Rated Excellent Based on 488 Reviews
The launch of No Man's Sky was not a success. It shipped as a procedurally generated simulator, missing many of its promised features. Hello Games' promises of rich planets, complex lifeforms and endless possibilities were not fulfilled.
After 15 major updates and five years, all the missing features have been added and No Man's Sky is now a rich, captivating universe. It is, in my opinion, the best space exploration game you can play. 2021 is the perfect time to give it another chance.
No Man's Sky received a second Expedition update recently titled Beachhead. Hello Games' solution to battlepasses and DLC, Expeditions are available for free. Each Expedition lasts for two weeks and provides a story path that allows you to accomplish objectives, earn rewards and explore the galaxy.
If you are anything like me, and have spent an inordinate amount of time building complex bases and conquering other planets, don't worry. No Man's Sky is not without its faults. Expeditions will launch you as a new character, with a few upgrades to help speed things up. All of the Expeditions rewards, which are primarily cosmetic in nature, can be claimed from any saved file. Expeditions are a way to breathe new life into No Man's Sky.
The game and its rules to generate procedurally generated universes, from launch to the latest patch of No Man's Sky have greatly diversified. Beyond, Next and Origins are the major updates to this game. They each introduce a new story experience, multiplayer stability and make some important changes to planets and fauna diversity.
These content drops place No Man's Sky above other space experiences such as Elite Dangerous and Star Citizen, which I find to be a bit lackluster. Star Citizen is a space game that has been in development for almost the same time as No Man's Sky. However, it offers very little story and focuses on isolated galaxies and ships. While space games have made many grand promises about an endgame that would redefine the genre, few have actually delivered.
Many space explorers will tell their story is not what the developer tells them, but the story you create. However, to make something your own, you must be able interact with it or at the very least understand it. Before No Man's Sky, space game developers didn't prioritize making games that were easy to use and simple to learn.
Space games can be difficult to enter due to their complicated controls and mechanics, heavy system requirements and poor gameplay. There are also secondary barriers like the price and pre-existing knowledge. Star Citizen charges high prices for almost everything. Ships can vary from $50 to $800 USD. The global market is also influenced by real money. This adds another layer to the puzzle of the game. Space Engineers is a simulation of Minecraft, but it takes a good deal of engineering and physics knowledge.
No Man's Sky does not place barriers in front its players to make them appear authentic or hardcore. There's no need to mess with poor UI, pay taxes, or buy a new computer. You can have fun with it, and it starts as soon as you get it.
Space games are available for all levels of interest, so there is something for everyone. No Man's Sky is however the best option for those who are looking to get into the space game genre.
No Man's Sky is not a perfect game. It still has many bugs and glitches, ranging from minor glitches to major game-breaking crashes. There are some mechanical flaws like the many exploits players can use to duplicate materials and flood galactic markets. Even with these issues No Man's Sky is, in my opinion, the most accessible and complete space exploration and game available.
