No Man's Sky Game Cover
No Man’s Sky is no doubt a magnificent feat in game development. I am left humbled by all that I have seen and intend on continuing my journey in an attempt to see as much as possible, well aware I will never see it all.

No Man's Sky is a vast, open-world space exploration game. Players can discover new planets, species, and galaxies while mining resources, upgrading their ships, and interacting with other players. The game's procedurally generated universe promises virtually endless exploration and unique experiences.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Virtual Reality
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Oculus Rift
  • Play​Station
  • Play​Station VR
  • Play​Station VR2
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 149,349 reviews
story3,564 positive mentions
grinding6,115 negative mentions
  • story20,445 mentions

    The story in "No Man's Sky" is often described as minimal and somewhat convoluted, primarily serving as a framework for gameplay rather than a central focus. While some players appreciate the lore and the philosophical themes woven into the narrative, many find the quests repetitive and lacking depth, often reduced to fetch tasks that can feel tedious. Despite these criticisms, the game's ongoing updates have expanded its story elements, introducing new missions and lore that keep players engaged in the vast universe, allowing for personal storytelling through exploration and creativity.

    • “The story is absolutely right up my alley, and all in all there is no other game like this one.”
    • “The storyline is amazing, the visuals are stunning, I would definitely recommend this game to anyone considering it.”
    • “The main story was honestly wonderful, especially the ending.”
    • “The story is absolutely right up my alley as well and all in all there is no other game like this one, but I think it's about time to follow through to the end with all the overhauls and stop trying to improve the way grass looks and instead focus on the legs and arms of the player character.”
    • “The main quest is bugged and will not let me progress any further primary missions, I've found literally hundreds of posts about the same issue spanning years and some posts spanning even days ago.”
    • “The story is very weak.”
  • gameplay12,918 mentions

    The gameplay of No Man's Sky has evolved significantly since its rocky launch, with numerous updates introducing new mechanics, features, and improvements that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the vast exploration opportunities, crafting, and base-building mechanics, although many find the core gameplay loop—centered around resource gathering and crafting—repetitive and lacking depth. While the game offers a visually stunning universe and a variety of activities, some players express frustration with bugs, clunky mechanics, and a sense of aimlessness in gameplay progression.

    • “The gameplay fills so many niches, from farming to combat, exploration to base building.”
    • “Loading screens are practically non-existent unless you're switching between solar systems, which keeps the gameplay immersive.”
    • “The continuous updates and new mechanics keep the game feeling fresh.”
    • “The gameplay is too tedious, turning space exploration into a series of chores.”
    • “Gameplay is very repetitive and the planets are super bland.”
    • “The core gameplay loop consists of running around planets mining and managing a cramped inventory which is very slow to upgrade.”
  • graphics9,051 mentions

    The graphics of "No Man's Sky" have received widespread praise for their vibrant and stunning visuals, showcasing a unique art style reminiscent of classic sci-fi aesthetics. Many players appreciate the continuous graphical updates that have significantly improved the game's visual fidelity since its launch, although some still report performance issues and graphical glitches, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, the game is celebrated for its immersive environments and the beauty of its procedurally generated worlds, making exploration a visually captivating experience.

    • “The graphics are beautiful, the planets are beautiful; even on low-end settings, you can never run out of amazing sceneries in this game.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, with vibrant colors and detailed environments that make each world feel alive.”
    • “The graphics have improved significantly, making the universe feel more vibrant and alive than ever before.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely horrendous, and there are constant lag spikes.”
    • “The graphics are very poor, even on a high-end machine.”
    • “The graphics are a complete disaster, with frequent pop-ins and low-quality textures.”
  • grinding6,291 mentions

    The grinding aspect of "No Man's Sky" is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as tedious and repetitive. While some enjoy the extensive resource gathering and crafting required to progress, others find the gameplay loop monotonous, often feeling like a chore rather than an engaging experience. Despite the grind, many players appreciate the game's vast exploration opportunities and the satisfaction that comes from building and upgrading their bases and ships, suggesting that enjoyment largely depends on individual preferences for grinding in games.

    • “There is pretty much no grinding at all, resources are abundant and there is so much to do.”
    • “Absolutely love the free roam aspects and the story is not grinding or even mandatory.”
    • “The game isn't as grindy as it was, it seems a lot more focused on exploration and discovery than grinding to get resources.”
    • “The gameplay is too tedious, turning space exploration into a series of chores.”
    • “Finding resources and trying to find a planet type is really tedious and very expensive, only just to get something cool you heard about or just one thing to progress a quest.”
    • “You go through the entire questline, enduring meaningless repetitive tasks, and your reward is that the game breaks all of your items (which requires 10 hours of grinding to fix) and dumps you in a foreign galaxy and planet that does not have the necessary resources for you to get out of said planet.”
  • optimization5,411 mentions

    The optimization of No Man's Sky has been a contentious topic among players, with many reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, frame rate drops, and crashes, particularly on PC. While some users with high-end systems have managed to achieve smooth gameplay, others have struggled even on capable rigs, leading to frustration and disappointment. Despite ongoing updates and improvements from the developers, the game is still perceived as poorly optimized, especially for AMD hardware, and many players recommend waiting for further patches before purchasing.

    • “I remember playing it with my at least 5-year-old laptop at the time with only low frame rate, so it is stunning how optimized the game is because that laptop doesn't have a real graphics card but some integrated thing.”
    • “This game is so beautiful, it's decently optimized, it really is an amazing experience that seems to only get even brighter and more refined over time.”
    • “The developers continue to release free updates, each adding new features, improving performance, and refining gameplay mechanics.”
    • “Atrocious optimization.”
    • “The graphics engine is not perfectly optimized, so even on a high-mid or low-high range PC you might still have some performance issues if you try to play it on the highest settings.”
    • “The only major flaw is that there are performance issues on PC compared to other platforms, especially when in VR.”
  • stability3,799 mentions

    The stability of "No Man's Sky" has been a significant point of contention among players, with many noting that the game remains buggy even years after its initial release. While some players report improved performance and fewer issues following updates, others continue to experience frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and frustrating bugs that can disrupt gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes. Overall, while the game has made strides in stability, it still suffers from a variety of technical problems that can detract from the experience.

    • “The game runs great, looks great, and the endless universe wows me.”
    • “It runs great, it feels great, everything about it is top tier.”
    • “Game runs great on my modern PC.”
    • “The multiplayer is buggy, and it feels tacked on to a game that never wanted multiplayer in the first place.”
    • “Game has the worst multiplayer experience you can ever imagine, 100% buggy mess. It's actually a pain and nuisance to do the multiplayer missions with people because of how buggy and glitchy it is.”
    • “The game is still filled with a lot of glitches and bugs. It is a bit buggy still, but they continue to make updates, so I don't expect those to last long.”
  • music1,836 mentions

    The music in "No Man's Sky" has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, primarily composed by the band 65daysofstatic. Players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the sense of exploration and wonder, with many describing it as beautiful, relaxing, and fitting for the game's expansive universe. However, some users noted that the music can become repetitive over time, leading them to prefer listening to their own playlists while playing. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as one of the game's standout features, contributing significantly to the overall experience.

    • “The soundtrack, composed by 65daysofstatic, is a masterpiece that enhances the sense of wonder and exploration.”
    • “The music is beautiful and makes sense for what the game is about.”
    • “The ambient music perfectly complements the vastness of space, enhancing the overall immersion and making your journey even more memorable.”
    • “The music is very bad though and should be changed or muted.”
    • “The music seemed to be just some synth noises and at one point completely corrupted to the point I had to take the headphones off until the game loaded and I could turn the music off in the options screen.”
    • “The music, while initially interesting, becomes rather aggravating and just as repetitive as the gameplay itself.”
  • atmosphere1,626 mentions

    The atmosphere in "No Man's Sky" is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and the sense of wonder it evokes during exploration. Players appreciate the seamless transitions between space and planetary atmospheres, which enhance the feeling of adventure and discovery. However, some critiques mention that while the game offers a beautiful and atmospheric experience, it can become repetitive, with many planets feeling similar despite their unique atmospheric conditions. Overall, the game is celebrated for its relaxing and captivating atmosphere, making it a favorite for those who enjoy exploration and sci-fi settings.

    • “From vivid colors to bizarre creatures and landscapes, the game manages to create a deeply immersive and mesmerizing atmosphere that will keep you enthralled for hours.”
    • “The atmosphere and music are very calming.”
    • “There's something deeply satisfying about launching your starship off a planet's surface, blasting through the atmosphere into an alien starfield, and engaging your FTL drive to explore a system no other player has ever seen.”
    • “The in-atmosphere flying mechanics in this game are terrible.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is far too quiet, nothing is going on, which just makes it really dull.”
    • “Every planet looks gorgeous and the new art direction (photo-realism) gives an entirely different atmosphere.”
  • monetization750 mentions

    The monetization model of "No Man's Sky" has been widely praised for its absence of microtransactions, paid DLC, or subscription fees, which is a refreshing change in an industry often criticized for exploitative practices. Players appreciate the commitment from Hello Games to provide continuous free updates and content expansions, emphasizing that everything in the game can be earned through gameplay rather than purchased. This approach has contributed to a positive perception of the game, especially in contrast to other titles that rely heavily on monetization strategies.

    • “Absolutely stunning game, zero microtransactions, tons and tons of content and experiences.”
    • “No microtransactions, everything is earnable and free, and it is very easy to sink a lot of time into this game and just relax, no matter what game genre you primarily play.”
    • “The fact that the game is still being supported with free content 2 years after release is even more amazing for a game that doesn't have microtransactions.”
    • “The game is a cash grab.”
    • “This game started off rocky with what looked like a slew of broken promises and a quick cash grab agenda.”
    • “The continued advertisement of the game using material that clearly misrepresents what's actually in the game boggles the mind.”
  • humor680 mentions

    The humor in "No Man's Sky" is often derived from its quirky, procedurally generated creatures and the absurdity of various gameplay glitches, which players find both amusing and frustrating. Many reviews highlight the game's evolution from a disappointing launch to a more enjoyable experience, with players frequently sharing funny names for planets and creatures, as well as recounting humorous interactions with the game's alien NPCs. Overall, while the game has its share of bugs and repetitive elements, the lighthearted moments and unexpected comedic scenarios contribute to its charm.

    • “Just pack extra inventory slots… and a good sense of humor.”
    • “The sheer scale of everything is mesmerizing and the interactions with the other aliens are just hilarious.”
    • “I enjoy the game's mechanics and the storyline, along with laughing at the strange procedurally generated animals.”
    • “This is a good game but there are so many bugs it’s not funny. It’s very annoying seeing all your work you put into a base all messed up because of an update. I would recommend this game, but I wouldn’t pay full price just because of the sheer amount of things wrong with it at this point. I really hope they fix it soon; if it was fixed, this would be a top-tier exploring game for sure.”
    • “Too many bugs, not funny bugs, the kind of bugs that drive you crazy.”
    • “I've died so many times in the game it's not funny.”
  • replayability504 mentions

    The replayability of No Man's Sky is widely regarded as exceptional, with many players praising its procedurally generated universe that offers near-infinite exploration opportunities. While some users note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, the continuous updates and new content keep the experience fresh and engaging, especially in multiplayer settings. Overall, the game is seen as highly replayable, appealing to those who enjoy sandbox-style exploration and base-building.

    • “The game has good replayability because it's really unlikely that you'll encounter the same star systems and planets again by accident.”
    • “Infinitely replayable -- I'm still finding new things after 1,000+ hours of gameplay.”
    • “The procedural nature of this game means that there's always new places to explore and different quests you can go on, whether solo or with a party.”
    • “There is no replay value after a certain point, which is ironic because somehow that point is supposed to make the game infinitely playable.”
    • “It could have been one of the best games of the decade with all the things you could have done in it; instead, it's just a grindy 'what could have been' with 0 replay value after a thorough gameplay.”
    • “The one thing I would criticize would be its replayability, as there's only so much procedural generation can do before repeats start occurring.”
  • emotional368 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "No Man's Sky" elicits a wide range of responses from players, with many expressing feelings of loneliness and isolation, while others find the game to be a deeply moving experience filled with wonder and nostalgia. The game's evolving narrative and community support have led to emotional connections, with some players reporting moments of genuine sadness and joy, particularly in relation to the game's soundtrack and visual beauty. However, critiques also highlight a lack of depth in character interactions and storylines, leaving some players feeling emotionally detached despite the game's potential for exploration and discovery.

    • “It was the first time I cried so miserably since I became aware of my emotions.”
    • “The story is compelling, thought-provoking, and shockingly emotional.”
    • “Reaching the center of the galaxy in permadeath mode was one of the most intense and emotional experiences of all my gaming history.”
    • “Basically, most of the game's cool features are locked behind a very boring story.”
    • “These guys built a really neat universe and then ruined it with maybe the most boring storyline ever.”
    • “Boring story that loses itself in innuendo and ambiguity; it seemed to me they were trying to play on a particular theme, but it was just left unexplored with no specific target in mind.”
  • character development36 mentions

    Character development in the game is largely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, with many players noting the absence of meaningful backstory or progression options. While some appreciate the character design and customization, the overall sentiment is that the game prioritizes exploration and crafting over narrative and character growth. Players seeking a rich story or intricate character arcs may find the experience disappointing, as it often feels repetitive and shallow in terms of character engagement.

    • “A great game for exploration, base building, and character development.”
    • “With a renaissance of gaming coming on, this game hits the mark on every level: building, character development, and exploration whether it is alone or with others.”
    • “Each task you do gives another way to learn needed skills and character development.”
    • “Bought the game before realizing the only character development options were variations of a faceless and non-gendered astronaut costume that you had to live in for the rest of your game life.”
    • “Zero character development or backstory.”
    • “The controls are cheap, the animation is cheap, the character development is... non-existent really.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

22hMedian play time
85hAverage play time
30hMain story
151hCompletionist
7-72hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2,389 analyzed playthroughs

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