No Man's Sky cover art
Deer PickAdventureArcadeIndieShooterSimulator

No Man's Sky

Released
August 9, 2016
Developer
Hello Games
Publisher
505 Games, Hello Games, Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • Mac
  • Nintendo Switch 2
  • Oculus Rift
  • PC (Microsoft Windows)
  • PlayStation 4
  • PlayStation 5
  • PlayStation VR
  • PlayStation VR2
  • SteamVR
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
Read Our Review

Deer Verdict

9.0/10

Overview

Everything you need to know about No Man's Sky.

No Man's Sky is an action-adventure survival game set in a procedurally generated universe containing over 18 quintillion planets. Players explore star systems, gather resources, trade with alien species, and upgrade their equipment while following an overarching narrative involving a mysterious entity called the Atlas. The game is built around four pillars: exploration, survival, combat, and trading. Since its 2016 launch, it has received numerous free updates adding multiplayer, base building, fleet management, and virtual reality support.

Story

A Traveller wakes on a remote planet with amnesia and must repair their crashed starship. Compelled by an unknown force to reach the centre of the galaxy, the Traveller encounters three alien species and discovers a space anomaly housing two beings, Nada and Polo, who speak of a strange entity at the galaxy's core. Along the way, the Traveller receives transmissions from another lost Traveller named Artemis, investigates their fate, and ultimately comes face to face with the Atlas, a cosmic being managing a simulated universe. The Traveller must choose whether to reset the simulation or reject the Atlas and continue exploring freely.

Screenshots

Expansions & DLC

1 DLC for No Man's Sky.

Gamer Deer Review

Our honest take, straight from the mountains.

Four explorers in spacesuits stand on a colourful alien plain beneath a floating crystal shape, with pink alien trees and starships in the sky
Deer Verdict9.0/10
No Man's Sky: What a Ride!

Reviewed October 2, 2026

No Man's Sky grew from a troubled 2016 launch into the ultimate space sandbox. Huge free updates, 18 quintillion procedurally generated planets and endless ways to play make it a must for space adventure fans, even if its NPCs still feel lifeless.

  • A near limitless sandbox where you choose your own role
  • Over 18 quintillion procedurally generated planets across 256 galaxies
  • Huge free updates since launch, with no microtransactions
  • NPCs are still lifeless
  • The game explains little, so the early hours can feel lost
  • Inventory and crafting menus can be fiddly

You should buy this if:

You love space adventure and want a sandbox where you decide what to do, whether that is exploring, building, trading, fighting or just relaxing. If you need a tightly scripted story or a game that guides you step by step, this may not be for you.

The Herd's Verdict

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