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No Man's Sky

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Play OverviewPlay Overview

No Man's Sky (2016) is a space simulation about exploring endless planets and galaxies. It invites you to take your spaceship to explore and colonise a universe rich with diverse planets, creatures and fauna. Facing so vast a space is daunting at first, but a rhythm of survival, combat and trading draws you into a space drama of your own making. Choose a home planet and join other players to subdue the wilds of this breathtaking universe.

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 3 days ago.
Kids not old enough for this yet? There are lots of games similar to No Man's Sky. Here are some similar younger-rated games:

Play StylePlay Style

This is an Adventure game with Creative, Role-Play, Simulation and Traversal elements. You can play this by yourself or as a 4-player online game. You can play online with up to 8 people in your game on consoles and up to 32 players on PC. Of these players, you can play together directly in a party of 4.

Cross-Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC players can play together on different systems.

 
You can play this game in the following styles:

DurationDuration

Play Time: This game will take between 30 hours and 90 hours to complete.

BenefitsBenefits

This game is good if you want to:

 
This game has helped players develop their Disposition as part of the following pathways:

Age RatingsAge Ratings

Content Rating

Rated PEGI 12 for Moderate Violence. This game contains depictions of realistic-looking violence to fantasy characters. Players use both ranged and melee weapons to harm alien creatures. Green blood effects are shown on the impact of hits, with some smaller bug-like aliens bursting into green blood when killed. This game also features non-realistic violence to human-like characters. Players can attack other human-like players, which results in characters giving a small flinch in reaction to the violence. Players’ screens do flash and become red as they take more damage, but they take a long time to be killed. There is no injury detail shown on the players' space suits during or after combat. The game features pictures and sounds that younger viewers may find frightening. Some locations are set in dark space stations which play eerie and tense music in creature infested low light areas.
 
Users Interact: The game enables players to interact and communicate with each other, so may expose players to language usually associated with older rated games.

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:

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.

CostsCosts

No Man's Sky usually costs £39.99 to £49.99.
 

No Man's Sky

XBox Store Xbox X|S £39.99 Free

Xbox Game Pass

XBox Store Xbox One £39.99 Free

Xbox Game Pass

XBox Store PC £39.99 Free

Xbox Game Pass

Switch Store Switch £39.99
Switch Store Switch 2 £39.99
Steam Store PC £49.99
Steam Store Mac £49.99
PlayStation Store PS5 £39.99
PlayStation Store PS4 £39.99
There are the following additional costs associated with this game:
  • 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 
 
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
 

DetailsGame 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)


Taming Gaming Book Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships.

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