Computed from player tags · Not ranked by quality
24 games like No Man's Sky (2026)
Every game below overlaps with No Man's Sky on things players said about it rather than on our opinion of what feels alike. Each entry shows what it matched on, so you can throw out the ones matching on the part you did not care about.
The short version
- Closest match: Subnautica, which both open world, survival, science fiction and atmospheric.
- No Man's Sky is tagged Open World, Open World Survival Craft, Space, Exploration, Sci-fi, Survival, Procedural Generation, Adventure by Steam players. Those tags are what the matching runs on.
- 24 games qualify, each with at least fifty player reviews behind its sentiment figure.
How these were matched
Steam tags carry the most weight, because players apply them and they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Souls-like, Atmospheric and Cozy exist as tags and as nothing else, which is exactly the vocabulary this question needs. Formal genres count for less, themes and a shared studio for more.
Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are thrown out before matching. Nearly everything is tagged Singleplayer, so matching on it is matching on nothing. That cutoff is computed from the catalogue rather than fixed, so it moves as the catalogue grows.
All 24, closest first
- 1
Subnautica
Why it matched: both open world, survival, science fiction and atmospheric; shares 9 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Survival and Exploration; released around the same time (2014).
Descend into the depths of an alien underwater world filled with wonder and peril. Craft equipment, pilot submarines and out-smart wildlife to explore lush coral reefs, volcanoes, cave systems, and more - all while trying to survive.
Subnautica at a glance Released 2014 Studio Unknown Worlds Entertainment Player sentiment 97% positive of 379,053 Price $29.99 Open World Survival CraftSurvivalExplorationCraftingFirst-PersonSci-fiSandboxVR
- 2
Breathedge
Why it matched: both open world, survival, science fiction and atmospheric; shares 10 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Space and Survival.
Survive in outer space! Together with your immortal chicken, discover the truth behind your sudden spaceship crash. Craft tools, pilot vehicles, and even control space stations to survive and explore the wreckage.
Breathedge at a glance Released 2021 Studio RedRuins Softworks Player sentiment 81% positive of 17,816 Price $2.49 Open World Survival CraftSpaceSurvivalSandboxIndieSci-fiFirst-PersonCrafting
- 3
Astroneer
Why it matched: both open world, survival, science fiction and atmospheric; shares 9 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Survival and Space; released around the same time (2016).
Interact with strange new worlds in a unique and tactile way, molding the environment itself as if it were clay in your hands. Build your base, master resource management, automate your production lines, and more as you unravel the mysteries of the universe, alone or with friends.
Astroneer at a glance Released 2016 Studio System Era Softworks Player sentiment 92% positive of 139,052 Price $29.99 Open World Survival CraftSurvivalSpaceExplorationSandboxCraftingSci-fiSimulation
- 4
Empyrion - Galactic Survival
Why it matched: both open world, survival and science fiction; shares 10 player tags including Simulation, Open World Survival Craft and Space; released around the same time (2020).
Build and explore in a true space sandbox survival adventure. Construct mighty capital vessels, sprawling planetary settlements, and vast space stations in your galactic journey to discover the mysteries of Empyrion!
Empyrion - Galactic Survival at a glance Released 2020 Studio Eleon Game Studios Player sentiment 78% positive of 34,399 Price $19.99 SimulationOpen World Survival CraftSpaceSurvivalExplorationSpace SimSandboxSci-fi
- 5
Starbound
Why it matched: both open world, survival, science fiction and atmospheric; shares 8 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Sandbox and Survival; released around the same time (2016).
You’ve fled your home, only to find yourself lost in space with a damaged ship. Your only option is to beam down to the planet below, repair your ship and set off to explore the universe...
Starbound at a glance Released 2016 Studio Chucklefish Player sentiment 90% positive of 123,280 Price $14.99 Open World Survival CraftSandboxSurvivalSpaceCraftingExplorationIndieSci-fi
- 6
Planetbase
Why it matched: both open world, survival, science fiction and atmospheric; shares 8 player tags including Space, Survival and Simulation; released around the same time (2015).
Guide a group of space settlers trying to establish a base on a remote planet. Grow food, collect energy, mine resources, survive disasters and build a self-sufficient colony in a harsh and unforgiving environment.
Planetbase at a glance Released 2015 Studio Madruga Works Player sentiment 80% positive of 10,438 Price $7.49 SpaceSurvivalSimulationSci-fiIndieSandboxSpace SimCrafting
- 7
Satisfactory
Why it matched: both open world, survival and science fiction; shares 9 player tags including Crafting, Sandbox and Exploration.
Satisfactory is a first-person open-world factory building game with a dash of exploration and combat. Play alone or with friends, explore an alien planet, create multi-story factories, and enter conveyor belt heaven!
Satisfactory at a glance Released 2024 Studio Coffee Stain Studios Player sentiment 97% positive of 278,668 Price $39.99 CraftingSandboxExplorationOpen World Survival CraftSurvivalFirst-PersonSimulationSci-fi
- 8
Abiotic Factor
Why it matched: both open world, survival and science fiction; shares 9 player tags including Survival, Open World Survival Craft and Crafting.
Abiotic Factor is a survival crafting experience for 1-6 players set in the depths of an underground research facility. Caught between paranormal containment failure, a military crusade, and chaos from a dozen realms, the world’s greatest minds must survive against the universe’s biggest threats.
Abiotic Factor at a glance Released 2025 Studio Deep Field Games Player sentiment 96% positive of 58,569 Price $34.99 SurvivalOpen World Survival CraftCraftingSci-fiExplorationSandboxFPSFirst-Person
- 9
Subnautica: Below Zero
Why it matched: both open world, survival, science fiction and atmospheric; shares 8 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Survival and Exploration.
Dive into a freezing underwater adventure on an alien planet. Below Zero is set two years after the original Subnautica. Return to Planet 4546B to uncover the truth behind a deadly cover-up. Survive by building habitats, crafting tools, & diving deeper into the world of Subnautica.
Subnautica: Below Zero at a glance Released 2021 Studio Unknown Worlds Entertainment Player sentiment 90% positive of 108,227 Price $29.99 Open World Survival CraftSurvivalExplorationIndieCraftingFirst-PersonSci-fiSandbox
- 10
Oxygen Not Included
Why it matched: both open world, survival and science fiction; shares 8 player tags including Survival, Simulation and Sandbox; released around the same time (2019).
Oxygen Not Included is a space-colony simulation game. Deep inside an alien space rock your industrious crew will need to master science, overcome strange new lifeforms, and harness incredible space tech to survive, and possibly, thrive.
Oxygen Not Included at a glance Released 2019 Studio Klei Entertainment Player sentiment 97% positive of 143,589 Price $24.99 SurvivalSimulationSandboxSpaceIndieSci-fiExplorationSpace Sim
- 11
The Forest
Why it matched: both open world, survival and atmospheric; shares 8 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Survival and Crafting; released around the same time (2018).
As the lone survivor of a passenger jet crash, you find yourself in a mysterious forest battling to stay alive against a society of cannibalistic mutants. Build, explore, survive in this terrifying first person survival horror simulator.
The Forest at a glance Released 2018 Studio Endnight Games Player sentiment 96% positive of 680,814 Price $19.99 Open World Survival CraftSurvivalCraftingFirst-PersonExplorationSandboxSimulationIndie
- 12
Universe Sandbox
Why it matched: both open world, science fiction and atmospheric; shares 7 player tags including Sandbox, Space and Simulation; released around the same time (2015).
Create & destroy on an unimaginable scale with a realistic physics-based space simulator. Explore the beauty of our universe and the fragility of our planet. Use science to bend the laws of gravity, collide planets, boil away oceans, fire epic space lasers, and customize your universe.
Universe Sandbox at a glance Released 2015 Studio Giant Army Player sentiment 96% positive of 32,082 Price $20.09 SandboxSpaceSimulationSpace SimSci-fiIndieExploration
- 13
Rust
Why it matched: both open world and survival; shares 8 player tags including Survival, Crafting and Open World Survival Craft; released around the same time (2018).
The only aim in Rust is to survive. Everything wants you to die - the island’s wildlife, other inhabitants, the environment, and other survivors. Do whatever it takes to last another night.
Rust at a glance Released 2018 Studio Not recorded Player sentiment 87% positive of 1,394,551 Price $39.99 SurvivalCraftingOpen World Survival CraftSandboxFirst-PersonFPSIndieSimulation
- 14
The Planet Crafter
Why it matched: both open world, survival and science fiction; shares 8 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Survival and Crafting.
A space survival open world terraforming crafting game, designed for 1 to 10 players. Alter the ecosystem of an inhospitable planet to render it habitable for humanity. Survive, gather resources, and build your base. Then, generate oxygen, warmth, and pressure to create a brand new biosphere.
The Planet Crafter at a glance Released 2024 Studio Miju Games Player sentiment 96% positive of 73,208 Price $23.99 Open World Survival CraftSurvivalCraftingExplorationSpaceSandboxFirst-PersonSci-fi
- 15
Green Hell
Why it matched: both open world, survival and atmospheric; shares 7 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Survival and Crafting; released around the same time (2019).
Plunge into the open-world survival simulation set in the extreme conditions of the uncharted Amazon jungle. Use real-life survival techniques to craft, hunt, fight, and gather resources, set a makeshift shelter, or raise a fortress. Survive alone or team up with your friends and challenge the jungle together.
Green Hell at a glance Released 2019 Studio Creepy Jar Player sentiment 85% positive of 101,599 Price $2.79 Open World Survival CraftSurvivalCraftingExplorationFirst-PersonSandboxSimulation
- 16
Fallout 4
Why it matched: both open world, survival, science fiction and atmospheric; shares 6 player tags including Exploration, First-Person and Sci-fi; released around the same time (2015).
From Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of Starfield and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, comes Fallout 4. A landmark in open-world RPG design and winner of over 200 ‘Best Of’ honors, including the DICE and BAFTA Game of the Year.
Fallout 4 at a glance Released 2015 Studio Bethesda Game Studios Player sentiment 81% positive of 428,604 Price $19.99 ExplorationFirst-PersonSci-fiFPSSandboxSurvival
- 17
EVERSPACE
Why it matched: both survival and science fiction; shares 9 player tags including Space, Indie and Sci-fi; released around the same time (2017).
EVERSPACE™ combines fast-paced combat with roguelike elements, great visuals and a captivating story. It takes you on a challenging journey through an ever-changing, beautifully crafted universe full of surprises. Shoot, craft and loot your way to victory while the odds are stacked against you.
EVERSPACE at a glance Released 2017 Studio ROCKFISH Games Player sentiment 78% positive of 11,465 Price $19.99 SpaceIndieSci-fiSpace SimVRExplorationSurvivalSimulation
- 18
Generation Zero
Why it matched: both open world, survival, science fiction and atmospheric; shares 6 player tags including Survival, FPS and Sci-fi; released around the same time (2019).
Generation Zero is a stealth-action shooter where you wage guerilla warfare against lethal mechanical enemies. Explore a vast open world map inspired by the Swedish Cold War era, take part in the resistance alone or with up to three friends in seamless co-op.
Generation Zero at a glance Released 2019 Studio Systemic Reaction™ Player sentiment 72% positive of 42,169 Price $24.99 SurvivalFPSSci-fiSandboxCraftingExploration
- 19
Stranded Deep
Why it matched: both open world, survival and atmospheric; shares 8 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Survival and Crafting.
Take the role of a plane crash survivor stranded somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. Come face to face with some of the most life threatening scenarios that will result in a different experience each time you play. Scavenge. Discover. Survive.
Stranded Deep at a glance Released 2022 Studio Beam Team Games Player sentiment 74% positive of 47,793 Price $19.99 Open World Survival CraftSurvivalCraftingFirst-PersonExplorationSandboxSimulationIndie
- 20
Deep Rock Galactic
Why it matched: both survival, science fiction and atmospheric; shares 7 player tags including FPS, Procedural Generation and Exploration; released around the same time (2020).
Deep Rock Galactic is a 1-4 player co-op FPS featuring dwarven space miners, procedurally-generated destructible environments, and endless hordes of alien monsters. Explore cave systems, mine for minerals, and work together to survive!
Deep Rock Galactic at a glance Released 2020 Studio Ghost Ship Games Player sentiment 97% positive of 379,460 Price $29.99 FPSProcedural GenerationExplorationFirst-PersonSci-fiSpaceSurvival
- 21
Fallout: New Vegas
Why it matched: both open world, survival, science fiction and atmospheric; shares 6 player tags including Exploration, First-Person and FPS.
Welcome to Vegas. New Vegas. Enjoy your stay!
Fallout: New Vegas at a glance Released 2010 Studio Obsidian Entertainment Player sentiment 96% positive of 261,194 Price $9.99 ExplorationFirst-PersonFPSSci-fiSurvivalSandbox
- 22
ARK: Survival Evolved
Why it matched: both open world, survival and science fiction; shares 7 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Survival and Crafting; released around the same time (2017).
Stranded on the shores of a mysterious island, you must learn to survive. Use your cunning to kill or tame the primeval creatures roaming the land, and encounter other players to survive, dominate... and escape!
ARK: Survival Evolved at a glance Released 2017 Studio Studio Wildcard Player sentiment 83% positive of 776,582 Price $9.89 Open World Survival CraftSurvivalCraftingSandboxFirst-PersonSci-fiIndie
- 23
Core Keeper
Why it matched: both open world, survival and atmospheric; shares 7 player tags including Open World Survival Craft, Sandbox and Survival.
Explore a vast cavern of creatures, relics and resources in a mining sandbox adventure for 1-8 players. Mine, build, fight, craft and farm to unravel the mystery of the ancient Core.
Core Keeper at a glance Released 2024 Studio Pugstorm Player sentiment 93% positive of 66,196 Price $19.99 Open World Survival CraftSandboxSurvivalCraftingExplorationProcedural GenerationSimulation
- 24
Elite Dangerous
Why it matched: both open world and science fiction; shares 8 player tags including Space Sim, Space and Exploration; released around the same time (2014).
Take control of your own starship and blaze your trail in an ever-changing galaxy. Master the arts of combat, mining and trade or venture out into the unknown across a 1:1 scale universe.
Elite Dangerous at a glance Released 2014 Studio Frontier Developments Player sentiment 77% positive of 107,348 Price $5.99 Space SimSpaceExplorationSci-fiSimulationVRFirst-PersonSandbox
Common questions
What game is most like No Man's Sky?
Subnautica, on the evidence we have. It both open world, survival, science fiction and atmospheric. That is a statement about overlap, not a promise you will like it as much: two games can share every tag and still feel different to play.
How is "similar to No Man's Sky" decided?
By overlap on the tags Steam players applied to each game, the formal genres, the themes both sit in, and whether the same studio made them. Tags carry the most weight because players write them, so they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are ignored: matching on "Singleplayer" is matching on nothing. Every entry below shows exactly what it matched on.
Are these ranked by quality?
No. They are ordered by how much they overlap with No Man's Sky. Where two games overlap equally, the better received one goes first, but that only moves a game a place or two. Each entry shows its own player sentiment so you can weigh that separately.
Do you get paid for these recommendations?
No. The order is computed from tag and genre overlap and nothing else. No placement here can be bought, and a game appearing high on this page is a statement about resemblance rather than an endorsement.