No Man's Sky

 PlayStation 4
User Score
4.8

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 5473 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,123 out of 5473
  2. Mixed: 648 out of 5473
  3. Negative: 2,702 out of 5473
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  1. Critical_Fun
    Aug 17, 2016
    8
    This game is not for everyone. For instance, if you're a moron with no imagination that requires their hand held through every moment of a game and needs explosions every 4 seconds to hold your attention, then DO NOT get this game. If you like space and exploring, this is a good game for you. It has more of a sandbox feel than most games. I'm not sure why we need to reach the center ofThis game is not for everyone. For instance, if you're a moron with no imagination that requires their hand held through every moment of a game and needs explosions every 4 seconds to hold your attention, then DO NOT get this game. If you like space and exploring, this is a good game for you. It has more of a sandbox feel than most games. I'm not sure why we need to reach the center of the galaxy and I doubt I ever will. That's just not what the game is about to me.… Expand
  2. Yautja_Warrior
    Aug 13, 2016
    8
    NMS is not going to be for everyone and isn't perfect but if you like Space Trading games like Elite or Crafting games, then its a pretty decent game.

    I enjoyed Elite a lot and this is very similar in some ways, although not as complex but that makes it easy to pick up and play. There is plenty to do, from discovering Planets, Moons, Plant Life, Aliens (even renaming them if you like)    NMS is not going to be for everyone and isn't perfect but if you like Space Trading games like Elite or Crafting games, then its a pretty decent game.

    I enjoyed Elite a lot and this is very similar in some ways, although not as complex but that makes it easy to pick up and play. There is plenty to do, from discovering Planets, Moons, Plant Life, Aliens (even renaming them if you like) to learning alien languages and upgrading your Spacesuit, Weapons and Spaceship.

    Item management can be a little annoying at the start but once you get upgrades and more inventory slots it stops being a problem. Space travel is really cool and can literally take hours (real time) unless you have a warp drive, which will cut that down to minutes depending on the distance, similar to Elite: Dangerous.

    It can get a little repetitive in places so its good to mix up what you do but its also strangely addictive, making me want to keep playing to see whats at the centre of the universe.    … Expand
  3. cfry91
    Aug 18, 2016
    8
    After about 20 hours of gameplay, it's safe to say that while the game was extremely overhyped (sort of Sony's fault), this game is still amazingly fun, IF you go in not with the overblown expectations of what it could be. Plain and simple, the game focuses on collecting material, upgrading, and doing it all over again. Does it look like what was originally shown? No. Not too many gamesAfter about 20 hours of gameplay, it's safe to say that while the game was extremely overhyped (sort of Sony's fault), this game is still amazingly fun, IF you go in not with the overblown expectations of what it could be. Plain and simple, the game focuses on collecting material, upgrading, and doing it all over again. Does it look like what was originally shown? No. Not too many games ever do (there are exceptions). The fact that a 15 man team made this though is amazing.

    I personally am playing the game in a way where I do explore planets, I do collect material, scan plants and animals, but I also am after the lore of the game and chasing The Atlas (whatever it is). It all depends how you play the game.

    Don't go into this game thinking it is some big shooter, space flight, massive online game. It's a single-player, massive universe, collection game with a lore that you can choose to follow. Take the time to enjoy the planets and relax and you will find enjoyment out of it. Just maybe not what you were thinking.

    The fact that Hello Games plans to support this for a while is nice. They have updates in the works to add more, so I feel this will be a bit like Minecraft in the sense where more and more options and gameplay elements will be implemented. The game will build itself over time, you just have to give it that time.    … Expand
  4. rckstrdave
    Aug 16, 2016
    8
    Standing on a small alien moon, orange grass swishing about your feet, you gaze up at a giant purple planet rising over a green horizon. A pink dinosaur-donkey-marmot grazes by your spaceship a few yards away. A yellow cougar-turtle-mantis dashes into a grove of giant blue mushrooms. In the distance, bright neon stalactites and giant crystals peak out of a cave entrance in the wall of aStanding on a small alien moon, orange grass swishing about your feet, you gaze up at a giant purple planet rising over a green horizon. A pink dinosaur-donkey-marmot grazes by your spaceship a few yards away. A yellow cougar-turtle-mantis dashes into a grove of giant blue mushrooms. In the distance, bright neon stalactites and giant crystals peak out of a cave entrance in the wall of a massive crater. The shadow of a pterodactyl-vulture-snake flying overhead crosses the meadow, and you decide to blast off into space to see what other places you might discover.

    No Man's Sky is all about these kind of moments, of creating your own purpose and story, in the context of wherever you happen to be in the galaxy.

    Some will only see a game that could have been other things, or a game that is missing things. Some will only see the twitchy draw distance, wonky UI, and the mechanics behind the procedural generation. They will hate this game, some passionately. They will bombard review sites with multiple bad reviews, trying desperately to bury a game that wasn't made for them, they don't understand and can't enjoy.

    Others will understand. It's not a game about thrills and cliffhangers, scripted events, and handholding like Uncharted or Mass Effect. It's not about chatting with your buddies over the headset, moving up the leaderboards, or buying the coolest looking armor to show off to your teammates, like Call of Duty or Destiny.

    This game is about going off, completely and utterly alone, and finding your own way in the unknown. It's about struggling, journeying, and observing.

    It's flawed, buggy, and wonky (at launch, with the promise of lots of updates from the developers). It's also beautiful, breathtaking, and addictive. To some, anyway. To others, it's an ugly, pointless, overhyped, boring mess. You will probably either fall into one camp or the other. Lucky if you can enjoy it, pity if you can't.    … Expand
  5. EyesofWrath
    Aug 18, 2017
    8
    No Man's Sky is an indie space exploration and survival game that, for the first time in my knowledge, gives the player the experience of being more than just a pilot, but a true explorer of worlds. Travel between planets is seamless from surface to surface. The visual style is simple but gorgeous, and the thrill of touching down on a new planet for the first time and exploring theNo Man's Sky is an indie space exploration and survival game that, for the first time in my knowledge, gives the player the experience of being more than just a pilot, but a true explorer of worlds. Travel between planets is seamless from surface to surface. The visual style is simple but gorgeous, and the thrill of touching down on a new planet for the first time and exploring the beautiful, immense diversity of it all is truly thrilling to me. I completely avoided the fiasco of No Man's Sky's promotional trail/release by simply not caring about the game. The fantastic review by hbomberguy alerted me to a niche appeal and piqued my interest, and I just bought it for a tenner in the PSN's fantastic Summer Sale. For three days I've binged it nearly non-stop, both alone and with my gf, who is enjoying the experience of exploration and discovery as much as I am.

    I’ve found planets with vast lakes and squidgy terrain, ‘paradise planets’ with green skies and green rivers that run through deep canyons, desolate moon-like planets with tall mountains and a palpable sense of loneliness, mushroom planets with toxic atmospheres, and barren planets with little to see or do besides mine the abundant outcrops of valuable minerals. I’ve seen creatures enormous, tiny, cute, and horrifying. I’ve seen haunting monuments to civilizations long-dead half-buried in the middle of nowhere, and bizarre arcing bands of shining minerals streaking out of the ground. I’ve seen soaring peaks and deep ravines and scorched, featureless plains, and strange floating islands peppering twisted purple landscapes. I’ve been hunted through snowy forests by predators that make my skin crawl, and fought off pirates in asteroid belts above the looming spectres of ocean planets. I’m a couple of dozen hours in and while there is a certain definite degree of repetition in aspects of the worlds I’ve been to (because this is an indie game made by a small team of human devs and not the Holy Grail made by Jesus Christ himself), I’ve not lost the sense of wonder when first setting foot on a new planet. I have no doubt that there will be a point where I feel as if I’m just going through the motions, but I haven’t hit that point yet, and for £10 I certainly feel like I’ve got value for my money. I’m also certain that I’ll pick the game up again after I’m done with it for the first time, as there is simply so much to see, not to mention the fact that Hello Games keep adding content for free and thereby increasing the amount available for people to do.

    If a game about chilled and contemplative exploration and discovery doesn't sound like your cup of tea, then nothing Hello Games did or didn't do will make you like this game. But if the idea of touching down on an alien moon, the other planets in the system looming in the sky like ghosts, an endless expanse of terrain unexplored stretching in front of you, terrain that no human may ever lay eyes on again, if this sounds exciting, then I highly recommend getting the game. Many of the complaints in the most helpful reviews here have been addressed and fixed. The PS4 version is currently the most stable, and it's only getting better from here.    … Expand
  6. Jasonq76
    Aug 15, 2016
    8
    It's basically the ambient music of video games. It's one where I feel like I can just be and not have to constantly be on my toes. I think once the folks who demand action and at least some violence in their games move on and people with open minds and less expectations get on board it will come into it's own as what I think is a first step towards new, expansive, open ended games moreIt's basically the ambient music of video games. It's one where I feel like I can just be and not have to constantly be on my toes. I think once the folks who demand action and at least some violence in their games move on and people with open minds and less expectations get on board it will come into it's own as what I think is a first step towards new, expansive, open ended games more focused on exploration and atmosphere and less on goal and skill oriented gaming. The way the game feels when I leave atmosphere and get out into space or breach atmosphere and land still continues to feel liberating, like "finally I am free to explore the Universe." It comes from a deep place. The smoothness of the transition is impressive. Other games where you would travel to and land on a planet you have loading screens in between outer space, orbit, landing/taking off. Games like Destiny or any Mass Effect. In No Man's Sky the effect is seamless and it's beautiful.… Expand
  7. HatakeKakashi55
    Aug 10, 2016
    8
    This is the first review I have ever written on Metacritic, and I feel that with all of the hype and controversy surrounding No Man's Sky, it is a good place to start. Let me simply begin by stating that I intend to be completely honest with this review. Contrary to the multitude of extremely negative reviews, this game is NOT a bad game. It is by no means perfect, and has a multitude ofThis is the first review I have ever written on Metacritic, and I feel that with all of the hype and controversy surrounding No Man's Sky, it is a good place to start. Let me simply begin by stating that I intend to be completely honest with this review. Contrary to the multitude of extremely negative reviews, this game is NOT a bad game. It is by no means perfect, and has a multitude of flaws, however, overall it is a fun and unique experience unlike anything currently on the market. The biggest problem with the game is not the game in and of itself, but more so the way that the game was perceived by the gaming community. When No Man's Sky was first introduced to the public several years ago, hype went through the roof. The beautiful setting, a promise of billions of varied planets, and new and unique game elements such as naming discovered planets and creatures as well as seamless planet surface to orbit spaceship travel all seemed too good to be true. While the trailer did an excellent job of amazing us, it was also rather vague and mysterious. This led to people interpreting the game in all sorts of different ways. Some people imagined massive planetary shoot-outs. Others imagined roaming the stars with friends. Some imagined encountering massive alien cities and deep, complex character side quests within these cities. Because of an initial lack of clarification with what this game actually was meant to be... this game became all things to all people, and our expectations exceeded what was ever even possible or meant to be. Hello Games did try to tone down the hype, explaining that their would be no giant cities, multiplayer would be nigh impossible, and procedural generation would prevent any "scripted" story line. However, this came a bit late, and at this point people's imaginations had taken over. No Man's Sky had become more than an upcoming game, it had become an idea. The idea that a small studio, which actually cared about it's fans, could create a masterpiece that would out-do even the richest of AAA developers. A game that would have everything. A game that would redefine gaming as we know it. Their was no way that this game could ever live up to such lofty expectations, and now fans are faced with the reality that this wasn't the game that "they" as individuals had imagined. While Hello Games tried to tone down the hype and explain that this was primarily an exploration game, people already had their own views of what this game "would and should be" stuck in their heads. When I began playing, I too had my lofty expectations. I really did hope for an infinite space Skyrim/ Minecraft of sorts. However, when I was able to take a step back, and play this game the way that developers had intended for me to play it, rather than the way I had imagined it would be, I found that the game was actually rather good. It may not have been what I wanted or expected, but that didn't mean it was bad. I enjoy being able to go down to a planet and not know what to expect. When you do find other intelligent species (NPC's) scattered sparsely throughout the galaxy it's a cool and rewarding experience. Their are A LOT of things to do, some more in depth than others. The complaint that their isn't enough to do is a rather silly one in my opinion. I've spent hours of fun exploring just one planet, and never getting bored. I've searched caves for rare materials, looked for outposts where I've come across some very interesting NPC scientists, found a distress signal pointing to ruins of an ancient civilization, searched ancient glyphs to learn a new alien language, found chests filled with ship, suit, and weapon upgrade blueprints, documented mushroom deer, come across outposts that had been abandoned hastily in response to what appeared to be experiments gone wrong, Found giant Alien Monoliths which have... done.... something.... cool? and more. And that was all on one planet. This game may not be what you imagined, but it is not bad. Not bad at all. So for now, I'll be drifting among the stars looking for my next planetary adventure.… Expand
  8. BubaMan
    Aug 12, 2016
    8
    Not perfect but it's certainly not a bad game...
    A lot of the negative scores on here are from idiots who bought into the hype which the game ultimately didn't live up to. The game delivers on what it set out to, back before Sony's media machine changed this from a £20 Indie into a £50 AAA.
    Look and feel: The ultra-colourful 70s style sci-fi art and explorative theme are a breath of    Not perfect but it's certainly not a bad game...
    A lot of the negative scores on here are from idiots who bought into the hype which the game ultimately didn't live up to. The game delivers on what it set out to, back before Sony's media machine changed this from a £20 Indie into a £50 AAA.

    Look and feel: The ultra-colourful 70s style sci-fi art and explorative theme are a breath of fresh air after all the moodily lit dystopian shooters that have hit the console since its launch.
    There are some graphical quirks when coming down onto the planet and some of the textures look low-res up-close but based on the fact that these are procedurally generated, they should be forgiven.
    The soundtrack complements the game well and the sound effects work well.

    Gameplay: The exploration of new worlds is an incredible experience to start with but does become a little repeatative after 20 or so worlds. Also, the variances in their algorythms begin to get stretched at the same marker, as the flora & fauna begin to look a little familiar.
    Shooting on the ground isn't great and not loads better in the skies but it's not the reason for playing this game...
    Trading & building your language skills is strangely compelling as you move from system to system but the inventory system is a patch or two away from being workable.

    Summary: If you're open to new experiences and have a penchant for 70's sci-fi, you'll love it... If you want a solid space shoot-em-up with a strong story line, Destiny may be more your thing.    … Expand
  9. Ex2bot
    Aug 14, 2016
    8
    If you love games about space, if you love to explore and if you don't really need your hand held while gaming, No Man's Sky (NMS) may be just the game for you. NMS is an exploration survival single-player game in a vast universe. You'll never know quite what you'll find as you gather resources and explore star systems.

    You'll walk and jet pack, shoot rocks and plants, scan plants and    If you love games about space, if you love to explore and if you don't really need your hand held while gaming, No Man's Sky (NMS) may be just the game for you. NMS is an exploration survival single-player game in a vast universe. You'll never know quite what you'll find as you gather resources and explore star systems.

    You'll walk and jet pack, shoot rocks and plants, scan plants and animals for $. You'll find giant deposits of resources to earn money. Once you fix your starter ship, you'll also fly your starship. Keep in mind there are three speeds: slow (RT trigger) and pulse (O button), and a super fast speed only for space (L1 and R1 aka bumper keys).

    Hints: learn words, explore buildings, ships and space stations carefully, and scan animals and plants for $. There are three inventories (press trackpad and use L1 and R1 to switch between them). And if only there was a way to make the just about everything work better. Some of the deficiencies other reviewers are complaining about (cough exosuit slots) can be upgraded. Look around and try every option. Use those beacons and beams.    … Expand
  10. vbfox
    Aug 15, 2016
    8
    TL;DR: It's only worth 60€ if you are a fan of exploration, but once it's around 15€ all players should play it if only to show what a procedural generator CAN do, when done well.

    No man sky is great but not perfect, it's an exploration game where each planet is a discovery. It's not for everyone, if "Enjoy the journey" describe your type of player, if you explored areas in WoW just    TL;DR: It's only worth 60€ if you are a fan of exploration, but once it's around 15€ all players should play it if only to show what a procedural generator CAN do, when done well.

    No man sky is great but not perfect, it's an exploration game where each planet is a discovery.

    It's not for everyone, if "Enjoy the journey" describe your type of player, if you explored areas in WoW just because they looked cool you'll love it, if you play game for quests and directed content or for game mechanics you'll hate it. There are nearly no "quest" content and the game mechanics (Crafting, trading) are pretty bad.

    Now even for exploration it isn't the "perfect" game. It's missing procedural generation for a few key things that would have made it perfect : station structure is globally always the same, there are only a few station / sentient ET design in the game (3), no generated quests or even randomness in actions possible by NPC (All NPCs in station type "shelter" do nearly the same thing). Also the star structures are pretty boring, often 3/4 planets, not gas giants, no planet very far or very big...
    Even the planet grounds are pretty even, no big mountains, no profund caves, it's a globally flat world.
    Also a strangely populated one, there are hundreds of 1-person habitats on each planet but no ancient ruins or cities.

    But what's currently generated (Planetary color scheme, fauna, plants and a few variations on heightmap) is extremely nice and produce impressive results.

    I can only hope for the game to continue like minecraft did, for years, adding small touches everywhere and making everything more diverse and interesting.    … Expand
  11. Eikast
    Aug 10, 2016
    8
    So a lot of people seem to dislike this game. I think that it has to do with the hype that this game received. No, this game did not live up to the hype but it is a pretty decent game. I wouldn't recommend most people buying this at the full price of $60, I'd recommend to wait until it drops down to $40 or so.

    If you like the idea of surviving (e.g. Minecraft) but would love to explore    So a lot of people seem to dislike this game. I think that it has to do with the hype that this game received. No, this game did not live up to the hype but it is a pretty decent game. I wouldn't recommend most people buying this at the full price of $60, I'd recommend to wait until it drops down to $40 or so.

    If you like the idea of surviving (e.g. Minecraft) but would love to explore space and would love to take your time to enjoy the experience, then this game is probably for you. This game can be somewhat repetitive since it's very straight forward (gather resources, upgrade your ship, suit, go to new planet closer to core of the galaxy). The best way to describe this game is that it's a survivor/exploring game. When I say explore I mean it literally since the developers don't know what's on every planet that's why you get units (currency) for discoveries.

    This game isn't a space combat simulator, nor is it an amazing space shooter. It really reminds me of Spore, it's amazing because of the uniqueness of the game itself, not because the game itself is out of this world (no pun intended).    … Expand
  12. bearcav
    Aug 16, 2016
    8
    It's important to note a few things about No Man's Sky: it's done by a small team who wanted to make a giant universe in the style of 60s-70s sci-fi cover art, it's not created to be a mass-market product, and yet it was sold to people as a mass-market product that should check all usual "game" boxes.

    This works so well as a kind of snowglobe-esque homage to space opera universes, with    It's important to note a few things about No Man's Sky: it's done by a small team who wanted to make a giant universe in the style of 60s-70s sci-fi cover art, it's not created to be a mass-market product, and yet it was sold to people as a mass-market product that should check all usual "game" boxes.

    This works so well as a kind of snowglobe-esque homage to space opera universes, with on-point color schema, beautiful sound design, and a killer soundtrack, if the snowglobe was constantly changing around and you could do a *couple* of things to interact with it.

    It's also an actual artwork - the creators intend to express a love of discovery and the feeling of loneliness within infinite possibilities, like if you're the new guy in a big city and just don't get what's going on. It also really hits on the idea that beauty can strike you in weird ways when you're also racing to survive.

    If you want a great space simulator, don't get this game. If you want a great crafting game, don't get this game. If you want the best procedural generation of all time with wildly varied creatures, still don't get this game, because that's a little limited at the moment. But if you're all about exploring the weirdness of infinity, driven by a simple system to keep things interesting and a broad but well-written text based story, go for it. I did, and I think it's a good time.    … Expand
  13. dunnyone
    Aug 18, 2016
    8
    All these negative reviews. Did everyone here who gives this gem a low score, actually play the game? Did you even experience it? After coming off Dark Souls series, FTL and a hundred other games that just want to face f--k you, No Man's Sky is a pleasure. I did not follow the hype, and I hate survival games, but I love this.

    A little preface: my father recently passed away and of    All these negative reviews. Did everyone here who gives this gem a low score, actually play the game? Did you even experience it? After coming off Dark Souls series, FTL and a hundred other games that just want to face f--k you, No Man's Sky is a pleasure. I did not follow the hype, and I hate survival games, but I love this.

    A little preface: my father recently passed away and of course, there is a lot of guilt and regret that follows the death of a parent. When I discovered that I can name planets, animals, galaxies and so on, I started naming everything after my dad or, "is he here?" "Planet Dad" and so on. In a sense, my trip through the galaxy becomes an epic journey to connect with my father on some level, even though I can't. In my mind, he is literally one planet or galaxy ahead of me, and since the game is "endless" I can continue to mourn and play.

    Besides this unforeseen positive effect, the game is marvelous. You can't die (well, you can, but it's highly unlikely), the music is a delight and it runs like a polished game should (even though it has many rough edges). Besides, when was the last time you took a moment to relax and just stare into the distance once you've ascended a giant mountain. No game has kept me this captivated and content.

    10/10 would play for therapy again.    … Expand
  14. Gbomb22
    Aug 19, 2016
    8
    This game is not going to be to everyone's liking. This completely new experience in gaming, has opened my eyes to the joys of an exploration game. Five years ago I would not have given this another look but as I slowly grow older and (possibly not) wiser, my tastes have changed and my patience has grown.

    As i'm sure you are all aware now, this is not a first person action shooter. Yes    This game is not going to be to everyone's liking. This completely new experience in gaming, has opened my eyes to the joys of an exploration game. Five years ago I would not have given this another look but as I slowly grow older and (possibly not) wiser, my tastes have changed and my patience has grown.

    As i'm sure you are all aware now, this is not a first person action shooter. Yes there are elements of this within the game, but that is certainly not what this is about. It's about exploring, spending four hours wandering around a planet to find whatever you are looking for and it is amazingly satisfying when that time and effort leads to a Journey Milestone.

    I like this game, a lot. It's original, it can be exciting, it can be tedious at times but, come on, we can't have excitement all the time, otherwise you might never appreciate when something truly is.... exciting!

    Not a perfect game, but the potential and originality of it all is keeping me gripped.    … Expand
  15. NoNameForYou
    Aug 16, 2016
    8
    I love this game, it's a game where you have to have a certain mindset to enjoy, it's not for everyone, in fact, if we put this objectively, it's pretty shallow and not that good. But either way, I liked it because it just gives me those childhood imaginations where I would be the frontier of space exploration, discover new solar systems, discover new galaxies! Get to the center of theI love this game, it's a game where you have to have a certain mindset to enjoy, it's not for everyone, in fact, if we put this objectively, it's pretty shallow and not that good. But either way, I liked it because it just gives me those childhood imaginations where I would be the frontier of space exploration, discover new solar systems, discover new galaxies! Get to the center of the universe! Etc. etc.
    This is basically just fulfilling a childhood dream, most people probably forgot theirs or didn't want to go to space, which probably is why most people don't like it, but for space enthusiasts like me, I love it.

    Also for the fact I promised to marry the daughter of a warrior race's general without even understanding much of their language, come to speak of it, I like the mechanics where you have to build the knowledge of another species' language.

    I like this game, but take my word with a grain of salt, this is a love-it-or-hate-it game.    … Expand
  16. upstreamedge
    Aug 14, 2017
    8
    TL ; DR: If you bought this game at launch for 60 you got ripped off, after 3 major updates and at 20-30 bucks is a good and unique experience.

    NMS has come a long way since its release last year. Certainly, it's deserving of the criticism that more should have been in the game on launch. Base building, the new tech system, freighters, and increased alien interaction have addressed many    TL ; DR: If you bought this game at launch for 60 you got ripped off, after 3 major updates and at 20-30 bucks is a good and unique experience.

    NMS has come a long way since its release last year. Certainly, it's deserving of the criticism that more should have been in the game on launch. Base building, the new tech system, freighters, and increased alien interaction have addressed many early complaints. While there are a LOT of criticisms that can be leveled at the marketing for this game, the end result is a unique experience that (while is not for everyone) is at least worth a rent by any lover of the art of game design.

    Many reviewers have arrived at their negative score because they are viewing this as a traditional game where you "beat" it and get some kind of payoff. One with action, bosses, etc. NMS is not that kind of game, it's probably better to think of it as a flight sim or art museum than the high sci-fi of Elite Dangerous.

    There is lore, and a story, but really it just adds to the atmosphere. The universe is vast, the planets are stunning (more diversity on that front has been added as well). the game has a lively community and upcoming updates promise to add more to the Euclid.    … Expand
  17. SWERY_51
    Aug 9, 2016
    8
    You just feel like Captain Kirk with your starship, "explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilisations; to boldly go where no man has gone before." I freaking love this game !
  18. Thom32
    Aug 10, 2016
    8
    This game is not for people who like hand holding. If you enjoy a linear story that has a definitive beginning, middle, and end this probably isn't for you. I enjoy the game and I enjoy just doing whatever I feel like doing. I'll be playing and then realize that many hours have gone by unnoticed. I'll blast holes in the ground just to see how deep it will go, swim through the oceansThis game is not for people who like hand holding. If you enjoy a linear story that has a definitive beginning, middle, and end this probably isn't for you. I enjoy the game and I enjoy just doing whatever I feel like doing. I'll be playing and then realize that many hours have gone by unnoticed. I'll blast holes in the ground just to see how deep it will go, swim through the oceans just because, or attach freighters just to see if I can. The game lets you just figure things out and doesn't tell you how things really work which is fine by me. This won't be the "only game I'll ever play again" but it certainly will be my go to game to relax and spend time. The worlds and scenery really are pretty amazing. That's what keeps me going.… Expand
  19. lydianfanfare
    Aug 21, 2016
    8
    An eight, yeah, I think that's fair, right? Right? How can we even put a number on this game?! All anyone can do is talk about their experience because everyone's experience and tastes will be different, and therefore, we'll find differing levels of value in this.

    Personally, though, I find NMS to be relaxing, awe-inspiring, and totally different than anything I've played lately.    An eight, yeah, I think that's fair, right? Right? How can we even put a number on this game?! All anyone can do is talk about their experience because everyone's experience and tastes will be different, and therefore, we'll find differing levels of value in this.

    Personally, though, I find NMS to be relaxing, awe-inspiring, and totally different than anything I've played lately. There's a lot I wish was there, and maybe some of it will come later, but for the moment, I'm enjoying it, and plan to play to the end.    … Expand
  20. Treono
    May 12, 2018
    8
    There´s a reason why No Man´s Sky deserves attention. The same reason why EA deserves the problems why they suffering. And the reason is reaction. NMS was a failure, everyone knows that, but since his release, the creators have worked a lot to make the game what they promised. And man they´ve done it. This is a really good game atm, and its gonna have a new expansion free.
    We need to help    There´s a reason why No Man´s Sky deserves attention. The same reason why EA deserves the problems why they suffering. And the reason is reaction. NMS was a failure, everyone knows that, but since his release, the creators have worked a lot to make the game what they promised. And man they´ve done it. This is a really good game atm, and its gonna have a new expansion free.
    We need to help effort and work, and this is all free. Stop buying and supporting **** companies that only milk us, and give it a try    … Expand
  21. AdamJensen77
    Jul 20, 2020
    8
    This is something different, and its not for everyone. For me, its one of the best experiences I had on my ps4. The planets are beautiful, and the felling of loneliness while you are exploring plus the amazing soundtrack, create an amazing mix of sensations.

    If love space, and planetary exploration, you should ignore the critics and buy it, it is really amazing.
  22. AreYouSerious
    Aug 27, 2016
    8
    Oh boy... the hate is strong with this one.

    I had zero desire to buy this game, yet a friend had been frothing at the mouth since it was first announced, but I (like most) was like "what the hell is this all about???" About a week before launch a saw a walkthrough video from the guy that "leaked" it on Youtube and found myself somewhat interested. So I thought I'd give it a go... and    Oh boy... the hate is strong with this one.

    I had zero desire to buy this game, yet a friend had been frothing at the mouth since it was first announced, but I (like most) was like "what the hell is this all about???"

    About a week before launch a saw a walkthrough video from the guy that "leaked" it on Youtube and found myself somewhat interested. So I thought I'd give it a go... and ironically, it got it's claws into me.

    It was so completely different from most games I play, I found myself fixed on finding "what was around the next corner" (or next galaxy in this case).

    But that intrigue will only last so long before everything starts to feel very much the same. Saying that, it gave me about 40-50 hours before I decided to stop - making sure I was still in a "happy place" with my experience.

    And that was the key for me - low expectations, and knowing when I'd had enough.

    Another big influence for me was the sound design... amazing! It drew me in and really gave weight and scale to the whole thing.

    Don't pay full price, but definitely give it a go and some point.    … Expand
  23. BrysonHile
    Aug 11, 2016
    8
    This game is NOT for everyone. It is a very laid back relaxed game. Its not for the common player. If you like competition or grinding for gear or even cranking out mission accomplished medals, this game is not the game for you.

    This game IS for you if you like to explore, scavenge, and travel the expansive world known as No Man's Sky. I love this game for many reasons, the first is    This game is NOT for everyone. It is a very laid back relaxed game. Its not for the common player. If you like competition or grinding for gear or even cranking out mission accomplished medals, this game is not the game for you.

    This game IS for you if you like to explore, scavenge, and travel the expansive world known as No Man's Sky. I love this game for many reasons, the first is being able to name everything you discover. You can name the system, the planets, the moons, the fauna, and even specific points on the planet. This gives me so much excitement because I have a huge imagination and want to release that. The pure joy of this game is exploration. I love warping into a new system and getting surprised at what lays there waiting for me to discover it.

    This game is for those who want that sense of enjoyment discovering a new system or naming a weird looking creature. It is not a game for the hard core gamer who wants an objective to complete. No Man's Sky gives very little direction and I love it about that.

    The reason I gave it an 8, was because the activities run short after a few hours of exploring. I wish I had a few objectives to find or complete on each planet that switched up the gameplay just a little. But other than that, this game is phenomenal.    … Expand
  24. greedy666
    Aug 12, 2016
    8
    Wow.... all the hate... not really warranted. I wasn't overly excited for this game , but not much else coming out so i thought id give it a go. Yeah it could be better , imagine if this was an rpg /star wars/star trek/mass effect that would be awesome . But its not its No mans sky... it is what it is and if you are rating it due to what you wish or thought it was going to be don't reviewWow.... all the hate... not really warranted. I wasn't overly excited for this game , but not much else coming out so i thought id give it a go. Yeah it could be better , imagine if this was an rpg /star wars/star trek/mass effect that would be awesome . But its not its No mans sky... it is what it is and if you are rating it due to what you wish or thought it was going to be don't review this game. review it for what it is . An exploration game, you explore space that's it. I give it a 7.5 as it does what it sets out to do you explore space, they have put in AI characters they are bland and could do with improving , small things like upgrades taking up inventory slots have made me bring this to the 7.5. IT IS NOT A 0!! IT IS NOT A 10! people have their opinions but seriously a zero? or a 10?.... if you want a sandbox rpg don't get this game , if you want a lonely game of exploration ( put your spotify on with some sweet sounds) get this game simple.… Expand
  25. Camazza2008
    Aug 13, 2016
    8
    Jogo muito bom , com uma otima proposta ,o começo pdode ser meio estranho para a maioria dos jogadores mas e um game que vale a pena de se jogar recomendo a todos explorarem esse vasto universo
  26. Latenightbreak
    Aug 15, 2016
    8
    I'm posting this because I want to give this studio props. I never play games in the summer. I find it hard to stay in doors more than I need to. I love video games in the winter but I love running, jogging or doing just about anything outdoors whenever I can. This game however, this game has me glued to the screen.

    I'm nowhere near done and I'm loving the experience. I don't know    I'm posting this because I want to give this studio props. I never play games in the summer. I find it hard to stay in doors more than I need to. I love video games in the winter but I love running, jogging or doing just about anything outdoors whenever I can. This game however, this game has me glued to the screen.

    I'm nowhere near done and I'm loving the experience. I don't know where it's going, I don't know the real point. I haven't met more than one race of aliens but I think that this is just fun. Nothing more and nothing less. It's not the best game I've ever played but it's definitely not a 5/10 either.

    The only strike against this game is its price. i think that at 40$, it would've been a home run. No one is mad at a quiet, exploration game with seemingly no point if they didn't dish out more than 40$. This game is 80$ plus 12 tax in Quebec. That's just too much.

    Very happy that I own this.    … Expand
  27. Gamecriticpro
    Aug 10, 2016
    8
    The game is intended for a niche crowd, if you like chill space exploration games and don't mind some repeating elements, you'll like it. I suggest watching unbiased gameplay vids to solidify your opinion, these metacritic reviews are usually either trollw or fanboys, they don' paint the picture you're looking for.
  28. Ysegrim
    Feb 21, 2020
    8
    I had to correct my rating from 2 to 8. The developers have really put themselves into it and made a good game out of this catastrophe from the beginning.
    Many futures that were missing at launch are now in the game and the needs of the players have been addressed. The game is now really a space exploration game with Survieval elements. Good jop hello Games.
  29. CharlesFBronson
    Aug 11, 2016
    8
    Game is exactly how I thought it will be - Relaxing experience where you can explore billions of planets with animals and environment which no player saw before you. With lots of different upgrades, ships to fly and fight with and awesome music that fits the game perfectly. I guess portion of people will say that its boring but I don't know what these people expected from it. To meGame is exactly how I thought it will be - Relaxing experience where you can explore billions of planets with animals and environment which no player saw before you. With lots of different upgrades, ships to fly and fight with and awesome music that fits the game perfectly. I guess portion of people will say that its boring but I don't know what these people expected from it. To me Minecraft is boring while its definitely not a bad game and it still got millions of fans.I bet this will be the case of NMS as well. If you want to relax, explore and see some (well... lots of!) unique stuff - you should definitely try it ! And if you enjoyed movies like The Martian or 2001 Space odyssey the experience should be even better."To boldly go where no one has gone before"… Expand
  30. umaumai
    Aug 11, 2016
    8
    It's strange, but for the first time ever it might be possible that all the reviews of a game are accurate from both the positive and the negative sides of the ratings it's getting. I can agree with just about all that I have read both here and on other gaming sites. For me it's a game where I'm truly feeling the "you get out of it what you put into it" vibe - AND, if you had expectations,It's strange, but for the first time ever it might be possible that all the reviews of a game are accurate from both the positive and the negative sides of the ratings it's getting. I can agree with just about all that I have read both here and on other gaming sites. For me it's a game where I'm truly feeling the "you get out of it what you put into it" vibe - AND, if you had expectations, as "No Man's Sky" was hyped more then this summers blockbuster movie "Suicide Squad," I can see why some are disappointed they didn't become space pirates who could meet up with other people day 1. It's vast, almost daunting in scope and it has a bit of a learning curve with how you outfit your multi-tool, ship and suit. However, it is very rewarding if you take the time to tinker and explore your surroundings. If you are looking to explore planets, and I mean SERIOUSLY explore, then the game is going to be perfect for you. If you are looking for fast action, then you are going to be severely let down. (It can become a slog of mining to fix and upgrade your gear and some of the actions become repetitive, but you find that in a lot of games these days.) I will say that this is definitely a one of a kind experience even though it has a very familiar look and feel to it.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2016
2
#2 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 96 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 96
  2. Mixed: 54 out of 96
  3. Negative: 1 out of 96
  1. GameCritics
    May 8, 2020
    80
    While I’m sure developer Hello Games is still tweaking things and perhaps even creating more content for No Man’s Sky, the current state of affairs is a strong one. This galactic opus still offers an infinite amount of content for those who want to lose themselves among the stars, but now also contains a concrete throughline that will satisfy a wider array of players. It can be irritating at times, but it’s also full of stunning moments and the satisfaction of building a virtual life among the stars. Four years after launch, it’s finally a journey worth taking.
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  2. BaziCenter
    Feb 10, 2017
    60
    The world of No Man's Sky is insanely vast and beautiful, but there’s nothing to do in it! There’s no goal, no destination, no ending, nothing!
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  3. Easy Allies
    Dec 1, 2016
    60
    While No Man's Sky is engrossing for the first few hours, repetition starts to set in and the proceedings grow dull. The developers stated that they plan to add significant features such as base building which could dramatically change the game for the better. There's a promising foundation present, so it's possible to envision a more substantial game down the line. As it currently stands, though, our excitement to cross the universe faded sooner than we expected.
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