Once Human is the most ambitious F2P survival game on the market — a 256 km² post-apocalyptic open world with deep base building, 50+ PvE scenarios, and the unique Deviation system where you capture and use reality-bending creatures.

This guide covers the first 10 hours: how to choose a starting zone, build a starter base, catch your first Deviations, and avoid the 5 mistakes that ruin your first playthrough. Updated for the 1-year anniversary patch (2026).

Step 1: Choose your starting zone

Once Human has 7 distinct biomes. Your first zone determines your first 10 hours of gameplay. Here are the 3 easiest for new players:

Forest (Dayton Wetlands): The

easiest biome. Lots of resources, gentle enemies, and a starter base location near a river. Pick this if you want the smoothest first 10 hours.

Desert (Sandy Plots): The

medium biome. Sparse resources, harder enemies, but the open terrain makes combat easier. Pick this if you want a balance of challenge and reward.

Snow (Vibrant Forest): The

hardest biome. Cold mechanics (you need warm clothing), hard enemies, but the best loot. Pick this if you want a challenge.

Avoid the City and Lab biomes for your first playthrough — they're endgame zones with high-level enemies.

Step 2: Build a starter base

Your first base should be small, functional, and easy to expand. Here's the build order:

Foundation (4 walls +

floor + door): Build this first. It's your safe space.

Storage chest (1 chest

per player): Place 3-4 chests inside the foundation. You'll need the storage.

Crafting stations (workbench,

stove, garden plot, water purifier): Place 2-3 stations inside the foundation. You need these to craft basic items.

Bed (1 per player): Place

a bed inside the foundation. Beds are spawn points.

Turrets (1-2 ballistas):

Place 2 turrets outside the foundation. They auto-defend your base.

Pro tip: Build near a water source (river, lake). Water is essential for cooking and crafting.

Step 3: Catch your first Deviations

Deviations are the unique feature of Once Human. They're reality-bending creatures you capture and put inside containers on your base. Each Deviation has a unique ability.

Here are the 3 best Deviations for new players:

Lone Wolf: Generates power.

Essential for your base. Catch one within the first 5 hours.

Growler: Grows food. Essential

for long-term survival. Catch one within the first 10 hours.

Lobber: Defends your base

from enemies. Great for night-time raids. Catch one within the first 15 hours.

How to catch Deviations: Use the Deviation Containment device (you get it in the tutorial). When you find a Deviation in the wild, aim at it and fire. If you hit it 3 times, it's captured. Some Deviations are stronger than others — rare Deviations take more hits.

Step 4: Complete the first 5 scenarios

Scenarios are the PvE content of Once Human. The first 5 scenarios are the tutorial. Here's the order you should do them:

"First Light" (tutorial

scenario): 10 minutes, teaches you the combat system. Do this immediately.

"The Road to Vagrantville"

(main scenario): 30 minutes, unlocks the base building. Do this after the tutorial.

"Lost and Found" (side

scenario): 20 minutes, gives you a free weapon. Do this for the gear.

"The Silos" (side

scenario): 30 minutes, teaches you the Deviation system. Do this for the Deviation rewards.

"Deviation Hunters" (side

scenario): 45 minutes, unlocks the rare Deviation hunt. Do this for the unlock.

Pro tip: Scenarios scale with your gear. If a scenario is too hard, come back later when you have better gear.

Step 5: The 5 mistakes that ruin first playthroughs

These are the mistakes I see every new player make. Avoid them:

**Building a giant base too

early**. Your first base should be 4 walls + a door + 2 chests + 1 workbench. That's it. Bigger bases attract more enemies (especially at night) and require more resources.

**Not catching Deviations

early**. Deviations are essential. Catch a Lone Wolf (power) and a Growler (food) within the first 10 hours. Don't skip this.

**Wandering too far from

base**. The world is 256 km² but the safe zone is small. Stay within 500m of your base for the first 20 hours. If you die far from base, you lose your gear.

Ignoring the weather.

Sandstorms in the desert, blizzards in the snow, acid rain in the swamp. All of these will damage you. Check the weather before exploring.

Selling rare materials.

Early game, you need every material you find. Don't sell to vendors. Store them in your chests.

Step 6: The first 10 hours (a sample playthrough)

Here's a sample 10-hour playthrough to get you started:

Hour 1: Tutorial + first

foundation + Lone Wolf Deviation.

Hour 2-3: First 2 scenarios

+ Growler Deviation + basic weapons.

Hour 4-5: Explore nearby

biomes + catch 2-3 more Deviations.

Hour 6-7: Complete 3 more

scenarios + upgrade base to 8 walls + 4 chests.

Hour 8-10: Push toward the

first "Deviation Hunter" zone + catch your first rare Deviation.

After 10 hours, you should have a functional base, 5+ Deviations, and enough gear to start the endgame.

FAQ

Is Once Human really F2P?

Yes. All content (campaign, scenarios, base building, Deviations) is free. The paid content is cosmetics and a battle pass.

Is Once Human good for solo players?

Yes, but it's designed for multiplayer. You can play solo by joining a "solo" server, but the game's systems (base defense, resource gathering) work better with a group.

What's the best Deviation to start with?

Lone Wolf (power) and Growler (food). Both are easy to catch and make base management trivial.

How long is the Once Human campaign?

20+ hours for the main story, 50+ hours for all scenarios, 200+ hours for the full endgame.

Can I move my base?

No, bases are permanent. Choose your base location carefully (near a water source, near a river, in a defensible position).

Is the PvP mode required?

No, it's opt-in. You can play Once Human as a pure PvE game.

What's the population like?

50,000+ concurrent on Steam in

Smaller than Rust or Valheim

but the largest for any F2P survival game.

Should I play Once Human or Valheim first?

If you want depth and complexity, Once Human. If you want simplicity and focus, Valheim. Once Human is deeper but the learning curve is steeper.

Once Human beginner's guide: how to survive the apocalypse without losing your base