Starry Studio’s new game, Once Human, offers a multitude of ways to gain XP, which is essential for unlocking Memetics and Specializations. Players can gather resources, defeat enemies, hunt wildlife, and craft items to earn XP, allowing them to progress steadily by simply engaging with the game. These pathways provide a balanced progression system that caters to different playstyles.
Previous reports have highlighted the importance of balanced progression in survival games, and Once Human seems to follow this trend. Compared to games like Ark: Survival Evolved, where resource grinding can often feel repetitive, Once Human integrates multiple XP-earning actions, making progression feel more organic. Earlier games in the genre often required players to focus intensely on one task to advance, but Once Human offers more diverse activities that contribute to leveling up.
In contrast, games like Rust have adopted a more punitive approach to progression, where players can lose significant progress upon death. Once Human appears to mitigate this risk by rewarding consistent engagement with the game mechanics. This difference could make the game more appealing to casual players who prefer steady, predictable progress.
Optimizing XP Farming
Journey Tasks
The Journey menu in Once Human offers a series of minor tasks that, once completed, reward players with XP and Energy Link. These tasks include simple actions like building storage crates, sleeping in a bed, or unlocking specific Memetics. Regularly checking and completing these tasks can yield steady XP, enhancing overall gameplay progression.
Smelting Operations
Players can also gain XP by smelting materials. Unlocking and placing Furnaces to process wood into Charcoal or ores into Ingots can be a highly efficient way to earn XP. This method allows players to accumulate XP passively while engaging in other in-game activities. Utilizing Deviations like The Digby Boy and Logging Beaver can further streamline the resource-gathering process.
Boosting XP with Orange Pie
Foods such as Bananas, Apples, and Grapes can be combined to create Orange Pie, which boosts XP from monster kills by 25% for 30 minutes. Unlocking the Dishes 3 Memetic in the Logistics tree is necessary to access this recipe. Players can extend the shelf life of these pies using the Portable Fridge Specialization, making it a strategic way to farm XP efficiently.
Weekly Commissions for Bonus XP
Weekly Commissions from vendors like V in Meyer’s Market and Deadsville offer another reliable method to gain XP. These tasks involve building structures, gathering resources, and crafting items. Completing five commissions in a week provides bonus XP, Energy Link, and other materials, making it a valuable weekly activity for players.
Once Human offers diversified methods for XP farming, making the game engaging and rewarding for different playstyles. Players are less likely to encounter the monotony often associated with resource grinding in similar games, thanks to the varied tasks and activities that contribute to leveling up.
The game also strategically integrates passive XP accumulation with active gameplay, allowing players to progress without the intense focus required by some other survival games. This approach could attract a broader player base, from casual gamers to more dedicated survival game enthusiasts.
