Once Human has so many disparate mechanics and features that figuring out which to discuss first presents a unique challenge. The debut title from developer Starry Studio, Once Human has a simple enough post-apocalyptic premise. It’s not long before things take an unexpected turn, upending what most of us have come to expect when we hear the words “multiplayer,” “open-world,” and “survival.”

During my hands-on with Once Human at Summer Game Fest, I got to sample everything the game offers. Admittedly, I was barely scratching the surface of what’s in store for players in the full release. The moment-to-moment gameplay was satisfying and not overly intimidating to jump into. Guns feel appropriately punchy and impactful. Once Human doesn’t rely on spongy enemies to arbitrarily add challenge—that is, assuming you’re facing off against enemies on par with your character’s level and experience. 

Speaking of, Once Human’s enemies are among its most bizarre aspects, taking me by surprise as I began my play session. While other genre mainstays often pit you against rival human factions or the undead, Starry Studio went in a different direction. In their take on a post-apocalyptic world, a mysterious form of energy called Stardust has spread across the planet, infecting and breathing life into the otherwise mundane and forgettable. 

These nightmarish creatures, which are called Deviants, start simply enough. It only took a few minutes before I encountered humanoid monsters with spotlights instead of heads, capable of blinding and freezing you in place with a blast from their light beams, much to my horror. Shortly after, I was directed to snag some loot in front of a nearby electronic billboard only to be ambushed by a gargantuan Deviant that leaped out of the screen. To cap off my horror-fueled demo, a representative from publisher NetEase asked me to approach a large stretch of open road. Before long, a hulking, four-legged bus (which, as I later found out, is simply referred to as Monster Bus) came barreling down the street, instantly invoking images of My Neighbor Totoro’s beloved Catbus and Stranger Things’ twisted parallel dimension, the Upside Down. Thankfully, this particular Deviant doesn’t actively attack the player, and if you wait for it to lower itself closer to the ground, you can even climb into the bus and ride around the world with a newfound sense of style. 

These Lovecraft-inspired abominations might seem like a simple gimmick at first glance, but there’s an undeniable mix of wonder, excitement, and anxiety that comes with encountering a new Deviant or turning the corner and finding yourself ambushed by a swarm of Lantern Heads (that’s my unofficial term for the spotlight/human hybrids). Starry Studio clearly loves this odd combination of the monstrous and the mundane, going so far as to incorporate Deviants into the progression systems that drive Once Human’s survival and combat. 

By exploring the apocalyptic wasteland and defeating Deviants, you’ll slowly amass a collection of Deviations—inanimate objects that have come to life. So far, there are a few dozen Deviations to seek out, and each has unique special abilities players can leverage. Some are focused on resource acquisition (think farming and mining) and defending your base of operations, while others can aid in combat by fighting alongside you or providing buffs. Throughout my demo, I used the Festering Gel, an adorable, sentient blob toy that can provide temporary cover in battle. 
With the vast amount of weapons to collect, Deviations to track down, and skill trees to master, I was worried Once Human might devolve into a play-to-win experience with needless grinding. Thankfully, that doesn’t seem to be the case. During my hands-on session, the head of overseas operations at NetEase, Derek Qiu, confirmed that despite being a free-to-play title, Once Human won’t feature any play-to-win mechanics. Instead, the team plans to generate revenue through cosmetics and seasonal content. 

“The [in-game] map is full of public events,” Derek explained, noting that a single server could host around 4,000 players. “We have boss fights, we have dungeons, we have side tasks, and we have main storylines. So, we’re working very hard to provide enough content for players to consume.” 

With separate PvP and PvE modes and the promise of regular content drops, Once Human is in a prime position to siphon up hours upon hours of your summer when it releases on July 9. 

You can wishlist Once Human now on the Epic Games Store.