The universe is, well, a universe. Full of mysteries, possibilities, and, as it turns out, games that want to explore it. In this clash, we will review two of the most notable titles when exploring space – No Man’s Sky and Elite Dangerous. 

Both titles have been praised for what they achieved regarding the sheer scope of their work. Both have varied gameplay and are much more than a simple space sim. You can become a bounty hunter, a space trucker, and all the other elements lacking in the Star Wars universe (who were the contractors on the Death Star?!). So, in this article, we will go over the best of the best when it comes to space games! Let’s dive in!

You are starting with nothing other than gameplay. In both cases, it’s highly set on creating your own experience. You can visit many places full of potential and do anything you’d like. So, what a gameplay like that would look like? Let’s find out!

No Man’s Sky

Starting with No Man’s Sky, we must address one thing right out the back. This was not the community’s favorite game when it came out. It promised a lot and delivered on some. The game was riddled with bugs and problems that could have been easily fixed with some attention and effort. This is why the community was extremely upset upon its initial release.

Nevertheless, nowadays, it’s a fantastic game, and its popularity is only growing. Day after day, it seems like there is no stopping. Why? Well, the creators decided to create a better game after the release instead of before. The core game is all about space exploration. There, you can visit every planet in the procedurally generated universe. Each one will have a different flora, fauna, and landscape – whatever you want to see.

Additionally, you will have to survive on each of them using the resources you have gathered. That way, you can upgrade your equipment and get even better at base building. And there’s also the combat element of it all. Not only will you be able to have incredible weapons on the ground, but also – high in the sky! Space battles are just out of this world (literally!), so definitely look out for those. Finally, a fun multiplayer mode lets you play with friends or strangers. As a star citizen, it’s all about exploring planets and not getting yourself in a gameplay loop, so always look for something new!

Elite Dangerous

On the other side of things, we have the Elite Dangerous. Here, you have a much greater emphasis on space exploration in the comfort of your spaceship. You need to learn how to pilot your ship masterfully, as you will not get a second chance if you’d screw up the basics, like managing fuel, navigating, or docking at the stations.

Another big thing about this one is the trading aspect. Here, you need to take care of the economy of your ship, changing between different star systems to buy low and sell high.

But where the game excels is the space combat. Fighting with pirates, dogfights, becoming the Boba Fett of this universe, or the fleet everyone fears. It’s a realistic space exploration, at least as natural as possible.

And finally – the multiplayer aspect. Here, you can explore the galaxy with friends or foes, however you feel like. Any choice you’d make would be right, so keep that in mind when finding your path.

Verdict

So, which one is better? Honestly – both. Whether you prefer a more survival/exploration gaming style or a more battle/trade-oriented one, you have your picks. In most cases, it’s a bland of different elements, as it’s sometimes a simulation, sometimes a combat. In both cases, games excel at being the best in the genre while not being too complex for a casual gamer (EVE Online, we’re pointing at you). It’s a draw!

Next up, we have the graphics department. Both titles have a lot of fun designing different planets, creating new and beautiful landscapes, and being creative overall. You can procedurally generate a lot in both worlds, so you need to ensure you have what it takes to do it, one way or the other. Game on, then!

No Man's Sky

Let’s start with No Man’s Sky. Here, the game looks stunning from top to bottom. It’s full of vibrant, colorful planets, with plenty of life on each one. You will see what the androids from Blade Runner saw while traveling the galaxy and more! The game looks just stunning; everything is dream-like, and you can recognize some creatures from your last slumber. It’s a visual masterpiece worth exploring, even to see what they could develop.

Elite Dangerous

Elite Dangerous focuses on a completely different aspect of space exploration, especially in the Space Odyssey expansion that adds new features to the already great title. Here, it’s all about the realism and accuracy of portraying the Milky Way galaxy. We see all the stuff we can point to at night, with exciting additions that can show the world in even more detail. Everything seems and feels like it would be an actual planet where you can progress, if possible, in real life. It’s an immersive portrayal of the world, and that’s the best thing about it!

Verdict

And, well, we have to call another draw. Don’t get us wrong, we love the wonders of No Man’s Sky, but what Elite Dangerous offers is also the top-of-the-top creme de la creme when it comes to graphics. Additionally, let’s be frank: Every space-exploration game can look stunning if it wants to, as there are so many things it can do to achieve it! It’s an exciting world of possibilities, and we are definitely on board with both. So, the choice is yours to make whether you like something more colorful and fun or something more realistic.

Let’s now focus on the aspect that is the core of both games – space exploration. In both titles, you can roam the universe to find the best possible way of overcoming the struggle of not being alive. So, in this part of the game, we will see how exploring the universe’s wonders works in both games.

No Man's Sky

No Man’s Sky is an excellent example of space exploration done right. It’s not too tedious, and the procedurally generated universe offers billions of possibilities on each planet. Of course, it does not mean that you will have to look for a specific resource for hundreds of hours just to never find one, but it’s an exciting idea that they managed to develop. 

In the game, you feel you have the absolute freedom of doing whatever you want, however you want, and to whomever you’d like. You will have to work through different conditions, creatures, and biomes – everything looks different and engages with you in some way, shape, or form. Whether you like to do it casually or more hardcore, the answer is definitely in the game.

Elite Dangerous

On the other side, we have Elite Dangerous. It’s an interesting comparison; you get to discover our galaxy here. It’s a scientific model based on the Milky Way, with all the celestial bodies, astronomical data that governs this universe, and all the start systems we see at night. It’s natural, full of possibilities, and – you can explore it all! It’s usually seen from the perspective of a dock station or a ship, but the exploration aspect is also an essential part of gameplay.

Verdict

Draws had to end someday. You just have to give it to the No Man’s Sky. It provides you with a complete space exploration experience, with detailed resource gathering, finding new and additional elements of the world, new resources you can use to upgrade your ship, and everything in between. Elite Dangerous focuses more on the scientific and realistic portrayal of our galaxy, which can sometimes be a bit tedious.

Another round is all about the story. While neither game has a linear adventure, you can get the scraps of what you are trying to achieve here and there while creating your very own path. The games create this mystical and fantastic narrative you can explore the longer you play the game. So, how did both titles manage to keep our attention? Let’s find out!

No Man's Sky

In the case of No Man’s Sky, the world has expanded dramatically since the title's release. There’s a grand narrative about reaching the galaxy's center and discovering what is happening there. 

Additionally, you get to become an explorer of different civilizations of aliens, like the Atlas, which is the center of interest for the protagonist. Of course, the game focuses on developing the bases and crafting even better ships and weapons. Nevertheless, there are dozens of side quests that you can explore with an incredible amount of content. There is a sense of mystery throughout the game, but it’s much more interesting to come across those mysteries occasionally rather than focusing solely on the exploration process.

Elite Dangerous

Elite Dangerous also does not have the linear campaign that is popular these days but rather focuses on open-ended, player-focused gameplay. Here, players can create their very own stories and make their very own decisions. The world is full of conflicts, trading possibilities, and exploration, and you can influence them however you’d like. And – you will see the results of your actions, for sure! There are plenty of quests to explore, places to roam, and alliances you can join. It’s definitely up to you how you will go about all of those things.

Verdict

So, in both games, you can either go about your day and ignore any story whatsoever or just go straight to focusing on discovering the mysteries of these worlds. In our opinion, due to dozens of updates and additional questlines, No Man’s Sky is the winner here. The alien civilization of Atlas, getting to the center of the universe, dozens of different quest-givers all over the world – it’s just too much to ignore. 

Don’t get us wrong, Elite Dangerous has a lot to offer in that department as well, but due to the initial problems that No Man’s Sky seems to have with the lack of guidance – they overcorrected for sure, giving us dozens of quests! So, point for No Man’s Sky!

And finally, we have the combat aspect of both titles. Where do they excel? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Where did the developers focus their attention on? Keep in mind that in both games, you get to experience stunning visuals and wonderful gameplay not only on the ground but also in the sky! Who did it better? Let’s find out!

No Man's Sky

Starting with No Man’s Sky, we must agree that it’s one of the best space exploration games ever. Combat, on the other hand, was not the priority. Don’t get us wrong – it’s still enjoyable! Just roaming the world and fighting against sentinels or pirates is a great way to have fun in this title; the main focus was definitely on exploration. What we can say, though, is that you can definitely enjoy the space combat that is done extremely well in all aspects.

Elite Dangerous

Elite Dangerous is in a completely different spot, on the other hand. It offers a detailed combat system with millions of possibilities on how to fight and who to fight with. You can utilize many different spacecraft, see which one works best for you, switch between different fighting systems, put more energy into weapons or shields, and get into some good old-fashioned destruction!

You can either become the savior of this universe or its downfall. The game allows you to master space fighting while also getting your hands dirty in many different scenarios. Combat is a key element of this game and definitely feels immersive and simply fun! It’s a PvP or PvE masterpiece, especially in the sky!

Verdict

Elite Dangerous is better in combat in every shape and form. If you like space fighting, this is definitely the game for you. No Man’s Sky is great, but it requires you to stay in your base more to succeed.

And the winner is – No Man’s Sky. Both games are fantastic space exploration titles. No Man’s Sky just offers more when it comes to gameplay and exploration, though. We, of course, recommend both titles, as those are some of the best space-based games in the history of gaming! If you want to learn more about game clashes, check out our great library of articles. That’s it for today. Thanks for stopping by, and we will see you in the next one!