Select the game published by Netease Games.
Step 3: Install the game Click the green "Play Game" button (it is free, so there is no purchase step). Click "Install" and choose your installation drive. The game is approximately 40 GB.
Step 4: Create a Netease account Once Human requires a Netease account to play. You can sign up with an email address directly in the launcher. Existing Netease accounts from other games (like Marvel Rivals) can be used.
Step 5: Launch and update The first launch may trigger an additional update patch. Once patched, you're ready to play.
Best PC Settings for Once Human (2026)
Open Settings via the menu icon (top-right during gameplay) → Video.
Display Settings
| Setting | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Display Mode | Fullscreen | Best performance and input latency |
| Resolution | Native (1080p/1440p) | Match your monitor |
| Frame Rate | 60 or Unlimited | Cap at 60 if your GPU runs hot |
| V-Sync | Off | Adds input lag; use GPU-side frame cap instead |
| Anti-Aliasing | TAA | Best image quality; FXAA if you need more FPS |
Graphics Quality — Impact Table
| Setting | FPS Impact | Recommended | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow Quality | ⬛⬛⬛⬛ Very High | Medium | Biggest FPS lever; High/Ultra costs 20–35% FPS |
| Ambient Occlusion | ⬛⬛⬛ High | Medium | SSAO is expensive; Medium looks almost identical |
| View Distance | ⬛⬛⬛ High | High | Low view distance makes spotting threats harder |
| Foliage Density | ⬛⬛ Medium | Medium | Low helps FPS; too low hurts resource visibility |
| Post Processing | ⬛ Low | Medium | Minimal performance impact; affects visual feel |
| Texture Quality | ⬛ Low | High | RAM/VRAM dependent; keep High if you have 8+ GB VRAM |
| Effects Quality | ⬛ Low | Medium | Particle effects; reduce if combat drops FPS |
| Motion Blur | — | OFF | Always disable — hurts readability in combat |
| Depth of Field | — | Off | Personal preference; off for competitive clarity |
Preset Recommendations by GPU
| GPU | Preset Starting Point | Key Adjustments |
|---|---|---|
| GTX 1060 / RX 580 | Low | Shadow=Low, AO=Off, Foliage=Low; target 30–45 FPS |
| RTX 2070 / RX 5700 XT | Medium | Shadow=Medium, AO=Medium; target 60 FPS |
| RTX 3070 / RX 6700 XT | High | Shadow=High, all else High; target 60–90 FPS |
| RTX 3080+ / RX 6800 XT+ | Very High/Ultra | Shadow=High (not Ultra); target 60–100+ FPS |
For RTX users: DLSS (Quality or Balanced mode) adds 20–40% FPS with minimal visual loss. Enable in Settings → Graphics → Upscaling. For AMD users: FSR 2 Quality mode is a solid alternative to DLSS. For Intel Arc: XeSS is supported and recommended over FSR on Arc GPUs.
How Once Human Works — Core Systems Explained
The Season System
Once Human operates on a season structure, typically lasting 6–8 weeks. At the end of each season:
- Characters reset — your level, items, and buildings do not carry over
- Starchrom (premium cosmetics) and some blueprint unlocks carry forward
- New seasons bring different scenarios, map changes, and rule variations
This is intentional design — the reset creates a fresh competitive playing field each season. Treat each season as a complete run.
The World and Scenarios
You choose a Scenario (server type) when starting:
- PvE Scenarios: Cooperative, no player killing. Best for new players or those who prefer building and exploration.
- PvP Scenarios: Player killing enabled in designated zones. Higher risk, higher reward for PvPers.
- Softcore vs Hardcore: Hardcore scenarios have permanent consequences for death. Avoid these as a beginner.
The Contamination System
The world is covered in Contamination — a purple haze that represents the game's narrative threat. Contaminated zones:
- Deal continuous damage without proper gear
- Contain better loot and more challenging enemies
- Require a Deviations setup that boosts your Contamination resistance
As you progress, you unlock gear and Deviations that let you survive higher Contamination levels.
Beginner's Guide — First Week Priority List
Day 1: Get established
- Choose a PvE scenario for your first season — avoid PvP until you understand the mechanics
- Follow the main story quest — it teaches all core systems and gives essential early resources
- Build your first base: find a flat area, place your Territory Module, build walls, a bed, and a crafting workbench
- Collect Stardust Sources — the resource used to build and maintain your territory
- Craft your first weapon: start with the Assault Rifle or Shotgun depending on playstyle
Resources to prioritize early
| Resource | What it's for | Where to find |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | Building, fuel | Trees everywhere |
| Ore (Iron/Copper) | Crafting weapons and tools | Gray rocks in the environment |
| Acid | Ammunition | Defeating early enemies |
| Stardust Source | Territory upkeep | Glowing nodes across the map |
| Deviated Plants | Cooking, medicine | Purple-glowing plants |
Base building fundamentals
- Territory Module is the core of your base — protect it first
- Build walls and a roof early — rain and storms deal damage
- Electrical systems require copper wire and are essential for advanced crafting stations
- Memetic Fragments (dropped by bosses) unlock the Memetics Tree, which is Once Human's skill/upgrade system
The Memetics Tree (skill system)
Once Human uses a Memetics Tree instead of traditional leveling:
- Killing enemies and exploring grants Memetic Fragments
- Spend Fragments to unlock nodes across six branches: Firearms, Melee, Survival, Building, Deviated, and Logistics
- Priority early unlocks: Fitness → Aim Training → Logistics (carry weight) → Deviated Codex
- You can reset Memetics freely during the first week; once you're committed to a playstyle, plan before spending
Deviations — the most unique system
Deviations are the game's signature mechanic. They are bizarre alien creatures you can capture and assign to your base or your character:
- Cradle Deviations: Assigned to your territory; they produce resources, buff base functions, or help with crafting
- Combat Deviations: Assigned to your loadout; they activate during combat, dealing damage or providing utility
Early priority Deviations:
- Shroom Shrubs: Passive wood and plant production — excellent for early base setup
- Grumpy Old Man: Combat Deviation that drops a grenade — useful for crowd control
- Professor Feathers: Cradle Deviation that boosts crafting speed
Deviations are found via exploration, boss drops, and the Wish Machine (a gacha-style mechanic that uses currency you can earn in-game for free).
Multiplayer and Co-op
Once Human supports up to 5 players in a cooperative group. Group members can:
- Share a territory and build together
- Share resource nodes (nodes respawn but sharing speeds collection)
- Take on world bosses and Strongholds cooperatively
How to group up:
- Open the Map → click a player's character to send a group invite
- Or use the Social menu → Friends → Invite to Group
- Groups share a group territory; you can still maintain individual territories
Cross-server play: Players on different servers cannot directly join groups, but all servers within the same scenario type are connected via a regional world. Public events and world bosses are shared across the server cluster.
Common Errors and Fixes
| Error | Solution |
|---|---|
| Game crashes on launch | Verify game files via Steam (right-click → Properties → Local Files → Verify integrity). Update GPU drivers. |
| Stuck on loading screen | Delete cache: %AppData%\Once_Human\Saved\Logs and Cache folders. Restart. |
| Low FPS / stuttering | Set Shadow Quality to Medium or Low. Disable ambient occlusion. Enable DLSS/FSR upscaling. |
| "Server full" error | Switch to a different server region or try during off-peak hours (early morning). |
| Cannot connect / timeout | Check Steam server status. Try disabling VPN if active. Switch DNS to 8.8.8.8 (Google). |
| Netease account issues | Use the Netease account portal at user.netease.com to reset password or verify email. |
| Texture pop-in / blurry textures | Move installation to an SSD. Increase Texture Quality to High if VRAM allows. |
| Controller not detected | Once Human supports controllers natively via Steam Input. Enable Steam Input in game properties. |
Once Human vs. Other Survival Games
| Feature | Once Human | The First Descendant | Palworld | Rust |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free | $29.99 | $39.99 |
| PvE/PvP | Both (choose scenario) | PvE only | PvE + optional PvP | PvP default |
| Setting | Sci-fi/post-apocalyptic | Sci-fi fantasy | Creature-taming + building | Post-apocalyptic |
| Season resets | Yes (6–8 weeks) | Seasonal updates only | No core reset | Wipes (server-dependent) |
| Co-op | 5-player | 4-player | 4-player | 100-player server |
| Base building | Extensive | Limited | Extensive | Extensive |
| Unique mechanic | Deviations + Contamination | Descendants (hero classes) | Pal-taming + work | Hardcore survival |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Once Human really free? Yes, completely free on Steam. No paywall for any gameplay content. Cosmetics and Starchrom (premium currency) can be purchased but are never required.
Do I lose everything at the end of a season? Your character level, items, and base reset. Cosmetics, some blueprint unlocks, and earned Starchrom carry over. The reset is intentional — it keeps the game competitive.
Can I play solo without joining a group? Yes. Once Human is fully playable solo. The Memetics Tree can be built around solo survival, and the main story is designed for solo play. Some world bosses scale with group size.
What's the file download size? Approximately 40 GB. Make sure you have enough SSD space (50 GB free recommended to accommodate updates).
Is Once Human on Steam Deck? Not officially supported. The game has EasyAntiCheat, which partially blocks Proton compatibility. Some players report it working with workarounds, but it's not recommended as a stable experience.
How long does a season last? Typically 6–8 weeks. Season end dates are announced in-game and on the official Once Human social channels.
Does Once Human have crossplay with console? No. Once Human is PC-only via Steam.
Is there a story to follow? Yes. Once Human has a substantial main story questline involving Metas (source of contamination), Rosetta Corporation, and the player's character's background. It's not just survival gameplay — the narrative is a significant part of the game.