Choosing Your First Culture

New to Humankind? Learn how to pick your first culture to set yourself up for victory. Get expert tips for beginners on early game strategy and overcoming AI bonuses.

Hey there! So you're diving into Humankind and wondering which culture to pick first? It's a big decision, and honestly, there's no single 'best' choice. Think of it like choosing your starting class in an RPG – each one has its own strengths and weaknesses that will shape your early game. Don't stress too much about it, though! The game is designed so you can adapt and still win, even if your initial pick isn't perfectly suited for every situation. We'll walk through some general strategies and what to keep in mind.

The AI gets some pretty hefty bonuses on higher difficulties, especially early on. We're talking extra Food, Industry, Money, Science, and a big Stability boost, plus stronger units. It sounds rough, and it can be, but here's the kicker: these bonuses don't always scale well as the game progresses. For example, that early industry bonus might seem huge, but a single late-game building can easily make up for it. The combat bonus is the most noticeable, so generally, you'll want to avoid fighting the AI in the early eras. Focus on building up your empire and economy first.

So, what's the game plan? Generally, you want to:

• Avoid early wars – aim for the Classical or Medieval era before you start thinking about conquest.
• Focus on establishing trade routes, especially for luxury resources. These are super important for keeping your cities happy and stable.
• Consider picking cultures that lean into early growth (like Agrarian or Builder types) to help you scale into the late game. Building wide (more cities) is often better than building tall (fewer, larger cities) to take advantage of this.
• Ultimately, your goal is to rack up as many Stars as possible to win the game.

Don't get too hung up on picking the 'perfect' culture right away. The most important thing is to understand how the AI bonuses work and to play smart, focusing on growth and stability early on. We'll get into specific culture recommendations in other guides, but for now, just pick something that sounds fun and dive in!