5 space exploration games to play instead of No Man’s Sky

The launch of No Man’s Sky on PlayStation and PC has proven to be quite divisive, with players either condemning the game and its developers or persistently defending the title.

The game is certainly different to its pre-release marketing material, although many gamers have been enjoying it all the same.

Whether you were disappointed by No Man’s Sky, or are looking for something with more specialised content, we’ve got you covered.

Check out these awesome space exploration games:

Elite: Dangerous

Elite: Dangerous is a modern re-imagining of the classic Elite franchise which has seen many changes since its initial launch.

The game include various classic space-sim features along with new concepts such as planetary landing and instanced multiplayer.

While it may be priced relatively steeply compared to other titles on this list, the game has a high production value and offers a ton of replayability.

Empyrion: Galactic Survival

Empyrion: Galactic Survival is still in Early Access/Alpha, but is being actively developed and improved.

The game is a hybrid exploration-survival game, combining a vast solar system with Minecraft-esque building and brutal survival mechanics.

Players begin stranded on a planet and must survive by crafting weapons and structures, eventually progressing to designing and building vehicles and spaceships.

Starbound

Starbound is a 2D indie space exploration and survival game with a surprising amount of depth.

The game features similar gameplay to that of Terraria and allows you to visit other planets in a quest to upgrade your ship and build sustainable colonies.

Starbound offers players a vast amount of freedom and solid multiplayer gameplay.

Space Engineers

Space Engineers is a complex space survival, building, and exploration game that allows the player to build their own spacecraft and explore everything from deep space to planetary surfaces.

The game is still in Early Access and is being actively developed, but it is currently quite demanding, requiring a high-end gaming rig to run effectively.

Eve Online

Although it may not feature the stunning visual landscapes of No Man’s Sky or even the ability to pilot your ship using classic space-sim controls, Eve Online is an iconic multiplayer space game.

Featuring a persistent massively multiplayer universe, the freedom to explore the stars in whatever way you choose, and tangible consequences, Eve Online remains one of the best MMOs of all time.