When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.
Starfieldis a No Man’s Sky clone, through and through.
It’s essentially the love-child of Oblivion and Fallout in space.
Bethesda’s latest rich RPG game that players will likely be traveling through for years to come.
On the other side isNo Man’s Sky.
It’s a game that has gone on to receive 29namedupdates.
Each has brought something new and exciting to the game.
So, how exactly are these games different or similar?
If you look online, especially on social media, you’ll be flooded with multiple arguing their points.
We’re here to break down some key features and compare them side-by-side.
What’s the same?
Both games do get sort ofcinematicwhen players choose to dock with space stations.
There is no outer docking like Starfield.
Look back to the original Star Trek, dating back to September 1966.
That’s 57 years!
Spock and the crew have been scanning planets for signs of life and other resources since the ’60s.
Ship Flight and long-distance travel
Both games contain ship-flying mechanics but vary in how they’re presented.
Or at least, they did until the ‘Echoes’ update for No Man’s Sky.
However, like my point above, this has also been a thing for decades.
“Divert all power to shields immediately!”
Research
Both games allow players to research upgrades, building materials, or weapon mods.
Base building
Yes, there is base-building in both games.
A significant difference between the two is players can assign crew members inside outposts in Starfield.
With bases in No Man’s Sky, you might create teleporters between planets across the galaxy.
Making travel rather quick and easy to accomplish.
These can be used to travel to other bases and previously visited space stations.
What’s different?
That’s a department dominated by No Man’s Sky.
They’re absolutely terrific and give the whole game a fresh coat of paint.
Deep RPG mechanics
Starfield features rich and engaging RPG mechanics.
Something No Man’s Sky lacks entirely.
It’s not a bad thing.
Still, some people too often overlook this massively crucial feature.
Story and choice
I touched on this in the RPG section but wanted to mention it again.
Both games feature a story that deals with unraveling the mysteries of the universe but in wildly different ways.
No Man’s Sky relies on singular ways to tackle its story, and that’s fine.
However, it’s something that sets these two apart.
There’s no lockpicking of chests, lockers, or computers.
All these little miscellaneous things in Starfield aren’t generally present in No Man’s Sky.
No Man’s Sky prides itself in beautiful simplicity, with various weapons to choose from.
Starfield features an extensive coverage of weapons with differing stats and modifications that players can make.
Different tiers, like common and legendary weapons, further distinguish the player combat of Starfield.
Starfield is just a different beast when it comes to combat.
The area in which they land is also bound by size limits.
They can also manually choose to land anywhere they can see.
Any horizon the player sees, they can continue walking towards without any interruption.
Space magic
Without spoiling much, Starfield players get their hands onabilitiessimilar to Dragon Shouts in Skyrim.
They’re wild and fun to play around with.
No Man’s Sky doesn’t have something similar in its game (yet.)
Not to mention, you’re able to change the color of every single part.
No Man’s Sky doesn’t have shipbuilding to any degree.
The only way to obtain ships is to purchase them when seen.
It’s something that many players refer to asship hunting.
No Man’s Sky doesn’t allow players to do this.
Do you want to take out their shields first, or maybe their grav drive?
Players can do that.
These crew members can also accompany you on the surface or in space during missions and exploration.
Know of any other differences or similarities?
Let us know below!
Once you’re finished, go ahead and check out one of our many guides on the game itself!
Bethesda rewards the faithful with one of Microsoft’s best exclusive games in over a decade.
With great storytelling and an exciting new world, Starfield is a triumph.
