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. MetaDoner
    Sep 17, 2020
    10
    Been playing for a total of 12 hours so far and I'm highly enjoying it. There is so much thought and effort behind their work for this game that gets my attention, even if it has some flaws in some areas. I give this game a 10 because I think we need to give encouragement to get similar but even better and improved version of these games in the future. I don't think the game is complicatedBeen playing for a total of 12 hours so far and I'm highly enjoying it. There is so much thought and effort behind their work for this game that gets my attention, even if it has some flaws in some areas. I give this game a 10 because I think we need to give encouragement to get similar but even better and improved version of these games in the future. I don't think the game is complicated as many claim it to be. You unlock most of your basic skillsets through trial and error which fits well with their concept of evolution. The controls are a bit clunky and might be in need of improvement especially if you play with keyboards, but you get used to it and it's not a big deal to be honest. The concept and idea is very interesting and think we need similar but better versions of games like these as mentioned above. There is always room for improvement.… Expand
  2. DADDYJMONEY
    Dec 11, 2020
    10
    Best game ever made by far for SURE! Just gotta get through the learning curve
  3. Pancakejake
    Sep 2, 2019
    8
    Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is a really ambitious game that is actually pretty good. If you go in blind or mostly blind and try to learn everything for yourself at the beginning, it makes the whole game feel more interesting. The map is actually very large and impressive, don't be deceived by the somewhat small beginning area. At some point in the game (10 or so hours) you sort ofAncestors: The Humankind Odyssey is a really ambitious game that is actually pretty good. If you go in blind or mostly blind and try to learn everything for yourself at the beginning, it makes the whole game feel more interesting. The map is actually very large and impressive, don't be deceived by the somewhat small beginning area. At some point in the game (10 or so hours) you sort of figure out the game a bit more and the game-play changes up a bit. But, eventually, no new game-play mechanics are introduced, which is fine for a while, but especially towards the end of the game it gets a bit boring and "grindy". I don't believe that everyone is going to be great at this game, which may be discouraging, but overall the game is pretty fair, I have not had any of my clan members die and and have progressed fairly quickly. Don't be afraid to try new things and explore, as the game rewards you for this. But go at your own pace and when you feel comfortable to be a bit more risky, go for it. Overall, I believe the game is worth at least trying for a few hours if it seems like something you would like. I'm personally really looking forward to the 2nd volume after this game.… Expand
  4. U93T91
    Aug 30, 2019
    9
    I have put about 15-20 hours into the game already. Listen, it is not a game if you want to be told what to do. The first hour of the game I was trying to figure out where to even go. This game warns you at the beginning, it's not going to help you. It really won't. But it is an amazing game, a little buggy yes but that is what updates and patches are for. If you like to be challenged,I have put about 15-20 hours into the game already. Listen, it is not a game if you want to be told what to do. The first hour of the game I was trying to figure out where to even go. This game warns you at the beginning, it's not going to help you. It really won't. But it is an amazing game, a little buggy yes but that is what updates and patches are for. If you like to be challenged, trying to figure out what you can do with a branch or leaf then this is the game for you. It's challenging but once you get the hang of it and as the community discovers more, it will be beautiful.… Expand
  5. Xenofono
    Aug 29, 2019
    8
    This is a great game that's very rewarding when you figure it out. It's true that it could explain some of the necessary mechanics a bit better, a few players are going to experiment with everything as the developers intended but a majority are probably going to look up some tips on the internet. Then we have the ones that can't even read what little info the game actually gives you andThis is a great game that's very rewarding when you figure it out. It's true that it could explain some of the necessary mechanics a bit better, a few players are going to experiment with everything as the developers intended but a majority are probably going to look up some tips on the internet. Then we have the ones that can't even read what little info the game actually gives you and then come here and leave faulty reviews.

    First och all I need to mention that despite what some liars are writing here you can skip the videos by holding the left center button on the xbox controller, not sure what button you need to hold on other inputs.

    Secondly, people that are complaining about animal attacks can't have figured out how to make the first basic weapons because once you kill off some of the predators they start respecting you a lot more. If you go exploring with a few Ape buddies and you all have a spear then you should be fine at the start of the game.    … Expand
  6. ravenari
    Aug 29, 2019
    10
    Pay attention to not get eaten and feed yourself and your family.

    You really are going to need it. All these people getting eaten did not take the time to learn. Your senses and memory are very important. Remember what does what, maybe store some things in the settlement to cure yourself something. Things take practice. Also you can switch to keyboard in the options. For a new    Pay attention to not get eaten and feed yourself and your family.

    You really are going to need it. All these people getting eaten did not take the time to learn. Your senses and memory are very important. Remember what does what, maybe store some things in the settlement to cure yourself something. Things take practice.

    Also you can switch to keyboard in the options.

    For a new release too, this game runs smooth on my computer. Usually new releases crash it a lot.

    I think this is a wonderful game to be honest.    … Expand
  7. MrWilsonWilson
    Aug 31, 2019
    9
    A very all around polished and deep-but-simple game. Difficulty is there, you have to work out your brain to figure out the game, which will not hold your hand at all so be prepared for a challenge.

    The map is gorgeous and fantastic, the apes feel real and their evolution is accurately slow and difficult. The volume 1 of the game just overs about everything you'd expect it to and leaves    A very all around polished and deep-but-simple game. Difficulty is there, you have to work out your brain to figure out the game, which will not hold your hand at all so be prepared for a challenge.

    The map is gorgeous and fantastic, the apes feel real and their evolution is accurately slow and difficult. The volume 1 of the game just overs about everything you'd expect it to and leaves you hungry for more. Also the evolution skill tree is no joke and the breeding system is on point. The game makes a LOT of sense in the way it works, but you will have to actually try to understand it.    … Expand
  8. Iwashere2177
    Sep 2, 2019
    8
    I would rate my experience a 10 but the game itself an 8 and will explain why.

    The greatest strength of this game is that you feel like you are in control of a living thinking breathing creature. Most games in this genre feel mechanical as if you were shoveling things into a robot. The climbing is as solid as you would expect from the makers of Assassins Creed. The games greatest    I would rate my experience a 10 but the game itself an 8 and will explain why.

    The greatest strength of this game is that you feel like you are in control of a living thinking breathing creature.
    Most games in this genre feel mechanical as if you were shoveling things into a robot. The climbing is as solid as you would expect from the makers of Assassins Creed.

    The games greatest strength is that it doesn't explain much beyond controls, but there are some things it should have explained. These thing if explained in game would have spoiled nothing but eliminated much frustration.

    The biggest thing is that there is a button to skip cut-scenes while most games flaunt this, this game hides behind the key-binding options. The second big thing is that while crafting you are waiting for a quite tone to release the button.    … Expand
  9. Gnomzilla
    Sep 6, 2019
    10
    Just love it, it is different and makes me to play it for hours...not the best controls, graphics and etc, but game idea is something new!
  10. Cybert
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    This game aint for lite gamers or casual gamers. It is for hard core gamers!
    The game is insane hard and I love it! It is a new concept, worth buying. Finally not a grinding game, not a game like 10 others on the market. I am looking forward for chapter 2!
  11. Freygea
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    This game is very immersive. Hard to explain if you have not played it but somehow, with the rhythm needed, the devs have created a way in that you really feel like you are learning a skill. It is such a great feeling watching yourself and your clan evolve.

    This game is new and polished with a solid release. No bugs encountered in 45 hours of gameplay thus far. I have been playing    This game is very immersive. Hard to explain if you have not played it but somehow, with the rhythm needed, the devs have created a way in that you really feel like you are learning a skill. It is such a great feeling watching yourself and your clan evolve.

    This game is new and polished with a solid release. No bugs encountered in 45 hours of gameplay thus far. I have been playing non-stop. I also have noted streamers playing long days because it is pretty addictive. Very immersive.

    I am looking forward to the whole Trilogy.    … Expand
  12. SimonCheyen
    Aug 30, 2019
    8
    One of the most unique and rewarding survival games I've played in recent years. It's uniqueness though won't be for everyone (hence bad scores out of spite). Yes, it could use a bit more polish and time in the oven but for it set out to do it succeds with flying honors. It perfectly gives you the sense of the journey our species went through, how much trial and error we had to endureOne of the most unique and rewarding survival games I've played in recent years. It's uniqueness though won't be for everyone (hence bad scores out of spite). Yes, it could use a bit more polish and time in the oven but for it set out to do it succeds with flying honors. It perfectly gives you the sense of the journey our species went through, how much trial and error we had to endure and how dangerous the world was (Tigers are actual predators, they do not spawn suddenly, they are just hard to notice). I absolutely adore the atmosphere of this game and that sense of discovery. Game controls and systems can sometimes work against but its nothing that cant be fixed. All in all great first game by Panache and can't wait for next chapters. To all of you that would try this game: play with headphones, look for audio cues for almost everything, it helps a lot. Go off and explore, there is a lot of to see (you are huminid, climb damn it) and find - some of the easter eggs/events. Stay away from guides (apart from UI icons description) and, above all else, dont be afraid to restart. I absolutely enjoy this game, and i dont like survival games in general, that says something.… Expand
  13. BrPp
    Aug 31, 2019
    9
    Its a cool,interesting and unique survival game
    One dificulty and interesting gameplay good graphics , good lore and good advance
  14. Pifpaf
    Sep 5, 2019
    9
    Good game with tough beginning. Tutorial is very short but after studying short help in menu all things were almost clear. Fight is super easy once you learn how (release with sound). Only issue I have is of no state of your clan members and one can easily die of bleeding when you do not notice, despite there is medicine all around you. And some bugs.
  15. Legion245
    Nov 26, 2019
    9
    Amazing game, beautiful world, but punishing!

    Overall this is a wonderful experience, but it's not for the faint hearted, and it's not a fast paced mindless shooter or action RPG, it's all about evolution, discovery, and just trying your best to not get f**ked up by basically everything else in the world. Be that because you accidentally ate a poisonous plant, or didn't see the tiger    Amazing game, beautiful world, but punishing!

    Overall this is a wonderful experience, but it's not for the faint hearted, and it's not a fast paced mindless shooter or action RPG, it's all about evolution, discovery, and just trying your best to not get f**ked up by basically everything else in the world. Be that because you accidentally ate a poisonous plant, or didn't see the tiger sneeking up behind you while you were desperately trying to quench your thirst.

    Nothing is ever really that easy in this game, but the challenges and resultant reward for surviving a generation are awesome. Sure it has a few rough edges, but if you enjoy the challenge of survival games and have an interest in this chapter of evolution, this is the game for you.

    This game will definitely upset and frustrate some players over and over again because they aren't good at being patient, or try to tackle something beyond them, but they will know it's because they made a bad choice rather than the games engine killing them due to bugs or other issues.

    Essentially, this game is great if you love the subject matter,and enjoy survival games /mechanics, and like managing these attributes. It has a deep beautiful world, with all kinds of challenges to overcome. The skills tree / genetic traits are a wonderful edition to the games core survival, and having your choices impact future generations makes these choices seem even more impactful.

    Do not buy this if you think it's Assassin's Creed The Monkey Chronicles, do not buy if you don't enjoy survival games, do not buy if you have the attention span of a GameRanx reviewer, do not buy if you don't have patience.    … Expand
  16. Jimbowjack
    Aug 31, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very bear bone game. No quests, you need to explore everything yourself. Can be boring after longer time.… Expand
  17. xxxRapidfirexxx
    Sep 2, 2019
    9
    I quite thoroughly enjoyed this game, immersive with every Environment, the Visuals were appealingly stunning. This game doesn't help you out much so you will be on your own quite a bit. you have to learn everything from scratch. If every ape dies you will kill your lineage and you will
    have to restart another lineage so be careful!
    Learning,scanning and exploring are essential so don't    I quite thoroughly enjoyed this game, immersive with every Environment, the Visuals were appealingly stunning. This game doesn't help you out much so you will be on your own quite a bit. you have to learn everything from scratch. If every ape dies you will kill your lineage and you will
    have to restart another lineage so be careful!
    Learning,scanning and exploring are essential so don't think you can get far with out it.
    of course there are some bugs and some weird controls.
    This is a Evolution game, so there will be hardship an things do take time.
    if you don't like reputation, long hours and labor this game isn't for you.    … Expand
  18. Rottjung
    Sep 6, 2019
    9
    I have a hard time finding games worth putting my time into. Maybe because I'm a game developer myself or maybe because I'm sick and tired of chewing the same **** over and over. I mean ok shooting stuff or working your way through a horde of enemies, to leave them behind as piles of dead meat, sure is fun, but for how long? (20+ years??) And ok changing the environment is cool, but itI have a hard time finding games worth putting my time into. Maybe because I'm a game developer myself or maybe because I'm sick and tired of chewing the same **** over and over. I mean ok shooting stuff or working your way through a horde of enemies, to leave them behind as piles of dead meat, sure is fun, but for how long? (20+ years??) And ok changing the environment is cool, but it doesn't change the fact I'm still doing the same, just with a different backdrop!
    Ancestors is different, and for that alone I would rate it 11/10, but I don't believe in perfection so it's 9/10.
    Ancestors punishes you where most other games reward you; go out an be a hero, act as if you are invincible! If you get hurt, time (as in a few seconds) will make you perfectly healthy again. And if you didn't back of with all of these tens of bullets in you and the screen flashing red and you do die, no worries you can pick up asskicking rambo style just a few meters from where you died!
    Not Ancestors, noooo, if you exhaust yourself, you die, if you don't tend your wounds, you die, if you don't find that antidote to the poison running through your vains, you die, if you don't eat or drink enough, you die, and dying here is permanent. You die, you switch to an other clan member, if all females are dead you can't evolve anymore, if all your clan members are dead, that's it, you start the game from scratch with a new lineage. But this time more careful and more vigilant! You actually EVOLVE your gameplay style!
    But Ancestors is not just survival, it wants you to be patient, logic, experimental, smart, curious, strategic and even mature.
    It's one of the rare games where an openworld is not just a way to choose a path to go in guns blazing or ninja style. No it actually is a core gameplay element. Exploring makes you smarter, or fearful for the unknown if you go to far and unprepared. It makes you smarter by discovering new things which give you new ideas and new opportunities to experiment with, come up with new tools or new ways to use old tools. Choosing your path can mean the difference between getting killed or survival, finding this perfect elevated spot for a settlement, close to a big tree to flee from danger, a nice water stream and lots of food, can mean the difference between your clan being wiped out or becoming dominators of that domain! It's a strategy game in the sense that you grow stronger, go further, conquer new land and rule it as the alpha specie!
    It's all this and so much more! Reviews giving it 4/10 or even less then a 7/10 obviously lost their brain somewhere along playing to much codblops and watching marvel cg mistaken it for movies.
    Anyway who I'm I to judge...

    One last thing, which maybe purely personal, but I never felt as emotionally attached to any game character as I do to these apes, MY APES!!    … Expand
  19. ElvisMarques
    Oct 11, 2019
    8
    Honestly I did not have any interest for this game before it's release. I decided to give it a chance and I am really enjoying it. The combat is bad, the developers should have added a single button to perform a strike. I end up running away from the predators. Tree traversals are amazing. Feels like Tarzan jumping from one tree to the other.
  20. Saisuke
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    Is this game for everyone, clearly not, but this game deserves more than a 0.
    It's sad to see people giving a 1 or a 0 and posting troll reviews when the developers clearly put lots of love into the game.
    The game doesn't hold your hand besides the help screen when you pause the game. It's a really good survival game with an original theme. The game Reddit is full of people trying to    Is this game for everyone, clearly not, but this game deserves more than a 0.
    It's sad to see people giving a 1 or a 0 and posting troll reviews when the developers clearly put lots of love into the game.

    The game doesn't hold your hand besides the help screen when you pause the game.
    It's a really good survival game with an original theme.
    The game Reddit is full of people trying to understand the game more intricate mechanics and that reminds me of how games were back then, how you discussed it with your friends to find secret stuff.
    Overall, one of my favorite game experiences of 2019.    … Expand
  21. Kingbastle
    Aug 28, 2019
    10
    This game has exclusive. Because have interesting game objects and unusual gaming experience.
  22. leageno
    Aug 27, 2019
    10
    It's a challenging game, if you don't like survival games what are hard then don't buy it. if you like a challenge and your creative or want to learn to be more creative then buy it.

    don't try to be a one-man army the game is fairly realistic, if you try to survive on your own and don't use teamwork of your clan its much harder, remember to stock up on useful items or ask your clan to    It's a challenging game, if you don't like survival games what are hard then don't buy it. if you like a challenge and your creative or want to learn to be more creative then buy it.

    don't try to be a one-man army the game is fairly realistic, if you try to survive on your own and don't use teamwork of your clan its much harder, remember to stock up on useful items or ask your clan to hold useful items as you bring them with you so if one of you get hurt it can be quickly fixed.

    I would say bring 4 people, give 2 of them weapons and the other 2 medicine plants for bleeding and poison. you can also bring a fix for broken bones but it's not as life-threating unless you are trying to run from something.

    personally, I love a hard game that others struggle to excel at. I and my friends like to play the game to kill any time we have when we bored or need to relax or something.    … Expand
  23. Sydney-Fr
    Sep 9, 2019
    10
    Like Kingdom Come: Deliverance or astroneer (at another level) this game offers a complete immersion.
    Discover its surroundings, taste the assimilable elements. Make your first associations and discoveries, start again to improve your mastery.
    Create and expand your clan, ensure the transmission of knowledge. Then embolden and go to discover the unknown and face the hostile nature.    Like Kingdom Come: Deliverance or astroneer (at another level) this game offers a complete immersion.
    Discover its surroundings, taste the assimilable elements. Make your first associations and discoveries, start again to improve your mastery.
    Create and expand your clan, ensure the transmission of knowledge.
    Then embolden and go to discover the unknown and face the hostile nature.

    It's a refreshing experience, I hope there will be a follow-up and adding content to further diversify the interactions.

    Pas de français mais ce n'est pas un frein généralement. Une belle expérience vidéoludique.    … Expand
  24. Windumace123
    Nov 28, 2019
    10
    It's the best game i've every played in my life. I've got 500 games on steam, played everything at some point. This game is too good for this world it was made by a genius. Thank God for this game.
  25. aqnguyen96
    Aug 31, 2019
    9
    This is an amazing game with really nice exploration, amazing biomes, and immersive music. Many people talks about how frustrating the game is in the beginning but I think its purposeful in that our ancestors had no one to help them when they went through evolution. Its really is a different game than any other in recent times and doesn't hand hold you. Be warn that if you're not intoThis is an amazing game with really nice exploration, amazing biomes, and immersive music. Many people talks about how frustrating the game is in the beginning but I think its purposeful in that our ancestors had no one to help them when they went through evolution. Its really is a different game than any other in recent times and doesn't hand hold you. Be warn that if you're not into this genre or evolution for that matter you won't enjoy it. The game is full of surprises and self rewarding discoveries. It feels amazing when you figure something out yourself and make progress in advancing your settlement and exploring new areas of the map. This is the type of game you either love or hate.… Expand
  26. Dreded
    Sep 2, 2019
    9
    Ancestors is an excellent survival game, it is a little repetitive just like any survival game but I sure hope it sells well so we can see what comes next as this is a totally different game than anything else I have ever played.
  27. Zerone
    Aug 27, 2019
    9
    The game is certainly not very historical and does not sparkle with graphics, but at least I like to play it. This is the first interesting game about evolution that I played, although with some errors, but I think the developers will fix them, from the very beginning I really liked it studying the world around us, landscapes at night and a system of neurons. I advise everyone to play this game.
  28. Vladcnt
    Aug 28, 2019
    10
    Great game,very original concept,kudos to panache entertainment for having the courage to deliver such a ambitious project!
  29. Pro100Critic
    Aug 29, 2019
    10
    Игра отличная играю не могу оторватся! Багов много но надеюсь их исправят !
  30. Logex92
    Aug 30, 2019
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. So i love this game, it's hard? Yes, in the beginning without help is challenging but when u can progress u feel so good, it's not a game for everyone. But what can you get? Some immersive enviroment, satisfaction when you discover stuff, excetera.

    There's some stuff i didn't liked ofc, like the damn annoying tigers following and attacking you constanlty, or like the fact that the tribe AI sucks a lot, like can't defense themself 90% of the time with a weapon, the crafting team stuff is kinda useless, they can't auto heal themself even if u make them craft the aloe or the greeny grass for bleeding, u have to force give it in hand, they can't auto feed / take fruits from the tree, and is a lot time consuming and stressful, damn hand-to-hand.
    And they can't feed from the stuff on the ground or piled, and thats annoying, yes.

    It would be nice if they actually eat / drink / sleep themself for a more immersive game like "Oh look him going to eat" Ecc. They should be more autonomous in these stuff, but i can pass on all this stuff, i liked the game anyways.

    We need more life for the AI of your people, more "I can't babysit all of you everytime"

    I hope in a lot of improvents for this game and i hope in a sequel from the end of this game to the sapiens sapiens, i want to see more humans mutations, fire, weapons, the first clothes made from the skin of the new animals, i want to live the glacial era, kill a mammoth in group, wolves.

    This game have so much potential, but need some improvements.

    For me it's an 8 for the idea and the game in general
    6 for the "not so much cooperating tribe", there's some work to do, but it's ok

    Developers, you have my entire support for this project, i really hope you can keep on getting better!    … 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.
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