There are a lot of moving parts in No Man’s Sky. Between mining, crafting, energy management, base building, exploring, and all kinds of research and scanning there is a lot players can be doing in this game. With so many components and mechanics it’s not hard to understand why some players get lost at first.
In fact, there are a number of things the average player gets hung up there first week or so in the game that slows progress or hinders the experience in some way. For players just diving into this game for the first time, here are some common mistakes they can avoid making.
10 Not Buying Inventory Slots
A big mistake some players make is not giving more priority to their inventory. Players are going to be finding and gathering a large number of items from resources to interesting loot. Having a bigger inventory makes it possible to gather more of that stuff at a time.
Players who forget or choose not to obtain more inventory slots will find themselves making more trips and wasting time traveling. It may be expensive at first, but having those inventory slots will save an incredible amount of time and more than earn back their cost.
9 Staying On The Tutorial Planet
Another common mistake players will make is setting down roots on the first planet they spawn into. It’s understandable given it’s all they know and they’re still learning what resources exist in the game. Unfortunately, depending on the planet they start in, this could be a huge waste of time and resources.
Not all planets in this open world are created equal, some will have more resources than others. Some will even be safer than other planets. Planting roots on a toxic planet without a nearby electro magnetic hotspot will make progress slow. Setting up on a lush planet next to a forest with no Sentinels in sight is a great start.
8 Putting Off The Story
With all to see and do in the game it’s tempting to put off completing the main story. Players will often get excited and start trapsing around the galaxy not caring what anyone is recommending they do first. But it’s important that players give some serious consideration to finishing the story first.
The reason is that over the course of the storyline players will steadily unlock every upgrade available in the game. Upgrades that can improve everything from surviving on a planet to traveling the cosmos. Sure a player can function without those upgrades but it is far less efficient and more tedious to do so.
7 Not Prioritizing Movement Speed
No matter what a player plans on doing in this game it’s a guarantee they’re going to be doing a lot of traveling. Whether it’s by jet pack on a planet’s surface or zipping between solar systems player are going to be on the move a lot.
Unfortunately many players forget or put off upgrading the things that increase their movement speed. It’s important to snag modules that boost the jet pack or improving Hyperdrives for the spaceship. Anything that allows the player to move faster, further, and go longer is key.
6 Ignoring Defense
In addition to improving mobility it’s also important to improve defenses. There are a number of upgrades both to the character and ships that can make them more resilient to damage in this Sci-Fi game.
The main reason is obvious as it allows the player to survive various hostile encounters and environments. The secondary reason is that it cuts down on the cost of repairs. Players can go longer between repairs or not suffer as much damage when they cross paths with a Sentinel.
5 Not Taking Advantage Of Fleets
Fleets are an important mechanic that many beginning players don’t give enough attention. Frigates within fleets can be hired to do everything from assist the player in combat, providing fuel for ships, and even earning passive income.
It is admittedly expensive to hire a frigate and build up a fleet for an expedition, but once up and rolling it dramatically changes the game. Players will accumulate resources and capital much faster, have backup in fights, and so much more in this Sci-Fi RPG.
4 Running Out Of Fuel
A very common mistake for players to make is wait until their ship is out of fuel before going out and collecting more. This is a big mistake as players can run out of fuel in the middle of a battle or be partway on a trip across a desolate open world and run dry.
It’s important to ensure that the ship is topped off whenever possible. This isn’t to say players should keep it above 90% full or anything absurd. But it’s a good rule of thumb to never get below half. That way players always have something in the tank to get them out of trouble.
3 Ignoring Money Making
Many players make the mistake of getting so wrapped up in collecting, harvesting, and grinding for resource they forget it’s possible to simply buy them. As a result many players give little credence to making money and it becomes an afterthought.
It is far more efficient to get money making systems up and running. With enough capital players can buy anything they need and completely cut out the long grinding and farming sessions to get resources. It takes a bit to get a refinery up and running or hire a Trade Specialist Frigate, but having those passive and semi-passive sources of income makes the game a lot more fun.
2 Always Playing Alone
A lot of players enter into this Sci-Fi game with a lone wolf mentality. They gather resources, explore planets, build bases, and do everything entirely by themselves without ever interacting with anyone. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with that, it does cut out a key part of the game’s experience.
Players coordinating together can accomplish so much more than if they worked alone. Two players gathering resources can more than double what a single player can gather. Bases go up faster, Sentinels are less intimidating, and it’s a lot of fun having shared experiences discovering cool things in this game.
1 Always Playing With Friends
On the other hand only ever playing with friends cuts out much of the satisfaction and enjoyment that comes with playing. Every once and a while players should take a minute hop into the game by themselves and do whatever they want.
Sure the harvesting will take longer and fights will be more dangerous, but there’s a sense of satisfaction and relaxation that comes with going at it alone and thriving. Every now and then players should feel free to jump in and do whatever they want without worrying about whether other people are interested in doing the same thing. The game was built with both co-op and solo play in mind after all.