In Next Life: Stone Age Survival RPG Now Free on Steam

In Next Life offers a distinctive take on the survival genre by making each round represent an entire lifetime. You're born, grow up, and eventually die, only to start the cycle anew. Set in the Stone Age, you begin with nothing – no fire, no tools, no weapons. Step by step, you unlock your first technologies, and the key twist is that progress carries over into the next life, allowing you to keep using items you've already developed, such as a spear, and steadily push your civilization forward.

The game is built for co-op multiplayer, though solo play is possible. According to the developers, going it alone is far more challenging. As a baby, you rely on help from others. Later, as an adult, you can have children of your own, who are then controlled by other players. This creates a dynamic where cooperation isn't just encouraged – it's essential for survival and advancement.

In Next Life features a stylized 2D top-down design. The visuals are simple yet full of charm, with a clean aesthetic that keeps the focus on gameplay rather than flashy graphics. System requirements are modest – the game runs on 4 GB of RAM and an AMD Ryzen 3 processor or equivalent. It's also rated as "Playable" on the Steam Deck, making it accessible to a wide range of hardware configurations.

Players praise In Next Life for the variety generated by its life cycle system. No two rounds feel the same. In one life you might be a hunter, in the next a blacksmith or a mother raising several children. This variety keeps the experience fresh and encourages experimentation with different roles and strategies.

However, criticism centers on technical issues and the relatively small player base. Many servers remain empty or host only a handful of users. The game reaches its full potential only when played with a well-organized group. According to SteamDB, the current peak stands at just 61 concurrent players – a number that highlights the challenge of building a sustainable community for niche multiplayer games.

Since its official launch on February 11, the title has been free to play, a move that could help expand the community. During Early Access, it was priced at around $19, so this change removes the financial barrier for curious players. The question remains whether this pricing shift will be enough to attract a critical mass of players needed to make the cooperative experience truly shine.

For those interested in trying In Next Life, you can find it on Steam. The modest system requirements and current free-to-play status make it easy to jump in and experience this unique approach to survival gameplay, where each round isn't just a session – it's a complete lifetime.