Once Human scenarios each come with their own rules and phases, and the notice the Once Human development team published for the console launch gives a recommended player for each scenario it lists, though the official pages name none for Isles of Abyss. Pick the wrong one and you'll put your sessions into a scenario meant for players looking for a survival difficulty challenge, or into PvP you never wanted. Here's how to choose the right one, and we leave what happens when a scenario ends to our Once Human seasons guide.
Checked against the Once Human development team's official notices on October 24, 2026.
Start in Manibus (Novice) Before Picking Anything Else
The Once Human development team's console launch FAQ recommends that beginners play the Manibus (Novice) scenario, and the server notice the team published for the console launch in August 2026 describes it as PvE, "a survival scenario for beginners," for any new player. Take that as your default first pick, because the same notice lists Manibus for players with some survival experience and The Way of Winter for players looking for a survival difficulty challenge.
If you haven't played yet, read our Once Human beginner's guide first, since a scenario list means little until you know the basics. Then check whether Manibus (Novice) shows up in your own list before you sign up for anything.
Learn How Once Human Scenarios Work Before You Commit
Each scenario has its own rules and phases of varying length, from a few days to dozens of days, according to the console launch FAQ, so treat every sign-up as a commitment of real play time.
The notice the development team published for the console launch says that signing up for an upcoming server guarantees you entry, and that the number of servers depends on how many players register. It also describes a sign-up lock period, the stretch before a new server opens when sign-ups for it are locked, and the September 2, 2026 update notes shortened it. That notice was published for the console launch and doesn't say whether these rules work the same way on PC. Make your choice before that lock instead of after it.
Check the server name before you confirm, too. The same console launch notice lists both cross-platform servers and console-exclusive servers, and the console-exclusive ones carry "Console" in their name, so if you're not playing on a console, skip any server with that tag.
Pick a PvE Scenario by the Challenge You Want
Read each pick below as the development team's own description: every type and recommended player in this section and the next comes from the server notice the Once Human development team published for the console launch in August 2026, and launch months come from the official Once Human site, which gives no day. Match the recommended player to how you actually like to play, and you'll avoid most bad sign-ups.
Manibus
Move here once you've finished Manibus (Novice) and know the survival basics, not before. The notice lists Manibus as PvE — you explore Nalcott, find and rally your allies, quickly build up your strength, and drive back Manibus — and recommends it for players with some survival experience. The official site lists its launch as July 2024.
The Way of Winter
Don't make The Way of Winter your first scenario. It's PvE, but it asks you to survive extreme ice and fire temperatures by building Thermal Towers and join the entire server to eliminate the Chaosweaver, and the notice recommends it for players looking for a survival difficulty challenge. The official site lists its launch as October 2024. Save it for when you want difficulty, not while you're still learning the basics.
Endless Dream
Pick Endless Dream if you'd rather take on its enemies with friends than alone. The notice describes it as PvE with dynamic Dream Zone environments that call for server-wide cooperation, and recommends it for players who enjoy taking on powerful enemies together with friends. The development team announced early access for May 22, 2025 and an official launch on July 3, 2025. Under the rule announced for early access in May 2025, as players on the server eliminate Eternal Dreamers, they reduce the durations of Phases I to V, so expect your server's phases to move faster the more Eternal Dreamers its players take down.
Deviation: Survive, Capture, Preserve
Choose this one if collecting Deviations is what keeps you playing. The notice lists it as PvE — you secure Deviations, assemble a team, and challenge the Deviation League — and recommends it for players who enjoy collecting a rich variety of Deviations and engaging in Deviation battles. The development team announced early access for September 24, 2025 (PT) and an official launch for October 29, 2025 (PT). Don't expect your stats from other scenarios to carry over here: the team's October 2025 launch announcement called it a standalone scenario where your stats on other scenarios don't apply.
Choose a PvP Scenario Only If You Want Warband or Faction Fights
Skip both PvP scenarios unless fighting other players is the point for you. The same notice lists two of them. Evolution's Call is built around rallying your warband, competing for frontier resources, and clashing with rival warbands, and the notice recommends it for players who enjoy grouping up for team battles. The official site lists its launch as July 2024. Since the recommended player is someone who groups up, sign up alongside the people you'll play with instead of on your own.
Prismverse's Clash is two-faction PvP: you seize Prism Deviations, accumulate Prism Energy, and crown the strongest faction. The notice recommends it for PvP players who enjoy faction-versus-faction combat, and the official site lists its launch as September 2024. If you'd rather not fight other players at all, every scenario in the previous section is listed as PvE, though the October 2025 launch announcement for Deviation: Survive, Capture, Preserve also describes a new PvE and PvP game mode, Deviation battles.
Check Your Scenario List for Isles of Abyss Before You Plan Around It
The October 21, 2026 update notice said Isles of Abyss would launch officially after the version update that day (PT), and described it as a PvE scenario supported on all platforms, including PC, console, and mobile. The official site now lists it among the scenarios, so check your own scenario list before you plan around it.
The same notice puts its core cycle at about 21 days, and the official pages name no recommended player for it. If you're new, the console launch FAQ recommends that beginners play Manibus (Novice), and the August 2026 server notice recommends it for any new player.