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Play Overview
You can play No Man's Sky in an optional VR mode, with several different options for comfort and movement.
Our examiner, Goran Wallgren, first checked No Man's Sky 5 years ago. It was re-examined by Ollie Robertson and updated 9 days ago.
Play Style
Cross-Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC players can play together on different systems.
You can play this game in the following styles:
Benefits
This game is good if you want to:
- Play with DualSense on PlayStation 5
- Speak freely to other players
- Practice photography
- Play unusual games with your family
- Play a game then read a book
- Play in VR
This game has helped players develop their Disposition as part of the following pathways:
Age Ratings
Rated for younger players in Australia. Rated Parental Guidance (PG) for Violence, Mild Science Fiction Themes.
Skill Level
12+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. The huge open world is the skill challenge here. You need to have the skill and maturity to explore and find your own fun. Along with this, there is the management of resources, navigation and dealing with other players.
Our Game Pathways reveal how 38-year-olds play this game:
- 38-year-old: Embracing Aloneness At Edinburgh Fringe
Account Rating
- You need be 18-years-old to to subscribe to Xbox Live Gold for online play, but can then configure family accounts for younger players to play online with Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S.
- You need be 18-years-old to subscribe to Nintendo Online, but can then create accounts for children of any age to play online with Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2.
- You need be 18-years-old to subscribe to PlayStation Plus for online play, but can create sub-accounts for younger players of 7-years or older to play online with PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5.
Costs
No Man's Sky
![]() | Xbox X|S | £39.99 | – | Free Xbox Game Pass |
![]() | Xbox One | £39.99 | – | Free Xbox Game Pass |
![]() | PC | £39.99 | – | Free Xbox Game Pass |
![]() | Switch | £39.99 | – | – |
![]() | Switch 2 | £39.99 | – | – |
![]() | PC | £49.99 | – | – |
![]() | Mac | £49.99 | – | – |
![]() | PS5 | £39.99 | – | – |
![]() | PS4 | £39.99 | – | – |
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You need a subscription to play online:
- You need to purchase a Nintendo Online subscription to play online with Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2.
- You need to purchase a PlayStation Plus subscription to play online with PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5.
- You need to purchase a Xbox Live Gold subscription to play online with Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S.
After its initial release, No Man's Sky: received a series of enhancements:
- Foundation (2016) – Base building, freighters, survival/creative modes
- Pathfinder (2017) – Land vehicles, ship/weapon classes, base sharing
- Atlas Rises (2017) – New storyline, limited multiplayer, improved visuals
- NEXT (2018) – Full multiplayer, third-person view, enhanced base building
- The Abyss (2018) – Underwater exploration, aquatic biomes, submarine base modules
- Visions (2018) – New biomes, exotic fauna/flora, trophies and salvageables
- Beyond (2019) – VR support, expanded multiplayer (Nexus hub), industrial bases
- Synthesis (2019) – Inventory management overhaul, ship upgrades, quality of life improvements
- Living Ship (2020) – Organic spacecraft, new missions, unique ship progression
- Exo Mech (2020) – Pilotable mechs for traversal and combat
- Desolation (2020) – Derelict freighters, horror elements, looting mechanics
- Origins (2020) – Planetary diversity expansion, extreme weather, active volcanoes
- Next Generation (2020) – Next-gen console support, improved visuals, faster loading
- Companions (2021) – Adopt and train alien pets, genetics system
- Expeditions (2021) – Seasonal gameplay with shared objectives and rewards
- Prisms (2021) – Visual overhaul: lighting, textures, creature detail
- Frontiers (2021) – Settlements, base-building overhaul, NPC community simulation
- Sentinel (2022) – Combat update, new enemy types, Sentinel mech companion
- Outlaws (2022) – Space piracy, smuggling, outlaw systems, new missions
- Endurance (2022) – Freighter base building overhaul, space cloud visuals
- Waypoint (2022) – Custom game modes, inventory system revamp, progression streamlining
- Fractal (2023) – VR improvements, new expedition, accessibility options
- Interceptor (2023) – Corrupted planets, Sentinel interceptor ships
- Echoes (2023) – Robotic alien race, expanded story and pirate battles
- Omega (2024) – Expeditions with existing saves, new expedition storyline
- Orbital (2024) – Space station overhaul, ship customization, new mission types
- Worlds Part I (2024) – Planet generation overhaul, dynamic weather systems
- Aquarius (2024) – Fishing mechanics, aquatic life rework, oceanic missions
- The Cursed (2024) – Horror themes, cursed worlds, atmospheric tension
- Worlds Part II (2024) – Gas giants, planetary system creation tools
- Relics (2025) – Archaeology gameplay, fossil hunting, ancient tech
- Beacon (2025) – City-building features, Switch 2 support, community hubs
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Game Details
Release Date: 10/08/2016, updated in 2025
Out Now: Mac, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One and Xbox X|S
Skill Rating: 12+ year-olds
Players: 1 (4 online)
Genres: Adventure (Creative, Role-Play, Simulation and Traversal)
Accessibility: 23 features
Components: 3D First-Person, Day and Night, Open World, Persistant World and Weather
Developer: Hello Games (@HelloGames)