The game begins with you stranded on a procedurally generated planet, tasked with repairing your starship. From there, the universe is yours to explore, though there is a structured story path involving the mysterious "Atlas" that provides roughly 30 hours of narrative content.

Beyond the main quest, you can manage a fleet of freighters, become a space outlaw, build complex bases, or participate in limited-time "Expeditions" to earn unique rewards.

“No Man's Sky becomes more than a collection of slightly different worlds in a seemingly never-ending galaxy; it becomes an examination of the meaning of life.” YouTube · GameSpot · 9 years ago