Thinking about playing Once Human on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? Once Human is a free-to-play strange-worlds survival game that launched on July 9, 2024: you and your friends fight monstrous enemies, compete for resources, and build your own territory in a strange, post-apocalyptic future. The good news for PC builders is that it is one of the more forgiving games in its genre — the official minimum asks for an Nvidia GTX 750 Ti and an Intel Core i5-4460 with 8 GB of RAM, and the official recommended spec tops out at a GTX 1060 6G, a Core i7-7700 and 16 GB. This guide breaks down the official PC requirements for Once Human, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations for hitting your target settings.
- How Demanding Is Once Human?
- Once Human Official PC System Requirements
- Best GPU for Once Human by Resolution
- CPU, RAM and Storage for Once Human
- Recommended PC Builds for Once Human
- Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Once Human?
- Can You Play Once Human on a Laptop or Handheld?
- How to Boost FPS in Once Human
- Frequently Asked Questions
How Demanding Is Once Human?
Once Human is light to moderate on PC hardware, and the published specs back that up. On the minimum side you need a 2014-era Intel Core i5-4460, 8 GB of RAM and a GTX 750 Ti 4G / RX 550-class GPU with DirectX 11. The recommended tier is just as modest: a Core i7-7700, 16 GB of RAM and a GTX 1060 6G, RX 580 2304SP or Intel Arc A380 with DirectX 12. In other words, a mid-range card from 2016 still matches what the developers suggest for a good experience, so budget hardware can run it at 1080p with sensible settings rather than being locked out.
Both tiers call for 100 GB of available storage and note that an SSD is highly recommended, which matters more for load times and texture streaming than for raw frame rates. Unusually for a game of this size, the requirements also list Snapdragon X-series processors with Qualcomm Adreno X1 and X2 GPUs, so Windows-on-ARM laptops are officially supported rather than merely tolerated. Where the official spec stops short is high-refresh 1440p and especially 4K: those resolutions go beyond what the published requirements target, so they call for a stronger GPU than the recommended tier — not because the game is unusually heavy, but because you are pushing far more pixels.
Once Human Official PC System Requirements
| Component | Minimum (official) | Recommended (official) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit Operating System | Windows 10 64-bit Operating System |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-4460 / Snapdragon® X | Intel Core i7-7700 / Snapdragon® X2 Elite |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Nvidia GTX 750ti 4G / AMD Radeon RX550 / Qualcomm® Adreno X1 GPU | Nvidia GTX 1060 6G / AMD Radeon RX 580 2304SP / Intel ARC A380 / Qualcomm® Adreno X2 GPU |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 100 GB available space | 100 GB available space |
Source: the official Once Human Steam store listing (app 2139460), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.
Note that DirectX 11 is the floor and DirectX 12 is listed for the recommended tier, that both tiers ask for 100 GB of free space, and that the developers flag an SSD as highly recommended.
Best GPU for Once Human by Resolution
1080p
1080p is exactly what the official requirements are written for. The recommended tier — a GTX 1060 6G, RX 580 2304SP or Intel Arc A380 — is the realistic target for high settings at this resolution, while the minimum cards (GTX 750 Ti 4G, RX 550) will still get you into the game at lower settings. If you are buying new, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 sits comfortably above the recommended bar and leaves plenty of headroom, as do current-generation alternatives such as the RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT. Turning on upscaling (DLSS, FSR or XeSS) adds further headroom if you want a high refresh rate.
1440p
1440p sits above what the official requirements target, but Once Human is light enough that you do not need a flagship to get there. A modern mid-range card such as an RTX 5060 Ti or RX 9060 XT, or an older RTX 3060 / RX 6600 XT-class GPU, is enough to run 1440p at high settings. Step up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER and you are well past that, with plenty of room for high-refresh 1440p at high settings. This is the resolution most PC gamers target, and this class of card gives Once Human generous headroom.
4K
4K is the one scenario that goes well beyond the published requirements. For 4K, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is a realistic entry point, with an RTX 5070 Ti or RX 9070 XT in the same conversation, ideally paired with upscaling to keep frame rates high. Even here the game is not among the heaviest titles around — the demand comes from rendering four times the pixels of 1080p rather than from the recommended GTX 1060-class hardware being unable to cope.
CPU, RAM and Storage for Once Human
The CPU side is easy. The official minimum is an Intel Core i5-4460 — a 2014 quad-core — and the recommended part, the Core i7-7700, is a 2017 chip, so Once Human is not CPU-bound in the way a large-scale strategy or simulation game can be, despite its busy shared zones. Almost any modern quad-core or better clears both tiers comfortably. Pair your GPU with a capable processor: the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is excellent value for gaming, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the fastest mainstream gaming CPU if you want maximum frame rates. Intel fans can opt for the Intel Core i5-14600K.
Memory is straightforward too: 8 GB of RAM is the official minimum and 16 GB is the official recommendation. Because the requirements were written around DDR4-era hardware, you do not need fast DDR5 to run the game, but if you are building new, 16 GB is the sensible target and a 32 GB kit such as the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB leaves headroom for a busy base and background apps. Storage is the one place the developers are emphatic: both tiers list 100 GB of available space with an SSD highly recommended. Install the game on a fast NVMe SSD like the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD to cut load times and reduce texture streaming stutter.
Recommended PC Builds for Once Human
1080p build: AMD Radeon RX 7600 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — well above the official recommended spec, so it handles high-settings 1080p with headroom. If you already own a GTX 1060 6G / RX 580-class card and a quad-core CPU, you meet the recommended requirements as they are.
1440p sweet-spot build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + 2TB NVMe SSD — more than enough for high-settings 1440p, and the setup most players should aim for if they want room to spare.
4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — for 4K with upscaling.
Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Once Human?
Because the official requirements are so low, this is a game you only upgrade for if you want more than the baseline. If your graphics card is already a GTX 1060 6G, RX 580 2304SP or Arc A380 or better, you match the recommended spec and can play at 1080p with sensible settings — there is no need to replace anything. Beyond that, the graphics card delivers by far the biggest jump, so upgrade the GPU first if you are chasing 1440p or 4K, since a modern mid-range card is all this game really asks for. If you are running the 8 GB minimum, moving to 16 GB of RAM is the cheapest meaningful upgrade, and moving the game off a hard drive onto an SSD addresses the one thing the developers specifically recommend. Rather than replacing everything at once, target the weakest link in your build for the best value.
Can You Play Once Human on a Laptop or Handheld?
Yes, and the official requirements make it easier than most. The listed specs include Snapdragon X-series processors with Adreno X1 and X2 GPUs, so Windows-on-ARM laptops are officially supported. On the x86 side, gaming laptops with an RTX 4060 or better mobile GPU can run Once Human well at 1080p and sit far above the recommended desktop spec, while even entry-level discrete laptop graphics clear the minimum. Expect shorter battery life and more heat than a desktop. On handhelds like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, the low minimum requirements mean it runs comfortably at reasonable settings, making it a good portable pick. If portability matters, prioritise a device with a capable GPU and pair it with a fast microSD or SSD for storage, and budget for the 100 GB of space the game needs.
How to Boost FPS in Once Human
If frame rates are low, enable upscaling (DLSS on NVIDIA, FSR on AMD, or XeSS on Intel) which offers the single biggest performance gain, and turn on frame generation if your GPU supports it. Drop the most expensive settings first — shadows, effects and post-processing — before lowering overall resolution. If your PC is at the 8 GB minimum for memory, reducing texture quality and closing background apps helps as well. Keep your GPU drivers up to date, and make sure the game is installed on an SSD, since the developers recommend one for both the minimum and recommended tiers. Lowering settings to hit a stable frame rate almost always feels better than chasing maxed-out visuals with stutter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my PC run Once Human?
If your PC has at least a GTX 750 Ti 4G / RX 550-class GPU, an Intel Core i5-4460 or equivalent, 8 GB of RAM and 100 GB of free space, it meets the official minimum and can run Once Human at lower settings. For the official recommended experience, aim for a GTX 1060 6G / RX 580 2304SP / Arc A380-class card, a Core i7-7700 or better, 16 GB of RAM and DirectX 12 support.
Is Once Human demanding on PC?
No. It is one of the lighter survival games on PC: the minimum GPU is a 2014-era GTX 750 Ti and the recommended card is a GTX 1060 6G from 2016. Only 4K, which the official requirements do not target, asks for a high-end graphics card.
What GPU do I need for Once Human at 1440p 60fps?
1440p goes beyond the official recommended spec, but it does not take a flagship. A modern mid-range card such as an RX 9060 XT or RTX 5060 Ti is a comfortable choice at high settings, and a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER-class graphics card gives you plenty of headroom, especially with upscaling enabled. Cards in this tier also give you comfortable headroom for future titles too.
How much RAM does Once Human need?
8 GB of RAM is the official minimum for Once Human and 16 GB is officially recommended. 16 GB is the practical target if you want high settings without stutter and to keep a browser open in the background; if you are limited to 8 GB, lower texture quality and close background apps. Memory capacity matters far more than memory speed here, and the requirements are modest enough that DDR4 is perfectly fine.
Do I need an SSD for Once Human?
The official notes say an SSD is highly recommended for Once Human, and both the minimum and recommended tiers list 100 GB of available space. An NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro is ideal for cutting load times and texture streaming stutter.
