Space exploration game Nobody’s Sky is a famous example of redemption for developer Hello Games. The game launched to mixed reviews in 2016, but eventually became much more than players could have expected. Showing above 18 quintillion (!) planets, an endless universe to explore, space combat, intergalactic trade, base building, customizable mech suits and over 20 huge free expansions, it’s clear Nobody’s Sky it really is a single video game. Even more impressive is the fact that Nobody’s Sky is available on Valve’s Steam Deck handheld, allowing you to take the entire universe with you on the go. until Nobody’s Sky it’s a blast on every platform, it’s the best on Steam Deck. That is why.
The entire universe in the palm of your hand
The sense of scale in Nobody’s Sky it’s huge, so much so that it’s not possible for one person to visit every planet in the game – not by a long shot. “If a new planet enters Nobody’s Sky were discovered every second, it would take 584 billion years to discover them all,” Hello Games co-founder Sean Murray once said.
But beyond the sheer size of the game is the number of things it lets you do. It’s not just about visiting planets, instead, offering many mechanics that appeal to a wide variety of players.
For example, you can enjoy it in a casual way, just by seeing the sights and sounds of each planet. You can also treat it more like a survival game, aiming to collect resources to stay alive as long as possible – with multiple difficulty modes for all types of players.
Being able to make such a massive game on the go with Steam Deck is an unimaginable feat. There is something special about the intimacy of playing Nobody’s Sky in hand, thanks to the dichotomy of having such a large experience on such a small screen.
Curl up with him on the sofa, take him on a road trip or even play on the plane – the choice is yours.
Play as you like
The Steam Deck itself also offers a plethora of options across the board. You can scale the frame rate and resolution on the device, allowing you to preserve battery life or prioritize better visuals and performance.
When at maximum settings on Steam Deck, we were able to get Nobody’s Sky to run at around 1280 x 800, delivering a 50 to 60 frames per second in many situations. Sure, it doesn’t run as well on Steam Deck as it does on a powerful PC, but that’s a small price to pay for such an unforgettable portable experience.
Better yet, you can seamlessly launch the game on PC through Steam, allowing you to pick up right where you left off on the Steam Deck, just like the Nintendo Switch.
PC gaming definitely has its perks, but it can be tricky to get into. Messing with settings, dealing with PC parts and getting to know which the parts that work best is an overwhelming process. This is what makes Steam Deck so accessible. You turn it on and it just works.
What better game to show the skills of the handheld than Nobody’s Sky?
Accessible to everyone
Over the years, Hello Games has effectively mixed different game genres Nobody’s Sky. One update doubled down on base building, allowing players to create entire cities on the surface of a planet. Another focused on ship battles, effectively enhancing dogfights to be pulsating, intense and often spontaneous.
There is also a subsection of the game dedicated to exploring creepy abandoned warehouses full of terrifying alien creatures. It plays like Dead spacegiving horror fans something to enjoy as well.
You can even battle against other real explorers in a robust PvP mode, which gives competitive players something to enjoy as well. Likewise, the entirety of the game can be experienced alone or with friends, making the journey through the universe a little less lonely.
And almost everything can be customized along the way, from your character, costume, spaceship, vehicles, equipment and various settings, as well as the ability to switch between first and third person on the fly. It’s truly remarkable what Hello Games has done in just six years, and everyone should at least give Nobody’s Sky a trial, regardless of platform.
Luckily, Nobody’s Sky will soon be coming to Nintendo Switch, giving consumers an even more accessible way to enjoy the most ambitious sci-fi game ever. It’ll certainly run worse on Switch than the Steam Deck version, but at least you’ll be able to get it on the go – without having to wait months to get your hands on Valve’s new hardware.
There is a reason Nobody’s Sky is among the best The 10 most played games on Steam Decktopping the charts alongside giants like The Elden ring, Rise of the Monster Hunterand even Grand Theft Auto V. It is an unforgettable experience that is worth playing.
Nobody’s Sky is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and is coming to Nintendo Switch on October 7, 2022.