No Man’s Sky had a rocky launch, to put it mildly. To the developers’ credit, they’ve stuck to their guns and it’s a game almost entirely unrecognizable from when it first debuted. No Man’s Sky should be the template for other developers struggling with a game at launch.
Praise aside, there are plenty of other games in this sim/space adventure experience that will satisfy Switch fans. Some of these games may expand the idea but fit the criteria one way or another. While they might seem like bizarre picks to recommend to those fans, they’re all wonderful games that deserve a look no matter how popular or obscure they are.
ten The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds is a savage RPG that can best be described as Fall in the space. It was a surprise hit that garnered a lot of praise and may have been one of the reasons the developers were brought into the Xbox family.
It doesn’t work or look as good on the Switch. If one really wants to experience this game in the best possible way, all other platforms should be checked out. It’s still good on Switch.
9 Starlink: Battle for the Atlas
Starlink: Battle for the Atlas was the last living toy game in the genre that mattered. It came out a little after the genre’s time, which might explain why some missed it. That and getting the kit was expensive.
contrary to The Outer Worlds, the Switch version is the best version of this game to get. It’s because he has a star fox campaign in there. This might be the best game in this series for quite some time. This spaceship action RPG is a good companion for No Man’s Sky.
8 Void Bastards
Void Bastards is a roguelike shooter set in space. The most striking thing about it is its visuals, which make it look like a comic book.
Players are prisoners trying to escape the vast trials of space by boarding other ships and trying to find the correct components needed to move forward. It has decent accessibility options for a roguelike to help newbies to the genre and it’s pretty funny too.
seven Alien: Isolation
Alien: Isolation could be the best Extraterrestrial game there or at the very least captures the spirit of the movies the best. It’s a brutally challenging survival horror game in which players not only try to outrun a diabolically intelligent AI-controlled alien, but also killer androids.
This is more of a hide-and-seek horror game, if necessary, so it might not be for everyone. It’s also not the best representation of the game on Switch, but it gets the job done.
6 Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 may not have space exploration, but it’s a game about exploring huge colorful worlds. This is a close approximation to the idea behind No Man’s Sky. Both this and the Switch remaster of the original are worth checking out if gamers are also digging MMO-style RPGs.
Both games have complex combat systems to master, but luckily they’ve been around for quite a long time. This means that if something is really blocking players, there is always the internet to turn to for help.
5 Journey to the Savage Planet
Journey to the Savage Planet is a more obscure and smaller indie game. It fits perfectly with the atmosphere of No Man’s Sky. Players are left on a literally wild planet full of things that want to kill the player.
There’s filming, but it’s more about exploring the world and collecting data for the company ship. It’s a cooler Metroidvania in a way with the exploration trumping the combat.
4 Subnautical
Subnautical perfectly matches No Man’s Sky for those who want to explore the sea rather than the land. There was also an extension to explore some frozen oceans. It’s beautiful and yet haunting at the same time.
Reality might never allow humans to explore other planets like in video games. However, underwater life is still quite foreign to mankind and this game shows the possibilities of what could be out there, albeit in the most abstract way possible.
3 terrariums
terrariums is like a 2D version of Minecraft. There’s mining, crafting, construction, and plenty of monsters to fight as well. It has nothing to do with space but it still fits the mold of No Man’s Sky infinite exploration action.
This 2D crafting game is also a good companion for Minecraft to those who have never heard of it before. This seems like a rare case as this game is on almost literally every system known to man.
2 Flinthook
Flinthook is a roguelike platformer centered around space pirates. The big gadget around this game besides exploring random pirate ships in space is the hook gun. It works just as well as a mechanic to move quickly as well as a weapon.
It’s one of the most difficult roguelikes because there isn’t much progression between deaths. There are cards to equip that can help improve the odds, but even then it’s still a challenge, but worth investing some time in.
1 Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons may not seem like a good recommendation for No Man’s Sky fans but think about it. No Man’s Sky contains action, but the best part of the game is the discovery of new planets and species. It makes gaming a relaxing experience.
animal crossing is then the ultimate relaxation game for Switch gamers. It’s been joked about before, but it really could be the reason many gamers were able to keep their sanity during lockdown 2020. This simulation game couldn’t have launched at a better time and Nintendo keep improving it.
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