No Man's Sky has come a long way since its 2016 launch, as each update has continued to bring fresh content to players, elevating the galaxy to even greater heights. The open-world space adventure may have had a rocky start, but No Man's Sky has evolved into a special sci-fi title that has a long life ahead of it.
When it comes to space travel in video games, No Man's Sky is one of the top offerings, but it's far from the only title that has attempted an exploration-focused sci-fi adventure. Bethesda's Starfield was released back in 2023, and since then, it's been a bumpy road for the RPG. Nearly two years in, Starfield has faced critiques of having an empty world and lacking an incentive to play after beating the main story. Granted, there are plenty of strong features to be found in Starfield, but with Bethesda's recent bout of silence regarding the game's future, many fans are currently left in the dark. One of the most compelling pieces of Starfield's world is the Crimson Fleet, the game's space pirate faction, and No Man's Sky could benefit from taking note of such a group.
No Man's Sky's July 2025 Update is Likely Just the Calm Before the Storm
No Man's Sky just got a major bug-fixing update, leaving plenty of room for the rest of the year to focus on even bigger things.
No Man's Sky's Own Version of the Crimson Fleet Could Introduce a Treasure Trove of Fun
Putting Control in Players' Hands
One of the biggest draws of No Man's Sky is that it puts player choice first. Players can explore the world as they see fit, and because of this, there isn't a dedicated morality system like RPGs like Starfield have. There are still plenty of ways that players can roleplay as space outlaws, as piracy is still very much possible in No Man's Sky, but actively adding a dedicated pirate faction could be an exciting way to shake up the game and its lore.
A Dedicated Pirate Faction Would Take No Man's Sky's Lively World to the Next Level
Over the years, No Man's Sky has added a long list of updates that have made its space exploration something truly unique. Both Starfield and No Man's Sky use procedural generation for its planets, but the latter's approach has resulted in more planetary diversity overall.
The mix of so many unique environments combined with a more in-depth system for roleplaying could be the key to kicking No Man's Sky up a notch. The game doesn't necessarily have to have a detailed morality system like Starfield does, but taking note of some of the Crimson Fleet's special perks could be a fun twist. For example, one of the biggest benefits of joining the Crimson Fleet in Starfield is that players get full access to The Key, a space station that serves as a black market.
No Man's Sky dabbling with these types of specific perks might bring even more depth to the game, but it may prove controversial, since the space adventure has managed just fine without a morality system for nearly ten years. However, it might be worth experimenting with, at the very least. Ultimately, No Man's Sky is defined by the freedom it allows, so moral-specific perks may be a step too far away from its free nature, but it's still a compelling idea.
Both Starfield and No Man's Sky use procedural generation for its planets, but the latter's approach has resulted in more planetary diversity overall.
No Man's Sky Continues to Be a Blueprint for In-Game Space Exploration
After successfully bouncing back from its controversial launch, No Man's Sky has become a hub for creativity. Starfield also features great mechanics that encourage player creativity, like base building and ship customization, but as Bethesda continues to stay silent, it's unclear if the game will have the same longevity as No Man's Sky.
Bethesda is confirmed to be at Gamescom next month, leading many to speculate that Starfield's next DLC or rumored PS5 port will finally be revealed.
No Man's Sky
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 71 /100 Critics Rec: 36%
- Released
- August 9, 2016
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Animated Blood
- Developer(s)
- Hello Games
- Publisher(s)
- Hello Games
WHERE TO PLAY
Lose yourself in a vast sci-fi odyssey as you explore a near-infinite, procedurally generated universe. Set out from the edge of the Euclid galaxy and carve out your own interstellar existence in a vast universe teeming with life, danger and near-endless mystery. No Man's Sky is a hugely-ambitious, heavily-stylised, sci-fi adventure that spans entire galaxies all brought to life with procedural generation. Travel through an endless array of increasingly diverse and dangerous star systems, prospecting for rare materials, trading with alien life, populate planets and searching for clues to the meaning of the universe's mysterious existence. How you survive is up to you. Assemble entire fleets of dreadnought-class freighters and tear across the universe; build sprawling habitable bases across planet surfaces, beneath the ground or under the ocean; buy and upgrade your own weapons and star ships and do battle with outlaw space pirates, hostile alien fauna or the mysterious sentinel fleets. The universe is yours to explore - trillions upon trillions of planets, waiting to be discovered.
