what exactly is the point of this game?

[CallMeDyl]

i love survivle games, but i feel like im barely surviving, im living lol. but for real is the main point of the game just building and exploring?

game seems really cool and i want to keep trying to play it.
but its hard to find a reason to wanna go back and play in my opinion.

i love survival games and building in them but something is just not clicking for me in this game. unless i just haven't played far enough into the game.

[Sierra // 117]

Have you relaxed some of the settings? I found that a more casual approach rather than this survival grind made the game more fun for me personally. In regards to "goals" quite frankly theres a lot of them but they just kinda appear. Tbh think like minecraft. Sure theres goals but its mostly about your approach and how you wanna play. Make your own path and things will come to you on there own. This is just me and my experience. I just started getting into this game after the update

[CallMeDyl]

Originally posted by Sierra // 117:

Have you relaxed some of the settings? I found that a more casual approach rather than this survival grind made the game more fun for me personally. In regards to "goals" quite frankly theres a lot of them but they just kinda appear. Tbh think like minecraft. Sure theres goals but its mostly about your approach and how you wanna play. Make your own path and things will come to you on there own. This is just me and my experience. I just started getting into this game after the update

ohhh ok thanks for the response, ill look at the other settings.

[Felis_Exploria]

Yes. Building and exploration are the main "goals". They have some combat. If you supertech your mutitiool and use buildings, there is little challenge to ground combat. If you supercharge your ship and use auto lock there is little challenge there, either. (Note that you can make either challenging, but it requires discipline to not use the easy outs that are programmed in.) The survival aspect is probably the weakest point because on almost every planet, recharge resources are everywhere and abundant. (The one aspect I wish they did change). Outside the first hour, you probably will not be challenged to survive. (Except for a few hazards on an occasional planet I'll leave you to discover.) There are missions if you need direction or and end goal. The main story line does introduce you to a new race and multitool you can't get any other way. Otherwise, much is left to your own whims.

[Razguul]

The point of the game is for devs to make lots of money.

[Felis_Exploria]

Originally posted by Razguul:

The point of the game is for devs to make lots of money.

You can say that about every game.

[Lindy Bomber]

The point?
Explore
Take pretty pictures
Name alien fauna after family pets
Collect stuff
Argue about what the next update should be with randos online.

[UncreativelyNamed]

It's a sandbox game and it has no "point" or "end game." You're meant to create a play style -- for just one save or for your overall playing -- out of the things you can do (but don't have to do) in the game that you enjoy doing. The "point" is enjoyment, and only you can define what you enjoy doing in the game, assuming that you enjoy anything. If you need the game to tell you what the "point" is, you're playing the wrong kind of game. Not all games billed as "survival" have a discrete purpose or things that you have to do. NMS is one that doesn't have any of that. It's up to you.

[CallMeDyl]

Originally posted by Lindy Bomber:

The point?
Explore
Take pretty pictures
Name alien fauna after family pets
Collect stuff
Argue about what the next update should be with randos online.

lmao sure

[RustyNail]

Originally posted by UncreativelyNamed:

It's a sandbox game and it has no "point" or "end game." You're meant to create a play style -- for just one save or for your overall playing -- out of the things you can do (but don't have to do) in the game that you enjoy doing. The "point" is enjoyment, and only you can define what you enjoy doing in the game, assuming that you enjoy anything. If you need the game to tell you what the "point" is, you're playing the wrong kind of game. Not all games billed as "survival" have a discrete purpose or things that you have to do. NMS is one that doesn't have any of that. It's up to you.

^^^ +1

OP, it doesn't sound like this game is a good fit. Don't stress over it. This sort of thing happens to all of us: buying a game we hope we'll enjoy - but finding out after playing a bit that it's not a good fit after all.

[PinkDaddySasquatch]

uhhh... the point is to have fun and make the company that made it money... like literally every other video game in existence...

Originally posted by CallMeDyl:

but its hard to find a reason to wanna go back and play in my opinion.

buddy... if you still own it... just DL and try it... literally as simple as that... I'm not trying to be a ♥♥♥♥ here but like come on what kind of question is "what is the point of this game"

[CallMeDyl]

Originally posted by PinkDaddySasquatch:

uhhh... the point is to have fun and make the company that made it money... like literally every other video game in existence...

Originally posted by CallMeDyl:

but its hard to find a reason to wanna go back and play in my opinion.

buddy... if you still own it... just DL and try it... literally as simple as that... I'm not trying to be a ♥♥♥♥ here but like come on what kind of question is "what is the point of this game"

bruh are u dumb or are you dumb? no sh*t every game is meant for "fun" but games like palworld or minecraft has something to work towards. i was just asking. nothing fun about roaming empty planets, other than occasionally nice ones and especially no challenge to the game.

i haven't gotten far into the game, i only reached where you get the anomaly part.

[Dirak2012]

Originally posted by CallMeDyl:

Originally posted by PinkDaddySasquatch:

uhhh... the point is to have fun and make the company that made it money... like literally every other video game in existence...



buddy... if you still own it... just DL and try it... literally as simple as that... I'm not trying to be a ♥♥♥♥ here but like come on what kind of question is "what is the point of this game"

bruh are u dumb or are you dumb? no sh*t every game is meant for "fun" but games like palworld or minecraft has something to work towards. i was just asking. nothing fun about roaming empty planets, other than occasionally nice ones and especially no challenge to the game.

i haven't gotten far into the game, i only reached where you get the anomaly part.

The thing with this game is that there is nothing worthy to strive for. Everything is optional and basically meaningless, you do things because you like to do those things, no other reason.

[DirtyMick]

Start with expedition. Just start over now. I thought it was stupid to start over after 11 hours in the game, talking to all those aliens trying to learn the language and just throwing all that away. But someone convinced me to just do it and I am so happy I did. Expedition rules. Gives you more of a reason to play, and you'll be past where you were in no time, because the rewards are so good. Like, 8 extra inventory slots very early on from milestones. A better gun. I got a scatterblaster and now I love actually killing things. You one shot those little broodling bastards that come out of the ground. It's fun. You seem to be about where I was when I started over (just got to the anomaly, and then maybe an hour exploring a bit more). So I think starring over on expedition mode will be great for you bro trust me. I also have 5 million units after like 2 hours of playing it, compared to my 11 hour playthrough only amassing maybe 1 million total lol.

[Revelation_jeff]

The core goals of the game are simple: Progression & Making money. The core enjoyment of the game comes from improving your survivability via module upgrades, new gear & resource collection automation.

Every mechanic that exists in the game is designed around this aspect. I personally found the game more enjoyable in survival mode where it felt more difficult to survive. Normal mode felt too meaningless via its ease of survivability where as survival mode gave a bit more meaning to me in terms of bases, upgrades & automation.

[UncreativelyNamed]

Originally posted by CallMeDyl:

Originally posted by PinkDaddySasquatch:

uhhh... the point is to have fun and make the company that made it money... like literally every other video game in existence...



buddy... if you still own it... just DL and try it... literally as simple as that... I'm not trying to be a ♥♥♥♥ here but like come on what kind of question is "what is the point of this game"

bruh are u dumb or are you dumb? no sh*t every game is meant for "fun" but games like palworld or minecraft has something to work towards. i was just asking. nothing fun about roaming empty planets, other than occasionally nice ones and especially no challenge to the game.

i haven't gotten far into the game, i only reached where you get the anomaly part.

Then you haven't really played the game yet. You've played the tutorial, where you learn the basics of how the game works -- How to get resources, how to craft/repair things, what you need to recharge/refuel things, etc.

But in the end? There is ultimately nothing to "work toward" in this game unless you set a goal for yourself. Sure, there are still quests to do -- You haven't even touched the main one yet -- but they are all, basically, just extended tutorials, as you have been playing. They exist to introduce you to various aspects of the game. You are then meant to pick and choose from among those aspects, set a goal for yourself -- for just one save or for your playing in general -- and then pursue that goal.

In my opinion, in order to enjoy this game past the various quests, you need to be self-motivated and self-directed. If you aren't, this isn't a game you're going to enjoy long-term at all. No shame in that. It's just that not all games are going to suit every person.