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No Man's Sky

4 Games with a sci-fi setting like No Man's Sky that you should try

Games like No Man's Sky · Find similar →

We filtered the 15 games similar to No Man's Sky down to the 4 that fit the “Sci-Fi” category. Space Engineers, Starbound and Terraria top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to No Man's Sky.

NextGameLike76/ 100

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GenreSandboxSubgenreCrafting Sandbox
Tags
NarrativeSoloMultiplayer
Year 2016Dev Hello Games

Quick answer

Within the “Sci-Fi” category, the closest game to No Man's Sky is Space Engineers — scoring 77/100 on our similarity scale. Starbound and Terraria follow close behind.

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The best games with a sci-fi setting like No Man's Sky

4 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to No Man's Sky. Each one has been evaluated across 21 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

1

Space Engineers

77
NGL76
Space Engineers
Closest overall match
SandboxCrafting Sandbox
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeSandbox WorldOpen WorldSpaceSci-FiExplorationCraftingFirst PersonThird Person
Year 2013Dev Keen Software HousePlaytime ~5hOn PC · Xbox

If No Man's Sky worked for you because of a sandbox world, melee combat and a space setting, the same is here. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is combat: tactical combat.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Progression100Visuals100World79
2

Starbound

71
NGL84
Starbound
Closest on world
SandboxCrafting Sandbox
MultiplayerCo-opSoloMeleeNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldProceduralSci-FiSpaceCraftingExploration
Year 2016Dev ChucklefishPlaytime ~17hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

If No Man's Sky worked for you because of strong narrative focus, a sandbox world and melee combat, the same is here. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a sci-fi setting. They part company on visuals and tone: this one brings a casual, approachable feel and 2D presentation.

Genre100Setting100World100Progression100Game mode83Combat73
3

Terraria

75
NGL86
Terraria
SandboxCrafting Sandbox
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeRangedNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldProceduralSci-FiCraftingExploration
Year 2011Dev Engine Software · 505 GamesPlaytime ~15hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Same family as No Man's Sky: strong narrative focus, a sandbox world and melee combat. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a sci-fi setting. Where the two diverge is visuals and setting: dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

Genre100World100Progression100Game mode88Combat73Tone46
4

Loddlenaut

55
NGL92
Loddlenaut
SandboxCrafting Sandbox
SoloNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldSci-FiExplorationCraftingThird Person
Year 2023Dev Moon Lagoon · Secret ModePlaytime ~4hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

It comes from the same genre as No Man's Sky and shares strong narrative focus, open world exploration and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is tone and game mode: a relaxing pace and 3D presentation.

Released 7 years after No Man's Sky.

Genre100Progression100World78Setting48Game mode29Visuals29

More similar-games lists to keep going

Found one on the list you already love? Open its own list: the games that play most like it, ranked, with the reason for each.

Explore games similar to No Man's Sky by category

If No Man's Sky left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the adventure or the simulation that hooked you? There is a list of just that. And if you play on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox and Mobile, filter by platform and skip the games you could not play anyway.

Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a No Man's Sky look-alike but simply the best Crafting Sandbox Games there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the Sandbox Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.