GamesSurvival & CraftingOnce HumanHere’s what the number on your backpack means in Once HumanWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesSurvival & CraftingOnce HumanHere’s what the number on your backpack means in Once HumanWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Starry Studio)

Working out exactly what thebackpack numbermeans inOnce Humanmight take you a little while. It’s kind of unnerving the first time your rucksack—or Cradle as the game calls it—starts beeping and displaying a steadily climbing number. Usually, a counter like this would represent your proximity to something important, perhaps even a hidden treasure.
In Once Human, however, it’s more like when the radiation sensor on your Pip-Boy in a Fallout game starts going off: big numbers and lots of sound means stop and turn around. If you’re just starting out for the first time, you might want some helpchanging worldsor someOnce Human codesfor free stuff, but otherwise, here’s that number on your backpack explained.
So what does the backpack number in Once Human mean?
Image1of4Green means you’re protected(Image credit: Starry Studio)Amber means your health and sanity are being reduced slightly(Image credit: Starry Studio)Red means your health and sanity are taking a massive hit(Image credit: Starry Studio)Equip gear with better Pollution Resist to explore heavily polluted areas(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Image1of4Green means you’re protected(Image credit: Starry Studio)Amber means your health and sanity are being reduced slightly(Image credit: Starry Studio)Red means your health and sanity are taking a massive hit(Image credit: Starry Studio)Equip gear with better Pollution Resist to explore heavily polluted areas(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Image1of4
Green means you’re protected(Image credit: Starry Studio)Amber means your health and sanity are being reduced slightly(Image credit: Starry Studio)Red means your health and sanity are taking a massive hit(Image credit: Starry Studio)Equip gear with better Pollution Resist to explore heavily polluted areas(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Green means you’re protected(Image credit: Starry Studio)Amber means your health and sanity are being reduced slightly(Image credit: Starry Studio)Red means your health and sanity are taking a massive hit(Image credit: Starry Studio)Equip gear with better Pollution Resist to explore heavily polluted areas(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Green means you’re protected(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Green means you’re protected(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Green means you’re protected(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Green means you’re protected(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Green means you’re protected(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Amber means your health and sanity are being reduced slightly(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Amber means your health and sanity are being reduced slightly(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Amber means your health and sanity are being reduced slightly(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Amber means your health and sanity are being reduced slightly(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Amber means your health and sanity are being reduced slightly(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Red means your health and sanity are taking a massive hit(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Red means your health and sanity are taking a massive hit(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Red means your health and sanity are taking a massive hit(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Red means your health and sanity are taking a massive hit(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Red means your health and sanity are taking a massive hit(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Equip gear with better Pollution Resist to explore heavily polluted areas(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Equip gear with better Pollution Resist to explore heavily polluted areas(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Equip gear with better Pollution Resist to explore heavily polluted areas(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Equip gear with better Pollution Resist to explore heavily polluted areas(Image credit: Starry Studio)
Equip gear with better Pollution Resist to explore heavily polluted areas(Image credit: Starry Studio)
There are three colour levels of Stardust pollution severity. Here’s what each means:
If you want to see this in action, simply unequip your gear in a polluted area. Since gear provides the pollution resist stat, removing it will often take you down to amber or red level. So, what can you do to stave off pollution? Simplyfind and equip gear with decent pollution resiststats and make sure to keep it repaired. As you find more heavily polluted areas later in the game, you’ll need even better gear to be able to tackle them.
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