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. d3bb5
    Apr 14, 2020
    3
    Es un juego contra intuitivo. Los controles son penosos. Lo mejor son los gráficos, espectaculares
  2. CheesyFriend
    Aug 28, 2019
    4
    I'm very sad leaving this review...
    I genuinely enjoyed game and I do not consider my time wasted. All the flaws were manageable except literally gamebreaking. Adults died, so you left to die too. You can't progress anymore and finding new people with elder ones is unbearable. Gameplay is too slow by itself, I just dont want to spend another 10 hours just to progress a little more.    I'm very sad leaving this review...
    I genuinely enjoyed game and I do not consider my time wasted. All the flaws were manageable except literally gamebreaking. Adults died, so you left to die too. You can't progress anymore and finding new people with elder ones is unbearable. Gameplay is too slow by itself, I just dont want to spend another 10 hours just to progress a little more. Basically I just discovered how to make a spike. It's sad to imagine how much I'm missing out but I don't care to know anymore.

    This score is well deserved. Either you intended to make that rule or you missed such horribly obvious stupidity, it's sheer atrocity.    … Expand
  3. 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
  4. 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)
  5. Destinylver
    Aug 29, 2019
    4
    So to all those who want to love this...I'm right there with you. But despite wanting to love it...I can't and it doesn't deserve your love.

    It was bad enough that it's an epic store exclusive but whatever but to be launched in this buggy broken at times state is unacceptable even in an era where this is all too common. But let's imagine it works. Ancestor is a survival game. But    So to all those who want to love this...I'm right there with you. But despite wanting to love it...I can't and it doesn't deserve your love.

    It was bad enough that it's an epic store exclusive but whatever but to be launched in this buggy broken at times state is unacceptable even in an era where this is all too common. But let's imagine it works.

    Ancestor is a survival game. But while game a like the forest or subnaitica are amazing in scope and ambition and follow through. Ancestor reaches for the sky but much like your ape the gsme reaches, misses and fall.

    Graphics: they aren't terrible but in 2019 with a kick ass pc they're pretty bad. Almost last gen at times. Also there is little variety. The ui and menus are be at though. But the cut scenes are a night mare and you can't skip them...and they repeat...a lot. Lots of graphical glitches. Clipping and texture and pop-up issues. Average.

    Sound: Great but much of its really quiet and they use audio gimmicks for gameplay which aren't obvious. Overall good.

    Gameplay: what could have and should have been amazing is pretty poor. Repetitive, boring, uninspired, lazy and disappointing. At times it's ok and shines and you see what you imagined but then it sabotaged itself. It's like the game hates or doesn't care about the player. Traversing is ok though hit and miss. Fighting is really clunky. You do the same thing again and again. And then you die and loose too much. There are other areas outside of the forest but it takes too long and by the game and you don't feel you've achieved much. Overall: average to poor with moments of what could have been.

    Lastability: 50 hours if you're insane. Otherwise you'll be board after 7 and not 7 good hours. 7 hard awkward annoying hours and then a little fun and it goes no where for the next 20. Overall long enough but what's the point if it's no fun.

    Value : play a demo and have a blast. Wait for a sale. Watch an hour of twitch eitherway as this game is very niche.

    I just want to repeat that the devs really screwed all the people who were excited and supportive. It could be fixed if the sorted out the dying and mating and combat and added some more monsters. Also resolved all the bugs etc. But they didn't care about us when they launched this early access game so don't hold your breath. I'd be angry at the devs but they screwed themselves and their wonderful idea the worse.

    4/10 (5 If you love monkey /ape or homoids? sex ;)    … Expand
  6. atilander
    Aug 27, 2019
    1
    After some hours of doing the same thing over and over, a tiger appearing magically from nowhere (it doesnt matter if u move to a new place he just appear again every few minutes).
    Its boring, buggy and really very bad done. Feels like an Early Access game in all aspects. A waste of money and as usual i cant review the game on the store to warn other users. I give it a 1 because at least    After some hours of doing the same thing over and over, a tiger appearing magically from nowhere (it doesnt matter if u move to a new place he just appear again every few minutes).
    Its boring, buggy and really very bad done. Feels like an Early Access game in all aspects. A waste of money and as usual i cant review the game on the store to warn other users. I give it a 1 because at least the game runs...    … Expand
  7. iliketortugas
    Dec 3, 2019
    0
    i hope the director gets used to lower numbers the entitlement put me off of continue playing the game
  8. 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.
  9. DarkNacht
    Dec 3, 2019
    0
    Games is very very very rough, bad controls, worse horse riding in video games.
  10. xArk
    Aug 28, 2019
    2
    Beautiful environment and an interesting idea, but too many design flaws.

    For a game about being "creative" and surviving, there really isn't much to do- eat, drink, procreate, make stick, give stick to other ape, kill a tiger or get killed by one. I don't think dragging yourself through the game at a comatose pace qualifies as fun. Becomes incredibly dull and repetitive really fast.    Beautiful environment and an interesting idea, but too many design flaws.

    For a game about being "creative" and surviving, there really isn't much to do- eat, drink, procreate, make stick, give stick to other ape, kill a tiger or get killed by one. I don't think dragging yourself through the game at a comatose pace qualifies as fun. Becomes incredibly dull and repetitive really fast.

    Even with a full HUD and full tutorial some things remained unclear. Camera angles can be super awkward sometimes.

    Tutorial is really half-assed, some basic mechanics are not even explained. I'd recommend reading a guide to even have an inkling on what to do after the intro because the game sure as hell doesn't care about giving you any directions.    … Expand
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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.
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. Hel0wei
    Aug 27, 2019
    4
    Tiger: The Cat Odyssey

    How to meet a tiger 20 times in 1 hour

    Walking with tiger

    Tracked by a same tiger for 10,000,000 years.

    Every time when you open your eyes, there is a tiger!
  17. Crypterians
    Aug 27, 2019
    2
    The game is very repetitive, tiger appears from nowhere killing you instantly and also very buggy, it looks like they tried to release the game very early instead of polishing it.
  18. Shadow1234
    Aug 28, 2019
    4
    This game is a hot mess of 10,000,000 year old ancestor poo.

    If you like games that make you feel like your a 10,000,000 ancestor and literally do not know a rock from a stick and want to spend 10,000,000 years evolving to what you currently look in the mirror at every day then this game is for you and rated 10/10. I literally mean exactly what I said above. This game has no tutorial    This game is a hot mess of 10,000,000 year old ancestor poo.

    If you like games that make you feel like your a 10,000,000 ancestor and literally do not know a rock from a stick and want to spend 10,000,000 years evolving to what you currently look in the mirror at every day then this game is for you and rated 10/10.

    I literally mean exactly what I said above. This game has no tutorial except a brief one telling you what buttons do what. After that you are on your own and must evolve the species however you see fit. The only problem is that it is as hard as it was 10,000,000 years ago.

    The controls in the game gave me a headache, after an hour in I still found myself looking at my controller and saying what the hell button does what. It is not fluid in any shape way or form.

    The concept of the game is brilliant but could have been done so much better. Picture Dark Souls difficulty but with a stick as your weapon. Oh wait that's after 5,000,000 years, until then you can only scream and flail your arms. Be ready to die again and again and again.....

    I could not get my refund fast enough for this one...... Not for me but maybe its for you. Good Luck!    … Expand
  19. CoolMika
    Dec 3, 2019
    0
    The horse riding is really wonky, ruins the whole experience. Seriously, what were they thinking?!
  20. klownk
    Aug 31, 2019
    1
    It's ugly, boring and uninteresting... No remmaping keys, controller mandatory with no reason... Store exclusivity... It's just ridiculous. ---> trashcan.
  21. JG_Pref
    Aug 31, 2019
    0
    There is no excuse for that kind of wacky controls nowadays. Controls are bad and the rest of the game feels like an endless grind. It has nothing to do with it being difficult or not, it's just really slow.
    And while it sells itself as 'accurate and realistic', 'monkey-man vs nature' and all that stuff it includes ridiculous and typical game 'power-ups' like one fruit that cure all your    There is no excuse for that kind of wacky controls nowadays. Controls are bad and the rest of the game feels like an endless grind. It has nothing to do with it being difficult or not, it's just really slow.
    And while it sells itself as 'accurate and realistic', 'monkey-man vs nature' and all that stuff it includes ridiculous and typical game 'power-ups' like one fruit that cure all your wounds instantly and another that heals and protect your bones from fall damage. Overall I got the feeling they're trying to cover up the design mistakes with the classical excuse 'it's meant to be like this because hardcore and difficulty', the game is no hard it's just slow and it's not a hardcore game if you can make yourself invincible with no effort at all.
    The idea is great, the game... not so much    … Expand
  22. 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
  23. 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
  24. maximus22
    Aug 30, 2019
    0
    I would like to take this time to ask what drugs the developers of this game were on when they made it, because jesus christ they must have been high as a kite when they released this game.

    Sharpen a stick that is pointy enough to stab things and think it's useful for self protection? Nope, no chance. What's that, an AI tiger spawned out of thin air and attacked your clan? Great, fend    I would like to take this time to ask what drugs the developers of this game were on when they made it, because jesus christ they must have been high as a kite when they released this game.

    Sharpen a stick that is pointy enough to stab things and think it's useful for self protection? Nope, no chance. What's that, an AI tiger spawned out of thin air and attacked your clan? Great, fend it off with that stick that cannot fend off tigers or any other animal in the game.

    "Just don't fight the tiger"

    Okay, well then say goodbye to your clan member because the tiger will eat them alive as you escape.

    Try to climb a tree to distract said tiger? Sorry, your dopamine levels too low bud, eventually you'll get hysteria and run away automatically, goodbye clan member.

    What's that, you were low on food and water when you were teleported to camp? Sorry bud, you just died of thirst and starvation. Dead clan member. What's that, out of clan members after investing over 4 hours of your life to play this craptastic game? Congrats, you can't progress further and the game is soft locked since you cannot evolve as a child ape.

    This game lacks any resemblance of playtesting for situations like this that may arrive. It's awkward to control, grab onto things, move around in general. Your scanning ability is locked to a 180 degree cone and you must exit the ability and turn around and use it again if you want to scan in a circle around you, it's very awkward. The game handles even worse especially if you want to do simple actions like defend yourself from prey, there's just no way to do it early on when you need it the most versus tigers. You have a sharp stick for christ sake, POKE the tiger.

    Finally, the game practically revolves around you staring at objects in the distance to "learn" what they are, and examining them, that's it. The fun gameplay of climbing trees and doing cool things is just so you can scan items by holding a button, it's not fun or engaging gameplay as the developers may want you to think.

    Do not recommend under any circumstances, what a waste of time and potential.    … Expand
  25. 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.
  26. aqz27547
    Sep 1, 2019
    0
    Ich hatte nichtmal 10min spaß...............................................................
  27. 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.
  28. 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.
  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. 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
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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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