New Once Human class system is a total game-changer for how you play

Once Human continues to be one of the most successful survival games on Steam. Starry Studio's sci-fi spin on the genre regularly holds its own against rivals like Rust, Palworld, and Enshrouded almost a year after launch, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Now, the team has an entirely new scenario on the horizon that's sure to reinvigorate the experience. But that's not all, as this update is also joined by the all-new class system, which will completely change how you play.

On Thursday July 3, Starry Studio is introducing the new Endless Dream scenario to Once Human. This update hangs a colossal eye over the island of Nalcott, as a hallucinogenic mist covers the surface and turns the land into a never-ending nightmare. Don't worry though, because you'll have access to the full PvE map right from the start, as layered Dream Zones introduce everlasting night, explosions, and lightning storms around every corner.

As part of this update, you're also going to have access to the new class system. Starry Studio wants to continue supporting "diverse playstyles, self-paced progression, and synergistic teamwork," and believes classes are a way to do it. Already one of our picks for the best survival games on Steam, classes are definitely going to help Once Human soar to new heights.

"Initially, we pursued this vision through the Memetic Specialization system," Starry Studio says. "However, long-term data has shown that its randomized mechanics and level-gated unlocks presented restrictions that encouraged min-maxing rather than freedom. Many players end up settling into meta builds, contrary to our goal of playstyle diversity. With this in mind, we're introducing a class system."

Starry Studio also emphasizes how the class system isn't exactly the same as ones found in most MMOs. Instead of being rigid archetypes, they're "specialized jobs" that enhance your character progression and exploration. To start with, you'll have access to three classes: the Chef, Gardener, and Beastmaster.

As a Chef, you'll break away from Once Human's formula-based cooking mechanics and be able to freely combine ingredients to make dishes. These meals will all have dynamic effects, and you've even got the chance to further enhance a meal's bonuses and duration. You'll also start the game with a Campfire Stove, which you can deploy anywhere outside your own territory to make any dish you desire. Whatever you come up with will also be tracked in the Gourmet Atlas, making it easy to come back to a meal and check its effects.

If you take up the Gardner class, you'll start growing crops and combining them with an array of biomechanical parts. These special crops can be used in combat and resource gathering, giving you an edge in myriad situations. You also have access to the Portable Planter Pot, which you can use to store biomechanical crops and cultivate seeds on the go.

Then there's The Beastmaster, which you can use to deepen your relationship with Once Human's animals. Now, instead of simply being livestock for resource production, you can understand animal conversations and communicate with them. This means you can call on different creatures to hunt and fight.

You'll start with a Beast Whistle which can be used to summon animals, and you'll pick from one of three partners. Pongo is a green boar who excels at gathering and finding rare items, Misha is a golden bear who'll prove to be a reliable defense in battle, and Shiro is a white wolf who can evolve over the course of multiple encounters.

Starry Studio says the new Once Human classes will enter public testing after the anniversary update on July 3, and be available in all non-novice scenarios (excluding Raidzone). You can either start a new character and complete the tutorial tasks to pick a class, or your existing characters will be given an item that'll let you choose one immediately.

As you get ready for the new scenario and beyond, make sure you check out all the current Once Human codes. Otherwise, jump into the best open-world games on PC right now.

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