Humankind 2 is set to introduce significant changes to its predecessor's core mechanics, notably re-evaluating the controversial decision to mandate culture switching each era. The upcoming historical 4X game will allow players to maintain a single culture from the ancient era through to the modern day, offering a more monolithic approach for those who prefer it. This shift aims to address player feedback and provides a new angle on the long-standing debate between static and dynamic cultural progression in the genre.
Assembling a Society
Instead of forcing players to adopt new cultures every era, Humankind 2 allows for a singular cultural path. While over 70 cultures will be available at launch, each with unique customs trees, players can choose to stick with their initial selection. For example, Ancient Egypt could theoretically be maintained from the first era all the way to the end. This is complemented by a system where players can incorporate "building blocks" from various cultures encountered throughout the game. Each culture has associated customs, such as Ancient Egypt's Embalming or Pharaoh traditions, which can be slotted into a society's structure. Beyond these, players can also earn powerful "Legacies" by completing a culture's tree, offering potent bonuses.
Adaptations, which are tied to a civilization's location, offer another layer of customization, allowing societies to evolve based on their environment. Acculturation also permits players to adopt traditions from neighboring cultures they interact with. Should players still wish to switch cultures, Humankind 2 introduces new restrictions. Choices will be initially limited to cultures with shared real-world history or geography, or those encountered during the current era, preventing the free-for-all approach of the original game.
The Force of Nature
Humankind 2 will place a greater emphasis on the role of nature and environmental factors. The game will feature mechanics for both natural and human-induced climate change. Events like the Medieval Warming Period or the Little Ice Age can alter biomes, changing resource availability and potentially causing societal instability. Conversely, advanced technologies in later eras can also influence these environmental shifts. This heightened focus on nature aims to create more dynamic and unpredictable scenarios.
Visually, the game retains Amplitude's signature stylized 3D map. Cities will sprawl across entire regions rather than individual tiles, a design choice that has drawn some discussion regarding endgame map aesthetics. Amplitude has stated that incentives will exist to prevent players from completely urbanizing every available space. While the Neolithic phase remains, unoccupied map areas will be quickly populated by historical cultures, encouraging expansion through diplomacy or conquest.
Humankind 2 is slated for release on PC in 2027.