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No Man's Sky

Review · Action · Nintendo Switch · Xbox One · PC

No Man's Sky

Reviewed: 30 Apr 2026

Nintendo Switch · Xbox One · PC · PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5

Hello Games · 2016

Ludograph rating

A

Recommended

68 /100

Automated review

No Man's Sky is an adventure game that fosters problem solving, spatial awareness, and creativity through exploring a vast universe.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 56 · R 14
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

56

Risk (RIS)

14

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.68
B2Social-emotional
0.40
B3Motor
0.50

No Man's Sky fosters exploration, creativity, and problem-solving through its vast, procedurally generated universe. Players can discover new worlds, build bases, and engage in strategic resource management. The recent multiplayer additions also encourage teamwork and communication.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.13
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.33

While No Man's Sky has minimal direct manipulative elements, its open-ended nature and constant stream of discoveries could lead to extended play sessions. The multiplayer aspects, while generally positive, introduce some minimal social risks.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.33
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.33
R4.4Substance References
0.00
R4.5Fear / Horror
0.33

Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.

Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: meets criteria·GDPR-K — Not yet assessed·ODDS — Assessed: meets criteria

  • DSA:What Ludograph checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects: plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes.: Estimated from review data. No dark pattern or child-targeting concerns found.
  • GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.
  • ODDS:What Ludograph checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea.: Estimated from review data. No paid random-reward mechanics found, so drop-rate disclosure requirements do not apply.

These reflect Ludograph's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria, not a legal compliance determination.

Avg playtime~15 hReviewedApr 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is No Man's Sky safe for kids?

Ludograph gives No Man's Sky a rating of 68/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It scores well on developmental benefits with manageable risks.

What age is No Man's Sky appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 7+ for No Man's Sky, based on benefits, risks, and content review. That is more lenient than ESRB T: industry ratings reflect content intensity, while ours also weighs how the game is designed to be played.

How long should kids play No Man's Sky?

Our session recommendation for No Man's Sky is up to 120 minutes per day. It is derived from the game's own structure (natural stopping points, compulsion-loop design, monetization pressure, and social dynamics), not from a universal screen-time dose.

Session recommendations are design-based heuristics. Evidence linking specific daily durations to child outcomes is limited, and context matters as much as time; treat this as a starting point for household rules, not a clinical threshold.

What are the main risks of No Man's Sky?

While No Man's Sky has minimal direct manipulative elements, its open-ended nature and constant stream of discoveries could lead to extended play sessions. The multiplayer aspects, while generally positive, introduce some minimal social risks.