Comparison

Once Human vs ARK

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Once Human

Embark on a multiplayer survival adventure in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by an alien substance. Team up with friends to battle monstrous creatures, build a sanctuary, and uncover the truth behind the world's collapse. Harness supernatural powers to fight, rebuild, or dominate.

Highlights
  • Multiplayer open-world survival
  • Post-apocalyptic setting
  • Base building and customization
  • Battle monstrous aberrations
  • Harness supernatural powers
  • Team up with friends
  • Collect and train Deviation Pals
Read full description

Once Human is a Strange Worlds Survival Game set in a bizarre, apocalyptic world. Fight side by side with friends for survival resources, build your home territory, and overcome the terrifying unknown together as you uncover the truth behind the fall of the world. You were once human. Do you still hold the answer to what it means to be human? World Awakened They were buses, TVs, and chairs. Now they walk, speak, and stare. Scavenge or Die Old-world scrap keeps you alive. Anomalies power your gear and home. Squad Up Capture the Anomalies you defeat. Yesterday's enemy is tomorrow's ally. Craft Weapons Turn scrap and Anomaly power into hundreds of deadly, custom weapons. Build Your Home They chop wood, mine ore, and tend fields. This home runs on all of you. Become Them Shed your humanity. Fuse with defeated Anomalies and wield their power. Continuous Meta Pass Subscription Activation Instructions 1. MonthlyMeta Pass Activation Instructions --Subscription Period: 1 Month --Subscription Price: 4.99 USD per month 2. Other Rules --Payment: Charges will be deducted via the user's iTunes account. Payment is made upon user confirmation of purchase. --Renewal: The Apple iTunes account will be charged within 24 hours before expiration. Upon successful payment, the subscription period will be extended by one subscription cycle. --Cancel Renewal: To cancel renewal, please operate at least 24 hours before the current billing period ends. Operation method: From the Home page, go to [Settings] —> Tap [iTunes Store & App Store] —> Tap [Apple ID], select [View Apple ID] —> [Account Settings] —> Tap [Subscriptions], then tap [Cancel Subscription]. --NetEase Games License and Service T&c: https://protocol.unisdk.easebar.com/release/latest_v487.html --NetEase Games Privacy Policy: https://protocol.unisdk.easebar.com/release/latest_v475.html

About

ARK

Explore vast, savage lands filled with primeval creatures. Tame and ride dinosaurs, team up with others for tribal battles, and embark on an epic adventure. Conquer diverse environments and discover hundreds of unique species.

Highlights
  • Tame and ride primeval creatures
  • Explore savage lands and diverse environments
  • Team up for epic tribal battles
  • Access five huge expansion packs
  • Discover hundreds of unique species
  • Conquer boss challenges
Features
Read full description

***This game requires additional data to play. You will be prompted to download an additional 2GB of data after launching the game.*** Experience everything that the ARK franchise has to offer in this massive mobile edition! Tame and ride primeval creatures as you explore savage lands, team up with other players to compete in epic tribal battles, and travel together on the greatest Dinosaur-filled adventure of all time. ARK: Ultimate Mobile Edition includes the original Island map alongside access to five huge Expansion Packs - Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, and Genesis Parts 1 & 2 - adding up to thousands of hours of gameplay! From primordial island jungles to the futuristic gardens of an interstellar starship, every sprawling environment is here for you to conquer! Discover the hundreds of unique species roaming these lands, from the prehistoric to the fantastical, and learn how to befriend these creatures, or to defeat them. Complete your collection of notes and dossiers left by past explorers to learn the surprising history of the ARKs. Test your tribe and your beasts in battle with every boss challenge from the franchise! Do you and your friends have what it takes to survive the ultimate ARK experience? Mobile version developed by Grove Street Games.

Screenshots

Once Human4 screens
ARK4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Once Human at none against ARK's shown. Once Human also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (58% vs 46%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Once Human sells 16 one-off in-app purchases and ARK sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Once Human holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18K and 14K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Once Human's written reviews are positive against 46% of ARK's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Once Human versus ARK: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOnce HumanARK
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (18K ratings) — better4.4 (14K ratings)
Positive reviews58.0% of reviews — better45.6% of reviews
Number of ratings18K — better14K
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#62 — better#91
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size3.7 GB3.3 GB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperNETEASE INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT PTE. LTDStudio Wildcard

Customer experience

Once Human

All ratings17,968 ratings
Positive90.1%
Neutral3.4%
Negative6.5%
Written reviews2,346 reviews
Positive58.0%
Neutral11.2%
Negative30.8%

ARK

All ratings14,354 ratings
Positive84.8%
Neutral3.5%
Negative11.8%
Written reviews3,678 reviews
Positive45.6%
Neutral13.6%
Negative40.8%

User reviews

Once Human

From 18K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great game with immersive graphics
  • 👍 Solid gameplay mechanics
  • 💡 Unique and challenging features
  • 🎮 Enjoyable on both PC and mobile

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional performance and graphics issues
  • 🔋 High storage requirements on mobile
  • 🕹️ Lack of controller support on mobile

ARK

From 14K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Impressive graphics and animations
  • 🌐 All maps and content included
  • 👍 Smooth gameplay and controls
  • 🕹️ Faithful to the PC/console experience

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 🤖 Hackers and cheaters in multiplayer
  • 💰 Paid features and content locked behind paywall

Bugs and requests

Once Human

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Network errors preventing login
  • Stuck on character creation screen
  • Persistent bugs with garage and storage

Requested features

3 requests
  • Improved mobile controls and responsiveness
  • More customization options for character and base
  • Seamless cross-platform progression

ARK

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Saving and progress loss issues
  • Inventory and taming bugs
  • Rendering and collision detection problems
  • Unstable server connections

Requested features

4 requests
  • Customizable UI and controls
  • Offline/local multiplayer mode
  • More graphics and performance options
  • Ability to adjust difficulty settings in singleplayer

In-app purchases

16 purchases

Once Human

One-time16
  • Shining New Star Selection Pack$0.99
  • Abyssal Whale Dream Gift Pack$0.99
  • 60 Crystgin$0.99
Show 13 more
  • Shining Newbie Pack$0.99
  • 330 Crystgin$4.99
  • Meta Pass$4.99
  • Battle Pass (Advanced)$9.99
  • Battle Pass (Upgrade)$13.99
  • 1090 Crystgin$14.99
  • Golden Accord: Astral Ride$14.99
  • Reward Covenant$19.99
  • Battle Pass (Deluxe)$21.49
  • Battle Pass (Deluxe)$23.99
  • 2280 Crystgin$29.99
  • 3880 Crystgin$49.99
  • 7880 Crystgin$99.99
11 purchases

ARK

Subscriptions2
  • ARK Pass - Monthly$4.991 Month
  • ARK Pass - Annual$49.991 Year
One-time9
  • 100 Keys$0.99
  • Ragnarok$2.99
  • 500 Keys$3.99
Show 6 more
  • Scorched Earth$5.99
  • Aberration$5.99
  • Extinction$5.99
  • 1500 Keys$9.99
  • God Console$17.99
  • 5000 Keys$29.99

Questions

Is Once Human free?
Once Human is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ARK free?
ARK is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Once Human or ARK?
Once Human is rated higher. Once Human averages 4.6 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while ARK averages 4.4 from 14K ratings.
Do Once Human or ARK have ads?
ARK shows ads; Once Human does not.
Which is updated more often, Once Human or ARK?
Once Human ships an update monthly, and ARK monthly. Most recently, Once Human was updated on October 31, 2026 and ARK on October 31, 2026.
Which is more popular, Once Human or ARK?
Once Human currently peaks at #62 in the App Store charts, and ARK at #91. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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