Info about HUMANKIND™:

Official game description:
HUMANKIND™ is a historical strategy game, where you’ll be re-writing the entire narrative of human history and combining cultures to create a civilization that’s as unique as you are.  
**CREATE YOUR CIVILIZATION**  
Combine up to 60 historical cultures as you lead your people from the Ancient to the Modern Age. From humble origins as a Neolithic tribe, transition to the Ancient Era as the Babylonians, become the Classical era Mayans, the Medieval Umayyads, the Early Modern era British, and so on. Each culture will add its own special gameplay layer, leading to near-endless outcomes.  
**MORE THAN HISTORY, IT’S YOUR STORY**  
Face historical events, take impactful moral decisions, and make scientific breakthroughs. Discover the natural wonders of the world or build the most remarkable creations of humankind. Each game element is historically authentic. Combine them to build your own vision of the world.  
**LEAVE YOUR MARK ON THE WORLD**  
The journey matters more than destination. Fame is a new and unifying victory condition. Every great deed you accomplish, every moral choice you make, every battle won will build your fame and leave a lasting impact on the world. The player with the most fame will win the game. Will you be the one to leave the deepest mark on the world?  
**MASTER TACTICAL BATTLES ON LAND, SEA & AIR**  
Each battle in HUMANKIND™ plays out like a mini turn-based board game on top of the actual world map. Unstack your armies and command each of your units, including the emblematic units of your culture and their special abilities. Construct siege weapons to besiege and occupy cities. Fight in large battles spanning multiple turns, and don’t hesitate to bring in reinforcements!  
**CUSTOMIZE YOUR LEADER**  
In HUMANKIND™, you’ll be playing the leader of your society as an avatar that you create and customize! Your avatar will evolve visually over the course of the game as your civilization develops. You’ll also be able to level up your leader via a meta-progression system to unlock custom looks that you can showoff to strangers and friends alike in multiplayer matches up to 8 players.
**HOW FAR WILL YOU PUSH HUMANKIND?**
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This game may be updated over time and have paid for and free additional content released for it. Please be aware that this may increase the minimum requirements for running the game above the specification stated here
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Release date: Aug 17, 2021

Categories: Historical Strategy, 4X, Turn-based Strategy, Civilization Simulation, Era-based Progression, Tactical Combat, Diplomacy, City Building


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Superior combat system (weight 0.74): The game's combat is frequently praised for its tactical depth, terrain focus, and engaging mechanics, often cited as a major improvement over competitors like *Civilization 6*. Players highlight its strategic elements, such as flanking and elevation, which add layers of decision-making.
- Innovative culture-switching mechanic (weight 0.49): The ability to switch civilizations or cultures across eras is a standout feature, adding variety and strategic depth. Players appreciate the flexibility to adapt playstyles and the narrative cohesion it brings to gameplay progression.
- Polished visuals and UI (weight 0.45): The game is lauded for its beautiful art style, intuitive UI, and visually appealing city/unit designs. The graphics evolve naturally with empire growth, enhancing immersion and turn enjoyment.
- High replayability and uniqueness (weight 0.43): The game offers a fresh take on the 4X genre with distinct mechanics, low barriers to entry, and high replayability. Players note that no two games feel the same due to dynamic systems like culture-switching and modular territory.
- Strong post-launch support (weight 0.43): The developers are praised for continuous updates, balance improvements, and active community engagement. Many players note significant enhancements years after release, addressing bugs and refining mechanics.
- Accessible yet deep mechanics (weight 0.25): The game balances simplicity for newcomers with strategic depth for veterans. Tutorials and intuitive design lower the learning curve, while layered systems (e.g., modular territory, event triggers) reward mastery.
- Engaging diplomacy systems (weight 0.18): Diplomacy is highlighted for its depth, including varied interactions like territorial disputes, economic sanctions, and nuanced alliances. The system encourages roleplaying and adaptability in political strategies.
- Satisfying city-building mechanics (weight 0.14): Players enjoy the city expansion, territory merging, and wonder-building systems. The mechanics allow for specialization and visual growth, making late-game management more engaging than in comparable titles.

Common complaints:
- AI Performance and Fairness (weight 0.31): The AI suffers from slow response times, inconsistent difficulty, and reliance on artificial bonuses. Players report unfair advantages, poor decision-making, and prolonged battles due to AI inefficiencies.
- Civ Comparison Frustrations (weight 0.27): Players familiar with the *Civilization* series find *Humankind* lacking in depth, polish, and intuitive design. Many criticize its slower pace, less distinct civilizations, and unintuitive mechanics compared to *Civ 6* or *Civ 5*.
- Lack of Cohesion and Polish (weight 0.22): The game suffers from disjointed mechanics, poor historical consistency, and underdeveloped systems (e.g., Neolithic era progression). Players criticize its lack of depth and polish compared to competitors.
- Persistent Bugs and Stability Issues (weight 0.22): Numerous game-breaking bugs, multiplayer desyncs, and crashes have persisted for years, making the game unplayable for some. Bugs corrupt saves and disrupt matches, with minimal developer fixes.
- Tedious Late-Game Pacing (weight 0.2): The endgame becomes repetitive and slow, with players losing agency and interest. Victory often feels like an 'end turn' slog, especially for scientific or score-based wins.
- Balancing and Replayability Flaws (weight 0.19): The game suffers from overpowered strategies, monotonous mechanics, and limited replayability. Players report repetitive gameplay and lack of meaningful options in the tech tree.
- Steep Learning Curve (weight 0.17): Newcomers struggle with the game’s unintuitive UI, unclear tutorials, and complex mechanics. Initial frustration risks players quitting before mastering the systems.
- Flawed War and Stability Systems (weight 0.14): The war support system is illogical, forcing illogical outcomes like forced surrenders. Stability mechanics poorly model happiness, and prolonged wars create frustration.
- High Difficulty Frustrations (weight 0.13): Cooperative and high-difficulty modes are nearly unplayable due to excessive AI bonuses, tedious combat, and lack of balanced challenges. Players report frustration with forced strategies.
- Resource and Late-Game Imbalance (weight 0.1): Early-game resource placement heavily influences late-game success, with players struggling to recover from poor starts. Overpopulation and district management become tedious in later stages.
- Developer Prioritization Criticisms (weight 0.09): Players accuse the developer of focusing on DLCs and expansions instead of fixing core issues. Modders are relied upon to address bugs, and preorder bonuses remain broken.
- Performance and Scalability Issues (weight 0.09): The game runs poorly on mid-range PCs, especially with large maps or high turn counts. Multiplayer suffers from pacing issues, and map size limitations disappoint players.
- Weak Religion System (weight 0.09): Religion is underdeveloped, phasing out in the late game and lacking impact. Players find it forgettable and poorly integrated with other mechanics.

Gameplay feedback:
- Terrain-Centric Combat System (weight 0.55): The game features a detailed combat system that heavily incorporates terrain advantages, elevation, line of sight, and fortifications. Players can engage in manual or automatic battles with strategic depth, including flanking and unit positioning.
- Civilization Switching per Era (weight 0.51): Players can switch civilizations in each era, allowing for unique combinations, hybrid bonuses, and strategic adaptation. This mechanic encourages varied playstyles and replayability through cultural fusion.
- Era Progression and Culture Selection (weight 0.42): Players progress through historical eras, selecting cultures in each age to unlock unique bonuses and units. Cultural choices stack over time, influencing empire development and strategic options.
- Dynamic Diplomacy and Trade (weight 0.33): Diplomacy is a core mechanic, offering mutual agreements, espionage, trade systems, and dynamic AI interactions. Players can engage in soft power, vassalization, and conflict escalation, with diplomacy screens facilitating leader interactions.
- AI Behavior and Difficulty (weight 0.22): AI opponents exhibit dynamic behaviors in combat, diplomacy, and expansion, with adjustable difficulty settings. AI interactions influence era progression, negotiations, and military strategies.
- City Expansion and Territory Control (weight 0.19): Cities expand into large metropolises by merging territories, with modular systems for outposts and region specialization. Strategic tile decisions and population management are key to city development.
- Religion and Cultural Influence (weight 0.13): Religion is an automated, influence-based system that provides customizable buffs. Cultural mechanics allow players to spread influence, integrate civics, and adapt strategies based on religious and cultural dynamics.
- Neolithic Era Scouting Phase (weight 0.11): The game begins in the Neolithic era, allowing players to scout and plan territory claims before settling cities. This phase emphasizes early-game strategy and nomadic exploration.
- Wonders and Collaborative Projects (weight 0.09): Players can claim and construct wonders, including collaborative projects with other civilizations. Wonders provide significant bonuses and serve as key milestones in empire development.
- War Support and Battle Systems (weight 0.08): Warfare includes a 'war support' system that influences battle outcomes and conflict escalation. Tactical battles feature regiment grouping, retreat options, and terrain-based buffs.
- Tech Tree and Progression (weight 0.08): The technology tree offers OR statements for progression, allowing players to tailor research paths. Tech advancements unlock new units, buildings, and strategic options across eras.
- Replayability Through Variety (weight 0.07): The game offers high replayability through unique civilization combinations, persona systems, and dynamic era progression. Expansion content and culture-switching mechanics further enhance engagement.

Performance notes:
- Multiplayer crashes and desyncs (weight 0.15): Frequent reports of game crashes, freezes, and desynchronization issues during multiplayer sessions, including disconnections and server-related problems. This severely impacts online gameplay stability.
- Performance issues on varied hardware (weight 0.1): Game struggles to run smoothly on both high-end and minimum-spec hardware, with reports of hangs during battles, stutters during combat, and performance drops as cities grow or turn values increase.
- Positive performance on capable systems (weight 0.08): Some users report smooth, bug-free gameplay on high-end or well-configured systems, with improved load times on SSDs and fluid performance when hardware meets or exceeds requirements.
- Jolty animations and game speed (weight 0.02): Feedback highlights jolty or uneven animations and issues with game speed, which can disrupt the overall experience, particularly during critical moments like combat.
- Performance settings and workarounds (weight 0.02): Users suggest adjusting settings to improve performance, indicating that while the game may struggle on some hardware, tweaks can mitigate issues to some extent.

Recommendations:
- Strong alternative to Civilization (weight 0.47): Many players view this game as a superior or refreshing alternative to the Civilization series, particularly for those seeking less micromanagement or a different strategic approach. However, some still prefer Civilization for its clarity.
- Ideal for strategy and 4X fans (weight 0.43): The game is highly recommended for fans of turn-based strategy, 4X games, and empire-building mechanics. Players appreciate its unique twist on the genre and its ability to offer a fresh experience compared to Civilization.
- Rewards adaptability and depth (weight 0.38): The game is praised for its dynamic strategy mechanics, requiring players to adjust their approach multiple times in a single playthrough. It appeals to those who enjoy deep, flexible gameplay and learning new systems.
- Best purchased on sale (weight 0.22): The game is widely recommended at a discounted price, with many players suggesting it is worth the money only when on sale (e.g., under $10-15). Full price may not offer the same value for all players.
- Enjoyable but flawed experience (weight 0.2): Players find the game highly enjoyable and worth their time despite its flaws, such as bugs or pacing issues. Updates and ongoing improvements have made it more appealing over time.
- Newcomer-friendly 4X entry (weight 0.17): The game serves as a good introduction to the 4X genre, offering a more accessible or engaging experience for newcomers. However, some experienced players may find it lacking in depth.
- Not for everyone (weight 0.1): While many players recommend the game, some explicitly advise against it, citing issues like pacing, mechanics, or personal preference for other titles like Civilization.
- Multiplayer and solo appeal (weight 0.07): The game is recommended for both solo play and multiplayer sessions with friends, offering long, engaging experiences in both formats. However, some features like multiplayer teams are missing.
- Hope for future content and sequels (weight 0.06): Players express optimism for future updates, DLC, or a sequel to address current limitations. A vibrant modding community is also desired to extend the game's longevity.

Other player notes:
- Long-standing bugs disrupt progress (weight 0.02): A recurring bug forces players to reload saves, disrupting immersion and gameplay flow. This highlights a critical stability issue that impacts long-term player retention.
- Mods fix gameplay issues (weight 0.02): Players frequently mention using mods to address unresolved gameplay problems, indicating gaps in official support or bug fixes. This suggests a need for developers to either integrate these fixes or improve core mechanics.
- Avatar customization bug persists (weight 0.02): Players report a persistent bug in avatar customization, which detracts from personalization—a key feature for player engagement. This issue may frustrate users who value self-expression in-game.
- Devs praised for customer care (weight 0.02): Despite technical issues, players acknowledge the developers' rare commitment to customer support and communication. This positive sentiment could mitigate frustration over bugs.
- Players invest significant time (weight 0.02): Some players have logged 40+ hours across multiple accounts, indicating strong engagement and replayability. However, this may also reflect attempts to bypass bugs or limitations.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.28): Players experience frustration primarily due to poorly optimized AI behavior, including aggressive rushes, inconsistent diplomacy, and illogical combat decisions. Technical issues like game crashes, disconnections, and performance stutters—especially in multiplayer or late-game—further exacerbate the problem. Additionally, unclear mechanics, lack of quality-of-life features, and unbalanced systems (e.g., forced culture switching, unfair combat resolution) create repetitive or punishing gameplay loops.
- Disappointment (weight 0.14): Disappointment stems from the game failing to meet expectations set by its marketing or genre standards. Key issues include shallow or underdeveloped mechanics (e.g., religion, diplomacy, and trade systems), persistent bugs, and a lack of polish in late-game content. Players also criticize the game’s inability to innovate meaningfully compared to competitors like *Civilization*, citing uninspired victory conditions, generic leader interactions, and a lack of strategic depth or replayability.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.13): Satisfaction arises from the game’s strategic depth, particularly its unique culture-switching mechanics, dynamic combat, and district systems. Players appreciate ongoing updates and improvements that address initial flaws, as well as the game’s faster pacing and reduced micromanagement compared to *Civilization*. The visual design, immersive soundtrack, and adaptive gameplay mechanics (e.g., era progression, fame system) also contribute to a rewarding experience, especially for those seeking a fresh 4X alternative.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.07): Enjoyment is driven by the game’s engaging core mechanics, such as flexible culture combinations, immersive combat, and the ‘one more turn’ appeal of its strategic depth. Players highlight the satisfying progression through eras, the aesthetic presentation (e.g., expanding districts, soundtrack), and the game’s ability to offer varied playstyles. The dynamic battles, narrative events, and late-game engagement—despite some flaws—create a fun and replayable experience.
- Appreciation (weight 0.06): Players appreciate the game’s originality, particularly its focus on cultural evolution, adaptive strategies, and tactical combat. The visual and audio design—including detailed artwork, music, and leader customization—are frequently praised, as is the developer’s commitment to post-launch updates and community engagement. The game’s ability to stand out in the 4X genre through unique mechanics (e.g., legacy systems, human-centric gameplay) is also a key point of admiration.
- Excitement (weight 0.05): Excitement is generated by the game’s innovative mechanics, such as dynamic culture-switching, deep diplomacy, and the thrill of outmaneuvering opponents in multiplayer. Players are drawn to its high replayability, strategic depth, and the flexibility to experiment with different civilizations and synergies. The anticipation of mastering the game’s systems (e.g., influence points, settlement mechanics) and the fresh take on 4X tropes also contribute to this emotion.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration is directed toward the game’s ambitious design, including its celebration of global cultures, stunning art style, and attention to detail in mechanics like era progression and combat. Players respect the developer’s focus on depth, innovation, and polish, often describing the game as a standout in the 4X genre. The blend of historical representation, strategic complexity, and visual beauty earns high praise from deep thinkers and genre enthusiasts.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm stems from the game’s engaging and unique mechanics, such as culture-switching, fame points, and tactical combat. Players express strong approval for its depth, replayability, and value, often recommending it to fans of the genre. The game’s ability to offer a fresh experience while retaining familiar 4X elements (e.g., empire-building, diplomacy) fuels this positive sentiment, especially among long-time *Civilization* fans.
- Hope (weight 0.02): Hope is tied to the game’s potential for future improvements, whether through developer updates, modding communities, or a sequel. Players express desire for fixes to persistent issues (e.g., AI behavior, multiplayer stability) and new content that could elevate the game further. The recent reception of *Civilization VII* has also reignited interest in *Humankind* as a viable alternative, with players hoping for continued support.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): Amusement arises from the game’s humorous or unexpected moments, such as witty narrator comments, AI quirks (e.g., facing modern units in early eras), or exploiting broken mechanics. Players also find entertainment in the game’s lighter aspects, like leader personalities, achievements, or the sheer absurdity of certain gameplay scenarios (e.g., post-apocalyptic simulations).
- Confusion (weight 0.02): Confusion is caused by the game’s unintuitive or poorly explained mechanics, such as civilization-switching, combat systems, or tech progression. Players struggle with unclear UI elements (e.g., territory joining, star systems) and illogical design choices (e.g., AI boosts on higher difficulties). The lack of a comprehensive tutorial or in-game guidance exacerbates this issue, leaving some players unsure of how to engage with the game’s deeper systems.
- Love (weight 0.02): Love for the game is rooted in its immersive mechanics, such as Neolithic era gameplay, culture evolution, and empire-building. Players appreciate the game’s ability to balance depth and accessibility, offering a unique and engaging experience that stands out in the 4X genre. The overall design, from trade systems to civilization growth, fosters a strong emotional connection for many.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Relief is felt by players who find the game meets their needs after disappointment with other titles (e.g., *Civilization VII*). Specific improvements, such as reduced micromanagement, fixes for long-standing bugs (e.g., ‘Congress of Humanity’), or the game’s travel-friendly design, provide a sense of satisfaction. Rediscovering joy in *Humankind* after negative experiences with competitors is a common theme.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise occurs when players discover the game exceeds their expectations, often after initial skepticism. Positive surprises include the depth of culture-switching mechanics, the game’s improvements over time, or its ability to offer a better experience than review scores suggested. Players also express surprise at how well the game’s systems (e.g., diplomacy, combat) work once mastered.
- Approval (weight 0.01): Approval is given for the game’s fresh take on the 4X genre, particularly its era and culture selection mechanics, tactical combat, and accessible design. Players appreciate the improvements over *Civilization*, such as the graphic style, intuitive UI, and the game’s ability to innovate while retaining core genre elements. The AI’s behavior and strategic depth also earn praise.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is directed at the developer’s neglect of fundamental issues, such as unfixed multiplayer bugs, poorly optimized servers, and the prioritization of DLC over core gameplay improvements. Players feel betrayed by the wasted time and money, especially when technical issues (e.g., crashes, disconnections) disrupt long playthroughs or competitive matches.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom sets in during the late game due to repetitive mechanics, slow technology progression, and a lack of meaningful conflict or strategic depth. Players describe the endgame as autopilot-like, with tedious tasks (e.g., micromanagement, resource grinding) overshadowing the initial excitement. The lack of variety in late-game scenarios or unit types also contributes to this sentiment.
- Disgust (weight 0.01): Disgust arises from the game’s numerous bugs, unbalanced mechanics, and frustrating systems (e.g., war support, battle resolution). Players express strong negative reactions to the developer’s perceived laziness, such as borrowing ideas from *Humankind* for *Civilization VII* without proper execution. The overall lack of polish and attention to detail in critical areas (e.g., combat, diplomacy) fuels this emotion.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Engagement is driven by the game’s compelling narrative, strategic depth, and ‘one more turn’ appeal. Players are drawn to its interesting combat mechanics, dynamic diplomacy, and the satisfaction of outmaneuvering opponents. The game’s ability to create immersive, long-term experiences—despite some flaws—keeps players invested in its systems and progression.
- Recommendation (weight 0.01): Recommendations stem from personal enjoyment and the game’s ability to offer a fresh, engaging experience for 4X fans. Players often suggest it as an alternative to *Civilization*, praising its accessibility, unique mechanics (e.g., culture-switching), and strategic depth. The game’s improvements over time and its value for money also contribute to strong word-of-mouth endorsements.}