Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey

 PC
User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 282 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 129 out of 282
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 282
  3. Negative: 110 out of 282

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  1. zcat5
    Jun 26, 2023
    3
    This is a fun, challenging game that lacks a clear sense of direction. That said, there are many bugs and implementation failures. A great idea with a lot of potential that is sadly lacking in execution.
  2. pazhiloy_pavu4
    Jul 16, 2022
    0
    Супер скучный постоянно повторяющийся геймплей + просто конченые звуки птицы после которых хочется выброситься в окно
  3. roten
    Apr 30, 2022
    0
    this product is not available in your region
    "games out of politics" right?
  4. Olenjan08
    Apr 19, 2022
    1
    Gute idee, aber leider schlecht umgesetzt.
    Das Spiel hatte Potenzial wie wenig andere Spiele. Doch heraus kam nur ein in Maßen gutes Exemplar. Es gibt einige Fehler. Frustrierend, total langweilig! Kann nur sagen bereue es stark das Spiel gekauft zu haben...
  5. MrIslamic
    Feb 2, 2021
    4
    Incredibly boring, everything you do feels meaningless. I got this game for free and I still feel scammed.
  6. MCmetacritic
    Nov 18, 2020
    1
    This game starts out so well that it's almost impressive how quickly it turns into an unredeemable pile of steaming mess. The most basic mechanics of the game aren't just poorly-communicated or glitchy beyond repair (though they are). They're so ill-considered that once it's time to do something (ANYTHING!) beyond climbing and jumping around on trees, the game immediately becomes aThis game starts out so well that it's almost impressive how quickly it turns into an unredeemable pile of steaming mess. The most basic mechanics of the game aren't just poorly-communicated or glitchy beyond repair (though they are). They're so ill-considered that once it's time to do something (ANYTHING!) beyond climbing and jumping around on trees, the game immediately becomes a frustrating, pointless, sloppy mess of mechanics that never seem to have gotten a first round of playtesting. I'm not kidding when I say this game would have been ten times better and maybe even worth playing if it had instead been called "Trees: The Jumping Around Odyssey" because that is dang well the only thing this game got right.… Expand
  7. ReviewingShyte
    Sep 12, 2020
    0
    I made an account just to review this game. It is **** literal, absolute garbage. So many decent general ideas ham-fistedly packed into such a poorly designed, obtuse package. That the designer worked on Assassin's Creed makes me believe he contributed NOTHING to those games; Desilets should be out of a job. The controls, gameplay, and the amount of stuff to do in game are woefullyI made an account just to review this game. It is **** literal, absolute garbage. So many decent general ideas ham-fistedly packed into such a poorly designed, obtuse package. That the designer worked on Assassin's Creed makes me believe he contributed NOTHING to those games; Desilets should be out of a job. The controls, gameplay, and the amount of stuff to do in game are woefully lacking, and it seems fairly obvious that this was just created as some sort of half-baked tech demo for a new company who, honestly, shouldn't have any access to game development resources, as aptly proved by this 'game'. Graphics are substandard, engaging gameplay is non-existent, goals are...well, there aren't any. Unless you can get this in a humblebundle or in someway were the price layout is under, say...$1, than go ahead and pick it up. Otherwise, avoid this monkey like the plague that infests its rotting carcass.… Expand
  8. AesirHunter
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    What a piece of crap, this game is just a hollow shell, the idea of the game is good but poorly executed. not to mention this game was a 1 year exclusive for epic store, did they use the extra money to improve the game? Nope. Avoid at all cost.
  9. AllNewSuperfake
    Jun 9, 2020
    2
    EDIT: -2 points for not fixing anything since release and instead focusing your energy on whining about unfair treatment and oh so obviously dumping 10 point reviews. I retract my statement that the company deserves your support.

    You can find a lot of potential and an *idea* of a great game, but while you are fighting the controls and the pretentious wannabe scientific language to    EDIT: -2 points for not fixing anything since release and instead focusing your energy on whining about unfair treatment and oh so obviously dumping 10 point reviews. I retract my statement that the company deserves your support.

    You can find a lot of potential and an *idea* of a great game, but while you are fighting the controls and the pretentious wannabe scientific language to explain the most mundane tasks to stay "challenging" you fail to find the fun in this one.

    All of this happens in an environment that is completely static once your first fascination wears off. Everyone and everything is just sitting around, doing nothing, waiting for you to take control of them to repeat the same tasks over and over again.

    The only times wildlife interacts with each other is in cutscenes and of course to chase you around, and all the intimidation in the world doesn't impress badly coded AI. All progress in the game is barred by rhythm games, time limits and QTE's, and of course following the steps the developers thought of and guessing which steps they *did not* think of when figuring out new tools or ways to handle your tribe.

    It is nice to see this type of game making a comeback, trying out new subjects and mechanics. It's the only reason why I don't regret spending money on this, I want to see more games like this. It's also the only reason why I would recommend this, but thanks to the chosen platform there also won't be a whole lot of communication between the developer and the community, which stands in the way of improvements for the future.    … Expand
  10. Zodwraith
    Apr 21, 2020
    0
    I find it hard to choose a score for this because I want to give the idea a 10 but the implementation a 1. So 5 right?
    Epic exclusive. There's a point off.
    Way too easy to head down a dead end path that you can't see as such and be forced into a full reset to the beginning. There's another point off. This deserves a hard 3 but don't think that makes it a bad game overall, just too    I find it hard to choose a score for this because I want to give the idea a 10 but the implementation a 1. So 5 right?
    Epic exclusive. There's a point off.
    Way too easy to head down a dead end path that you can't see as such and be forced into a full reset to the beginning. There's another point off.

    This deserves a hard 3 but don't think that makes it a bad game overall, just too many unforgiveables. I've got about 40 hours into it trying to break into what I feel should be a deeply rewarding game and I just never got there, even when I started succeeding with evolutions.

    Here's a typical couple play hours:
    Find sticks.
    Find rocks.
    Strip sticks.
    Sharpen sticks.
    Head out.
    Stop CONSTANTLY to smell, listen, bark, inspect.
    Get attacked by XYZ.
    Sticks break killing XYZ.
    Find all the dropped weapons that aren't broken.
    Climb all over looking for mats to heal.
    Heal wounds on you and clan.
    Find more sticks and rocks to sharpen sticks, then do that.
    Everyone is starving and too stupid to eat or drink without you showing them.
    Find obsidian, thank God. Then try to find them again after your clan members drop them in the grass.
    After 10 outings you realize it's easier to just go alone instead of babysitting your entire down syndrome clan.
    Decide to try and keep to trees. Get frustrated by horrible controls while climbing that require precise nonsensical positioning. Yeet yourself into the nothingness while aiming at a branch that was JUST RIGHT THERE.
    Return to camp to have random members just be gone.
    Realize once again you don't have enough members for evolution and finding outsiders is too rare for how far you have to travel at a snail's pace. Try traveling quickly and you're terrified of unknown areas making you freak out without inspecting everything around you just 50 yards from your "known" area.
    Reconsider for the 15th time to uninstall the game.

    The pacing is punishingly slow. EVERYTHING you do is slow. Sharpening one stick takes 15 clicks(!) if you don't have the right tools. (keep obsidian in your camp)

    I've got over 40 hours into it but I should have been at this point within hour 5. Rewards for pushing yourself through the soul crushing monotony are pathetic. It's sad because I really wanted to like this game. Graphics are really nice and the premise of the game is intriguing. Unfortunately this is all destroyed by clunky controls, horrible mechanics, and the same slow process over and over and over again. After typing all this out I think it's lucky I went as high as 3. You should never punish the player for playing the right way.

    Edit: After seeing Desilet's response to less than glowing reviews that we're all stupid or lying that this isn't the greatest game ever made I'm changing my review to a zero. Anyone that egotistical needs to be knocked down a notch, especially if he thinks THIS is a masterpiece of gaming, while in the same breath saying they had to cut corners due to time constraints and lack of resources. Give me a break. You didn't build Assassin's Creed all alone, but obviously you think you did. Guess we see now the talent on AC wasn't you huh?    … Expand
  11. Vilncos
    Apr 14, 2020
    2
    The wost game i have played in a long while. It is so decisivily bad that I have created my first account in a analysis page to vote against it. Do not deserve your time, money or attention. The control is confuse, the instructions are unclear, the (many) limitations are huge... If the only thing you understand in my broien english is: Ancestor is trash, then you are in tje correctThe wost game i have played in a long while. It is so decisivily bad that I have created my first account in a analysis page to vote against it. Do not deserve your time, money or attention. The control is confuse, the instructions are unclear, the (many) limitations are huge... If the only thing you understand in my broien english is: Ancestor is trash, then you are in tje correct conclusion. I was… Expand
  12. d3bb5
    Apr 14, 2020
    3
    Es un juego contra intuitivo. Los controles son penosos. Lo mejor son los gráficos, espectaculares
  13. jerryernst
    Dec 4, 2019
    0
    First off, I've definitely played this game and beat it. I find the horseracing to be bland, and as it's such a huge part of the game, it's pretty disappointing. The space combat was also pretty terrible if you ask me.
  14. Gabreu20
    Dec 4, 2019
    1
    there is such a repetitive game, with many bugs and a very very bad history, ambitious but misapplied
  15. Evono
    Dec 4, 2019
    4
    A Grindy game with a forced gameplay Soft reset / loop and some of the hardest control system :/ also your AI buddys arent the smartest really.

    this entire game feels like Early access / a base of a game that could evolve with further developement.... just unfinished.
  16. iliketortugas
    Dec 3, 2019
    0
    i hope the director gets used to lower numbers the entitlement put me off of continue playing the game
  17. DrShepherdLIVE
    Dec 3, 2019
    0
    1. Epic Game Exclusive
    2. Creator blames players for bad review instead of improving his bad game design
    (Yongyea reviewed it)
  18. CoolMika
    Dec 3, 2019
    0
    The horse riding is really wonky, ruins the whole experience. Seriously, what were they thinking?!
  19. DarkNacht
    Dec 3, 2019
    0
    Games is very very very rough, bad controls, worse horse riding in video games.
  20. bloodbornefever
    Oct 31, 2019
    0
    Oh dear... This game is just so.. Annoying.
    The concept could be great but next time try to work on the gameplay. It's not bad but just a waste of time. There is nothing to do in this game.
    Sadly, yes it is called a "game" Watching doculentary on bbc is more fun.
  21. SauloPereira
    Sep 29, 2019
    3
    Portuguese: É um simulador de macaco e o jogador não chega a se tornar o Homo sapiens, tinha tudo para ser bom

    English: It is a monkey simulator and the player does not become Homo sapiens, had everything to be good
  22. RickTheToucan
    Sep 16, 2019
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What is it? A single-player Lineage 2 demo?

    The entire game is about grinding. You have to repeat the same acitons over and over, over and over. Dodging each animal's attack for hours. Killing each animal for hours. Forcing your monkey squad to frick each other simply to "lock" your perks, which are totally useless. Sharpening hundreds of the god damn sticks. Stabbing animals with those god damn sticks even more often.

    And what's the reward? There's none.

    There's no point in evolving. The majority of perks be, like, "-25% probability of dropping items upon being attacked" and "+15% poison resist". There's no difference between the monkeys species. At all.

    The only good thing about Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is a huge-'S' map. It's kinda interesting to explore. Buuuutt... You don't need any of these freaking upgrades to explore it. Just hit the "New Game" button and you're free to run around.

    Oh, did I mention that you can't really become a human being in the game called "The Humankind Odyssey"?    … Expand
  23. Nickmbb
    Sep 9, 2019
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The game has poorly conceived user mechanics. What has totally ruined this game for me is the counter-intuitive keyboard commands esp during combat. Why the slow-mow-click-hold-turn(maybe hear an audible clue-what?!)-release crap. I want to watch my game in real-time and combat should be in real-time. And why the sudden (no control on your part) cut to next monkey during these dizzy combat mechanics. Can not recommend this game.… Expand
  24. Hoyce
    Sep 9, 2019
    2
    Only completed it because it costed so much. Fun stops after 5 hours, then the only challenge is to not get your clan killed from boredom or just quit the game because your **** sick of the stalker enemy
  25. AzJusticiar
    Sep 3, 2019
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Monkey XP grind simulator 2019

    I've sat through about 40 hours of the game and honestly the first 10 were quite enjoyable. Figuring out the mechanics, the crafting combinations was pretty good. But once you figure it all out it really just turns into an exploring game.

    Couple major things tho that warrant such a low score
    - You don't even get to become a human at the end, or even get to homo erectus. So much for the "humankind" odyssey, you play 80% of the game as a chimp.
    - There are a total of 3 tools. A grinder, a scraper/chopper and a stick. You could probably figure out all the crafting in a couple hours. There are also only 3 buildings only 1 of which actually does anything.
    - You never discover fire or anything like that
    - Mating and passing on your mutations and leveling up neurons is about 50% of the game and is incredily boring. It is basically composed of holding down a button continuously for 10 minutes. This makes the game super grindy.
    - The tiger is exciting and scary at the start but once you get used to it you notice a pattern. A tiger spawns to follow you everytime you begin a new generation and ends up just being a hassle to deal with. Combat is a little too basic. You literally hold down a button until you hear a noise and thats it.

    - The only redeeming factor is the exploration element of the game. The map is quite large and is very well designed and beautiful. Reminds me of dark souls 1 style integrated map with different zone and secret paths inbetween areas. The exploration itself plays like Assassins creed where you have to go to all the eagle viewpoints and you get a little panning shot of the landscape. But if you're not a fan of spending 10 minutes travelling just to explore then this game is not for you.    … Expand
  26. DerangedGinger
    Sep 2, 2019
    0
    When the tutorial said it wasn't going to offer you much help it wasn't kidding. The controls are bad and the gameplay is confusing. You're often interacting with objects in ways you didn't intend and it dumps you into the game to just figure it out on your own with no help.

    It was a cool premise with terrible execution. Just not enjoyable. Hard pass.
  27. Tidytib
    Sep 2, 2019
    4
    I don't like rinse and repeat games. This was boring. this goes into 'games I will never play' list
  28. denisbochka
    Sep 2, 2019
    3
    First few hours of playing this game were pretty interesting. But after those few hours game began to be very boring. You must repeat all your actions again and again in order to evolve a little. Open world is empty, there is almost nothing to do. Game has a good idea, but bad realization.
  29. Gamerjohn
    Sep 1, 2019
    2
    Why would someone want to play as an inferior being? I already know how to sharpen a stick and make a bed out of leaves. What I don't have the ability to do is fly and shoot balls of lightning out of my hands. Now that's a game I want to play, not monkey simulator. I really can't understand why anyone enjoys this game and the problem is that I want to understand.
  30. aqz27547
    Sep 1, 2019
    0
    Ich hatte nichtmal 10min spaß...............................................................
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Awards & Rankings

42
#42 Most Discussed PC Game of 2019
54
#54 Most Shared PC Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 71 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 71
  2. Mixed: 37 out of 71
  3. Negative: 6 out of 71
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Feb 28, 2020
    40
    The game has an original setting and at first attractive environment. Unfortunately for players, millions of years are truly dragging, and the sluggish gameplay makes the struggle for survival a struggle for your own sanity. [Issue#298]
  2. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Oct 11, 2019
    57
    Poor climbing and fighting aside, the gameplay loop is mind-numbingly tedious: eat, drink, make babies, sleep. Keep doing that for hours, and you’ll unlock one semi-useful perk or another, so you can eat, sleep and drink some more. [Issue#240, p.40]
  3. Impulsegamer
    Sep 27, 2019
    82
    For anyone interested in a rough idea of what our early ancestors went through as they slowly evolved over time… this game does offer an effective look and feel for that. It has some pretty irritating issues… but for the most part it is likely to draw you in and see you exploring your environment trying to unlock that next ability that will unlock the next branch on the family tree. Evolutionary denialists… well I assume they are not even considering this title anyway, for everyone else… if you can get past the hangups… Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey actually manages to mix a bit of education with an interesting game that may well find you absorbed for hours on end.
    Read full review
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