Once Humanhas become a surprise hit, marking the next big free to play sensation that brings together elements of survival games, horror games and MMO’s into one amazing package.
It’s difficult to nail this particular genre, as so many have tried to be the next big thing and failed in the process.
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Once Humanmanaged to pull it off though, and did so in a week that saw two other free-to-play games release as well.
The formula of sharp shooting mechanics, a unique world, and great multiplayer action has given it the current free-to-play crown. So, what other games are similar and could maybe make the same leap to stardom?
10State of Decay 2
Open World Survival Horror
State of Decay 2
BeforeOnce Humantook the stage, one of the finest open-world survival horror games wasState of Decay 2. It’s multiplayer-friendly and gives you one of themost tense and horrifying experiences in gaming history.
There is a story, but the main point of the game is to survive and build your settlement and that’s quite the task when the world is roaming with zombies.
Things get even scarier at night and hordes can attack at any time, with zombies of all shapes and sizes descending on you and your people.
It’s a nerve-wracking experience, going to find materials, having to batten down the hatches for an incoming invasion and keeping the people of your settlement alive, but it’s one that isn’t to be missed and hits notes that every open world survival game goes for to this day.
9The Division 2
The City Needs You
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
The Division 2places you as an elite member of a covert military force called The Division and, in the wake of a virus outbreak that has caused Washington DC to go into full quarantine mode, various factions have attempted a takeover of the city, and it’s up to you and the other agents to stop it.
The plot is fun enough, but the real magic here comes with the open-world exploration with friends that you can have while playing the game.
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The third person shooting is probably a level aboveOnce Human, focusing on tons of customization and ability swapping, and the mission variety will keep you engaged for years to come, as the updates since its release have packed this one full of content.
There is likely a sequel coming sometime in the near future, but for now,there are few games that can produce the feeling ofThe Division 2.
8The First Descendant
The Future is Now
The First Descendant
The First Descendantcame out the same week asOnce Human, but it didn’t hit big at first. Since then, it’s been picking up momentum, with more and more updates to get the product up to par, and now, it’s an excellent product.
The First Descendantis a far more futuristic affair thanOnce Human, but that’s okay because it gives it a unique identity. The gameplay feels a bit like a third person version ofDestiny, but there is more to it than that.
There is an awesome grappling hook mechanic that comes into play not only in traversal but against some of the more fearsome bosses in the game.
There is also a ton of content here, from main missions to side missions to tons of customization, unlockable characters and amazing lands to explore. It has just about everythingOnce Humanhas, just a slightly different flavor.
AlongsideOnce Human, it’s just in its infancy, and it’s tough to know where it will go from here, but the foundation is rock solid, and it seems like the developers are going to be dedicated to making this a fantastic experience.
7Fallout 76
The Post-Apocalypse Is Complete
Fallout 76
If you love some good, post-apocalyptic fun, you can find it withFallout 76. Since its disastrous launch in 2018, it has since become one of the best open world, survival MMO’s out there.
The world, while once barren, is now packed with NPCs, tons of stories to follow, side quests to explore and terrifying secrets to discover. The gameplay is on the simple side, but the RPG mechanics are strong here, allowing you to build a character how you’d like and adapt to their strengths and weaknesses.
Your choices matter here, which is an interesting change from most MMO games, and the fact that you can play the entire game alongside friends or strangers is amazing, allowing for a full-fledged Fallout experience online in a way that it deserves.
There have been countless updatessince its initial launch and the experience today is far beyond what it once was. If you jumped in back at the launch and felt spurned, give it another shot, and you’ll likely find what you were looking for when you first jumped in.
The Original Multiplayer Horror
As a player of the originalDayZ, it is amazing to see what has become of the franchise with its independent release.
Starting out as a mod for the gameArma III,DayZintroduced the world to the open-world horror MMO. It was simple and quiet but terrifying and brilliant in its design.
Never before did a game give you the feeling of never being alone and yet very alone all at once. The full release doubled down on this feeling, giving you a horrific world to explore, where the biggest dangers might not be the zombies, but perhaps another player offering you help.
The psychological aspect of the game is amazing, with you never sure on whether a fellow player is out to help or harm you, requiring you to keep your gun at the ready at all times. It’s gotten tons of updates and content expansion since its initial release in 2018, and is arguably still growing in its potential.
There are a lot of imitators ofDayZ, but they aren’t as good as the original and that deserves your attention.
5Remnant 2
The Weirdest Mutliverse
Picking up where the previous game left off, Remnant 2 once again pits you against the alien tree-race known as The Root. Step through portals to dimensions with two of your allies as you continue to fight back against an enemy who’s down, but definitely not out.
If the weird, completely out-there vibe ofOnce Humanis your jam, then I have a companion for it that just might’ve been the best game of the absolutely loaded year that was 2023.
Remnant 2feels very similar in its execution, but instead of an open world MMO, it’s a multiplayer-friendly looter shooter that takes place in amazingly imaginative worlds.
The shooting feels very similar, as does the unique environment it all takes place in.Remant 2also leans into the alien variety of the post apocalypse, unlike the ones we see with zombies in the majority of the entries on this list.
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The multiplayer is also fantastic, giving thebest co-op experience in the souls-like genre. The constant weird environment, incredibly inventive creatures and wildly challenging boss encounters will hook you for hours here and the ability to re-roll the world, turning the game into a rogue-like, at any time, ensures replayability as well.
4Subnautica
Under the Sea, What Awaits Thee?
Subnautica
Subnauticagives you a whole other kind of feeling of beingalone in a strange worldthatOnce Humangives. Here, you’ll be exploring under the sea in an alien world and the result is one of the most incredible and scary gaming experiences out there.
Subnauticais heavy on crafting and survival elements and both are required to make your way through this mysterious world. No game before or since has managed to create the feeling of mystery and terror that it manages to hit and exploring under the sea is as scary as it is beautiful.
Though it’s not an MMO,Subnauticahas a constantly evolving gameplay loop, and you may treat it as an underwaterNo Man’s Skyin terms of the amount of new things to see every time you dive in. As one of the unique games out there,Subnauticashould hit the same notesOnce Humandoes in a new and fun way.
3No Man’s Sky
Eternity is Yours
No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Skyis an MMO on the level of no game ever before. That is not an exaggeration.
This galaxy-sized game lets you explore an infinite number of procedurally generated planets that each have unique flora and fauna and, while there is a basic story to follow, the story is the one you create in your journey.
If you want to be a space pirate, you’re able to do that. If you want to scavenge for resources to improve your equipment, you can.
If you want to soar through space, searching for mysterious alien artifacts and investigating derelict ships, you can. It’s a mind-bending game scale wise and the ability to play it alongside a friend makes it all the better.
Much likeOnce Human, it’s consistently being updated and with each one, tons of content comes with it and now it’s known asone of the best comeback stories in gamingand one that is not to be missed by fans of MMO survival games.
2Zenless Zone Zero
The Post-Apocalypse, Anime Style
Zenless Zone Zero
Zenless Zone Zerois an anime-styled, post-apocalyptic brawler that gives you control over various agents that you can unlock throughout playing the game.
This one also came out the same week thatOnce Humandid, making for three interesting and unique free-to-play games that all hit a different niche on their way to providing MMO, post-apocalyptic gaming experiences.
Here, combat is the main event, with a fast-paced and punchy combat system that, at times, can feel like an anime has come to life. It’s got challenging bosses, interesting puzzles to solve, and a hefty road map that shows this game is set for the long run.
If you want your MMO to focus more on combat,Zenless Zeno Zeronails it, giving you some of the most exciting and bizarre boss fights of the year while providing an intriguing story to unravel in the process.
1Ark: Survival Evolved
The Weirdest World
ARK: Survival Evolved
Ark: Survival Evolvedis an incredible game that has evolved just like its namesake suggests, to become one of the very best in the open world survival genre. It nails the feeling of being alone in a strange world in such a strong way that your first handful of hours here will really feel like an actual struggle.
You can play with others, or build a settlement yourself as you take on animals, dinosaurs and all other manner of creature in this weird and wonderful world. First released in 2017, the game has undergone tons of updates and grown to become the biggest name its genre.
It feels dangerous to play, which is a good thing. The story is strictly sci-fi, which is perfect as you see yourself evolve from a complete nothing to an evolved war machine over the course of playing. you may also tame the creatures you fight, gaining pet dinosaurs and the like along the way and building a functioning settlement is always a fun achievement.
It may be 7 years old at this point with a sequel on the way, butArk: Survival Evolvedmanages to take a sci-fi story and a survival game and meld them in a way that hadn’t been seen until Once Human appeared. It’s that engaging to play.
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