No Man's Sky
No Man's Sky is an action-adventure survival game set in a procedurally generated universe containing over 18 quintillion planets. Players explore star systems, gather resources, trade with alien species, and upgrade their equipment while following an overarching narrative involving a mysterious entity called the Atlas. The game is built around four pillars: exploration, survival, combat, and trading. Since its 2016 launch, it has received numerous free updates adding multiplayer, base building, fleet management, and virtual reality support.
What it feels like
The experience emphasizes awe and discovery before vast, strange, beautiful alien worlds and the infinite cosmos. The game invites reflection on existence and exploration through its solitary journey and mysterious narrative about the Atlas. Much of exploration is peaceful and unhurried, allowing players to simply observe and exist in alien landscapes.
What it's about
Near-future space exploration, alien species, advanced technology, and futuristic setting are the entire thematic framework. Sweeping interstellar adventure across diverse alien worlds and mysterious cosmic entities like the Atlas creates an epic scale. Enduring harsh alien environments, resource scarcity, and hostile creatures is a central gameplay challenge.
How it plays
Gathering, organizing, and budgeting limited resources for crafting, fuel, and upgrades is central to progression. Recipe-based crafting of equipment, ammunition, and consumables drives the survival and progression systems. Incrementally improving multi-tool, ship, and exosuit through blueprint discovery and material investment is a core progression path.
How it looks and sounds
The game is played from a first-person cockpit perspective in ships and first-person exploration on foot. While procedurally generated, the visual style targets realistic alien planets with atmospheric effects and natural lighting. Procedurally generated worlds often feature saturated, vibrant colors and exotic alien biomes as visual highlights.
How it's structured
The defining core of No Man's Sky is free exploration of an 18-quintillion-planet procedurally generated universe with non-linear progression and player-chosen objectives. Procedural generation of planets, star systems, creatures, and landscapes is fundamental to the game's infinite replayability and scope. Players traverse between planets, space, and landing zones without loading screens, creating a continuous explorable space.
Kindred games
Shares Open World, Science Fiction, First-Person, Seamless World.
Both lean into Open World, Science Fiction, First-Person, Seamless World.
Shares Open World, Science Fiction, Resource Management, First-Person.
Both lean into Open World, Science Fiction, Resource Management, Sandbox.
Shares Open World, Science Fiction, Survival Against Nature, First-Person.
Both lean into Science Fiction, Open World, Survival Against Nature, First-Person.
See all games like No Man's Sky →
Closest hidden gems
A lesser-known kindred — Open World, Sandbox, First-Person, Survival Against Nature. 88% positive across 4,765 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Open World, Sandbox, Single-Player, First-Person.
A lesser-known kindred — Open World, Survival Against Nature, Resource Management, Survival Needs. 85% positive across 4,314 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Open World, Single-Player, Survival Against Nature, Resource Management.
A lesser-known kindred — First-Person, Science Fiction, Space Opera, Gunplay. 91% positive across 4,914 Steam reviews.
Both lean into First-Person, Science Fiction, Space Opera, Single-Player.