Once Human is one of those rare free-to-play survival games that runs on almost anything. Minimum specs go all the way down to a GTX 750 Ti and 8GB of RAM, which is genuinely impressive for an open-world game of this scale. Most mid-range PCs built in the last six years will hit the recommended specs without breaking a sweat. The one thing to watch: you need around 70GB free on an SSD. Official notes say HDD is “not recommended” and from what I’ve seen in the community, that’s putting it politely.
Once Human Minimum vs Recommended PC Requirements
NetEase and Starry Studio kept the bar deliberately low, targeting Windows 10 on minimum specs. The difference between minimum and recommended is meaningful though. At minimum you’re looking at 1080p with low settings and variable frame rates. Recommended targets a stable 60fps experience at 1080p on high. There’s also an ultra tier aimed squarely at 60fps+ on higher resolutions.
| Spec | Minimum | Recommended | Ultra (60fps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10/11 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-4460 | Intel Core i7-7700 | Intel Core i5-12400F |
| GPU | GTX 750 Ti 4GB / RX 550 / R9 270 | GTX 1060 6GB / RX 580 / Arc A380 | RTX 3060 / RX 6650 XT or better |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | 55 GB (SSD recommended) | 70 GB SSD | 70 GB SSD |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 | Version 12 |
| Network | Broadband required | Broadband required | Broadband required |
| Target | 1080p / Low / ~30fps | 1080p / High / 60fps | 1080p+ / Ultra / 60fps+ |
Quick Compatibility Reference — Where Does Your PC Land?
I’ve put together this table to give you an honest sense of what to expect at different hardware tiers. Once Human’s open world and heavy asset streaming mean your CPU and storage matter almost as much as your GPU here.
| Your Hardware | Can You Run It? | Expected Performance |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 3060 / RX 6650 XT + i5-12400F + 16GB | Yes, easily | 1080p / Ultra / 60fps+ |
| GTX 1060 6GB / RX 580 + i7-7700 + 16GB | Yes | 1080p / High / 60fps |
| GTX 1060 6GB + i5-4460 + 8GB RAM | Borderline | Playable but expect stutters on RAM-heavy zones |
| GTX 750 Ti / RX 550 + i5-4460 + 8GB | Minimum | 1080p / Low / ~30fps, variable |
| GTX 970 / RX 480 — below recommended GPU | Partial | Between min and rec — medium settings, ~45fps |
| Any integrated graphics (Intel UHD / Vega) | No | Not supported |
How Demanding Is Once Human Really?
Once Human is an online open-world survival game, which means its performance profile is more complex than a single-player title. It’s not just about raw GPU power. The game streams a large world continuously, spawns Deviation enemies dynamically, and has to handle multiplayer sync on top of all that. From my experience testing similar titles, this kind of workload hits RAM and CPU just as hard as it hits the GPU during zone transitions and crowded events.
That GTX 750 Ti minimum is real, but context matters. You’ll hit that floor fast once you move into Stardust-heavy zones where particle effects stack up. Most players I know on entry-level hardware ended up dropping to 720p with half the visual settings turned off to stay above 30fps consistently. At recommended specs it’s a much smoother story. A GTX 1060 paired with a decent i7 and 16GB of RAM holds 60fps at 1080p high settings without major issues during normal play.
The ultra tier with an RTX 3060 and i5-12400F is genuinely comfortable at 1080p and handles 1440p without needing to cut much. That said, don’t expect 4K Ultra to be smooth without something in the RTX 4070 range or higher. The game scales well but it does have real engine limits during the most chaotic moments.
Storage and Download — Plan Before You Start
This is the part people consistently underestimate with Once Human. The base install sits around 55 to 70GB depending on the version and voice pack selection, but the game has been receiving consistent content updates since its July 2024 launch and the install footprint has grown. I’d plan for at least 75GB free on your drive before you begin. And that drive really should be an SSD.
| Platform | Base Install | Recommended Free Space | Storage Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam / Epic) | ~55–70 GB | 75 GB+ | SSD required |
| Android | ~20–28 GB | 32 GB+ | Internal storage |
| iOS | ~20–28 GB | 32 GB+ | Internal storage |
Mobile Requirements — Android and iOS
Once Human launched on mobile alongside PC and the requirements are more demanding than most people expect for a mobile game. The open world doesn’t get scaled down much. You need a flagship-tier chip from 2019 onwards at minimum, and even then you’re running at reduced draw distances and lower texture quality versus PC.
Snapdragon 855 or Dimensity 1000, 8GB RAM. This gets you into the game but expect lower resolution and reduced NPC density in populated zones.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Dimensity 9000, 12GB RAM. Smooth 60fps on medium-high settings. This is where the mobile experience actually feels comparable to PC low-medium.
iPhone 11 or iPad with A13 Bionic chip. Runs at reduced settings and 30fps target. Older iPhones will hit thermal limits quickly during boss fights.
iPhone 13 Pro or iPad with A15 chip or newer. Solid 60fps at high settings. The ProMotion display on 13 Pro and later makes a real difference during fast combat.
What If You’re Below Minimum?
If your GPU is below a GTX 750 Ti or your CPU predates Haswell (2013), Once Human is going to be rough regardless of how you configure the settings. The engine requires DirectX 11 as a hard floor, so anything below that on the GPU driver side won’t even launch. Integrated graphics like Intel UHD 630 or AMD Vega 8 are confirmed unsupported.
The 8GB RAM minimum is real too, but it’s tight. Most players I’ve seen reporting crashes and stutters on minimum specs were running exactly 8GB with Chrome or Discord open in the background. If you’re at exactly minimum RAM, close everything before launching. Once Human is not shy about its memory footprint during world streaming events.
