The Infinite Universe of No Man’s Sky: How Many Planets Can You Explore?
Since its launch in 2016, No Man’s Sky has fascinated gamers with its promise of a universe so vast, it’s practically infinite. One of the most common questions for both newcomers and seasoned explorers is: How many planets can you actually explore in No Man’s Sky? The answer is as staggering as it is inspiring.
The Mind-Boggling Scale: 18 Quintillion Planets
At the core of No Man’s Sky is a universe generated not by hand, but by sophisticated algorithms—a process known as procedural generation. This technology enables the game to create content on the fly, resulting in a universe with 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 (over 18 quintillion) unique planets. To put this in perspective, that’s vastly more than the estimated number of stars in our observable universe.
- Total Star Systems: 18,446,744,073,709,551,616
- Planets per System: Typically between 1 and 6
- Total Planets: Over 18 quintillion
If you spent just one second on each planet, it would take you over 585 billion years to visit them all—far exceeding the current age of the universe!
How Is This Possible? The Magic of Procedural Generation
Rather than storing data for every planet, No Man’s Sky uses a 64-bit seed system to generate planets, flora, fauna, and weather patterns as you approach them. This means:
- Deterministic Algorithms: The same coordinates always generate the same planet, allowing for shared discoveries and revisits.
- On-the-Fly Creation: Planets are generated as needed, so the game doesn’t need to store all worlds at once.
- Vast Diversity: The system creates everything from lush, Earth-like paradises to toxic wastelands, frozen ice worlds, and more.
For a deeper dive into procedural generation, check out this PC Gamer article or the No Man’s Sky Wiki.
What Makes Each Planet Unique?
While the sheer number is impressive, it’s the diversity that keeps exploration fresh. Each planet is generated with its own:
- Biomes and Environments: Lush, barren, toxic, radioactive, frozen, scorched, exotic, and anomalous worlds.
- Flora and Fauna: Unique, procedurally generated plants and creatures—some peaceful, some hostile.
- Resources: Essential for survival, crafting, and trading.
- Weather Systems: From gentle rain to raging storms and meteor showers.
- Sentinels: Robotic guardians with varying levels of aggression.
- Ancient Ruins and Alien Structures: Offering lore, puzzles, and valuable items.
With major updates like Origins, Hello Games continues to expand the diversity and complexity of planetary features. For more on the game’s evolution, visit the No Man’s Sky update history.
Can You Actually Explore Them All?
Technically, yes—there are no artificial barriers to visiting any planet. However, the sheer scale makes it impossible for any single player, or even the entire player base, to visit every world. In fact, as of 2025, players have explored and documented less than 0.001% of the universe.
| Total Planets | Estimated Discovered | Percentage Explored |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Quintillion | Less than 180 Trillion | < 0.001% |
“The universe is a pretty big place. If it’s just us, seems like an awful waste of space.”
— Carl Sagan (quoted in-game)
Navigating the Infinite: Tools and Tips
Exploring such a vast universe requires the right tools and strategies:
- Galactic Map: Your primary tool for interstellar travel, showing your location and nearby systems.
- Hyperdrive Upgrades: Invest in ship upgrades to jump between systems faster.
- Portals: Unlock instant travel to specific coordinates, often shared by the community.
- Scanner: Detect resources and points of interest on planets.
- Exocraft: Ground vehicles for rapid surface exploration.
- Community Hubs: Join groups like the Galactic Hub to share discoveries and collaborate.
For more on staying focused during long exploration sessions, see How to stay focused when distractions take over.
The Community and Shared Discovery
One of No Man’s Sky’s most engaging features is the ability to name and upload discoveries to the game’s servers, leaving your mark on the universe. The Galactic Atlas showcases player discoveries and community hotspots, while forums and wikis offer a space to share stories and tips.
If you’re looking to enhance your mental clarity and focus during your explorations, check out Effective strategies to improve mental clarity and A beginner’s guide to meditation: How to get started and build a practice.
Final Thoughts: The Endless Frontier
No Man’s Sky offers a universe of unparalleled scale and diversity. While you’ll never see every planet, the thrill of discovery and the sense of infinite possibility are at the heart of the game’s enduring appeal. Whether you’re a lone wanderer or part of a thriving community, the universe is yours to explore—one planet at a time.
For more on making the most of your downtime between explorations, see How to make the most of doing nothing for relaxation and mental health.
Further Reading: