No Man’s Sky took some time to reach consoles after it was announced, but the wait was worth it in the end. For fans of sandbox games, the volume of content to invest in is deeply rewarding. The resource management elements are handled well despite customization not being as extensive. Either way, this simulation-arcade-style adventure will also tickle fans of not only sci-fi, but science itself.

All of this is akin to the delightful Astroneer, but it finds its own path. The incorporation of fellow players is definitely an added bonus to the variety of gameplay. But the single-player, PC-oriented nature of the game lingers. The story also begins like a trial-by-fire and it can feel overwhelming. Here are some tips for newcomers that become obvious, but feel elusive at the onset.

20 Explore Underground For Valuables

While starting out in No Man’s Sky, you might be tempted to scan a few of the trees, gather some materials, and be on your way with a not-so-shiny repaired ship. However, something you’ll want to start thinking about early on in the game is money - units are the galactic currency and you will end up needing a lot of them, and soon. There are many different ways to get money, but an easy thing you can do before you leave your starting planet is to explore underground.

Cave systems are all around in No Man’s Sky, and you can often find them by stumbling across large openings in the ground, or by spotting icons beneath the surface with the Analysis Visor. Caves usually have some good stuff to grab, including less common materials, unique types of flora, and even relics such as Vortex Cubes, which you can sell for a decent amount in the early days of the game.

19 Use Your Ship To Save Often

No Man’s Sky is a game where you will make large amounts of progress in bulk. Whether it be exploring a planetary surface for quite some time, or warping from system to system with not res between, you need to make sure that you’re saving your game as often as possible. Luckily, the game doesn’t run into nearly as many crashes and halting issues as it once did, but as many long-time players will tell you - use that autosave.

Every time you get out of your ship, the game will autosave. If you’re exploring a planet, just summon your ship to land near you every now and then, hop in and out, and carry on. If you’re jumping systems, take a pit stop at a space station and stretch your legs - it’ll be worth it if anything happens. You can also carry around save beacons and use them, but the ship will remain the most accessible method of saving on the go.

18 Expand That Inventory

One of the things players will notice almost immediately in No Man’s Sky is that inventory management is a major mechanic. Those pockets are going to be pretty full almost immediately, and it can quickly become a burdensome mess.

There is more than one way to add inventory slots - one is to buy them in space stations for Units. This can get pretty expensive, but it is absolutely worth it, as that inventory slot will pay itself off in no time, just in the value of gathering extra materials to sell. A little later on by using the Anomaly, a new slot is always going to be available at the backpack vendor in a new system. This is a nice and basically free way to keep on top of inventory upgrades, instead of purchasing them exclusively.

17 Grab Missions From Space Stations

Space stations aren’t only useful for gear upgrades. There are plenty of different vendors in space stations; some of them are just there to buy/sell stuff. But others are there for more specific purposes. For example, the Cartographer will take a certain item from you and turn it into a map, which can lead you to different things, depending on the type of map that you choose. Looking for some blueprints? There’s a map for that. Looking for a ruin? ‘X’ marks the spot.

Other missions are available at space stations, too, some of which are locked behind some progression. The further players get in the game, and the more respect garnered from the different races and guilds in the universe, the more missions will be available. The rewards often get better and better, too.

16 Always Have Extra Fuel For Launch Thrusters

There are few things more irritating than finishing an expedition on a planet, getting in the ship to take off into the stars, and realizing that there’s no fuel for the launch thrusters. It’s not as if the materials required to make this fuel are difficult to come by. After all, it’s just Ferrite Dust and Di-Hydrogen, right?

On certain planets, obtaining those two materials might require a trek to gather them. It’s better to just always have extra fuel on hand so there’s no risk of getting stranded. This is also why it is very important to invest in upgrades for launch thrusters.

15 Complete The Tutorial Alone

No Man’s Sky has come a very long way in regards to co-op play, but the initial tutorial teaching players how to build bases and fix their ship is still designed for a single player. It isn’t complicated in the way Monster Hunter: World is; the beginning is just easier to knock out alone. But don’t let the “tutorial” storyline take too long, since the point of the game is limitless exploration.

Also, if players try to partner up at the beginning, they will cannibalize resources for survival. Worse, neither player can actually complete the tutorial steps together. For example, bases cannot overlap with each other and they have a decent-sized radius. Players also won’t be able to edit each other’s bases unless the owner is present.

14 When In Doubt, Just Relaunch

As with most games that encounter bugs, there is sometimes no immediately obvious method of fixing certain issues. Some parts of a player base can disappear or even get stuck in a wall. It could even get pinned underneath a ship on a local space station. The spaceship doesn’t always pick the best place to land either.

Ultimately, it’s likely that no amount of teleporting is going to save the day. If the game encounters issues, simply quit, relaunch, and hope for the best. Thankfully, the game is in a much more stable state than it was when the game first debuted in 2016, and this has become a lesser issue.

13 Life Support Gel

It’s easy to panic about Life Support because it constantly depletes unless the player is in a ship or a structure. Bear in mind that sprinting and the jetpack actually use up that white bar even faster. The thing is, Oxygen can be really difficult to come by. Other materials are also required to refill hazardous shields for things like toxins and radiation.

But the game doesn’t explicitly tell players, unless they go looking, that Dihydrogen can save the day. These jagged blue crystals in the ground can be transformed into Dihydrogen Jelly. Mix that with some basic carbon, which is found in flora, and a Life Support Gel can fill that Life Support bar right up. Multiple gels are ideal to carry around throughout the game, as they stack up in your inventory.

12 Base Computers Are Permanent

A player’s second means of protection against the elements besides a ship is a base. That’s why it can be such a pain to get the first one started. As with other crafting games such as Terraria, players need one thing in order to craft another, resulting in Minecraft levels of storage.

Firstly, a Portable Refiner lets players make a Base Computer and that lets them claim an area of land. Once that is done, players can start building a shelter. A little shack made of wood will perfectly defend players from all hazards. However, as mentioned, keep in mind that Base Computers are permanent. There’s no moving the computer, and the only option is to delete it (and with it, the base) so be sure of where the base needs to be before getting started.

11 Evade The Sentinels

Sentinels are feisty machines that become relentless killing machines when they spot someone “corrupting” a planet. Essentially, these floating robots don’t like it when people smash up too many rocks or crush certain plants. Depending on the aggression rating of sentinels on a particular, some will even attack the player on sight.

The only defense at the onset is to retreat to the ship or base and wait for their investigation to end. They can actually spawn out of nowhere, so keep a wary eye while farming for resources. Players can eventually use a Boltcaster to shoot down enemies or hostiles. Unfortunately, every Sentinel immediately summons reinforcements when downed.

10 Scan Everything You See

Early on, players will be asked to integrate a scanner into their visor; it can define nearly everything in sight. The scanner can tell players where resource deposits are in the distance as well as locate bases and ships. But scanning minerals, foliage, and animals is perhaps the most important thing to use it for.

This may seem meaningless in the beginning, but once new players get the hang of things, they should scan literally everything. Every discovery rewards players with a specific amount of Units and can be uploaded to the discovery server for Nanites, as well. These units allow players to purchase upgrades for their multi-tool, ship, and more. The number of units can also be increased using upgrades, with some top-of-the-range upgraded multi-tools capable of earning you around 300,000 units just for scanning a simple creature.

9 The Benefits Of Solar Power

When base building or constructing, you are restricted to using a mere Biofuel Reactor early on, which is powered with carbon. But even though that can be an easy resource to find, it can also be somewhat time-consuming, as you will have to constantly top it up. So many things require carbon and bases often need more power than these reactors provide. Once a Teleporter is added to your home, improved power management becomes absolutely essential.

The only surefire way to keep generating power earlier on is to utilize solar energy and batteries. Solar Panels need Gold, which can be acquired on new planets and occasionally mined from asteroids. But the combination of Solar Panels and Batteries helps store any surplus energy for nighttime use. This keeps the power going 24/7 — or however many hours are on that planet.

8 Don’t Forget To Summon Your Ship

In a game that invites you to traverse as much terrain as possible, the ship will become crucial. Some settlement that’s days away will be easier to reach if by flying into orbit, then using the Pulse Engine. Either way, summoning a ship speeds everything up, provides a quick save point, and offers shelter.

If you happen to get into a firefight with Sentinels, or even just wander too far from a base, you can actually summon your ship at any time. However, that can only be achieved if the ship actually has fuel in it. So, as mentioned earlier, always make sure that the launch thrusters are fueled up before embarking upon an on-foot expedition.

7 Leave The Tutorial Planet

The planet players end up with when they first launch a new game in No Man’s Sky is entirely random. One could end up on a lush paradise planet. Or one could end up on a toxic planet with acid bubbles and walls of fire. But if you stick your head down, endure the dangers, then you’ll be able to leave it behind in no time.

That’s right. You don’t have to stay in a miserable, hazardous place. There are plenty of randomly generated planets - and some of them are nicer. Firestorms in the day, freezing at night? Nobody needs that. Just leave, and continue your tutorial on a new planet as soon as your ship is repaired.

6 Space Station Travel

Space stations become integral to the game, supplying players with all manner of upgrade potential and even some customization. In fact, players can even purchase other ships out there that vary wildly. However, one of the most important aspects is the space station teleporter.

Any time players reach a new system, they should go straight to the space station to activate the teleporter. This will allow a swift return and let them use it in the future. Most importantly, this will save people a lot of launch fuel early on. Pro-tip: the starship will follow a player when they teleport somewhere and it doesn’t cost any fuel to launch from a space station.

5 Trade-In Planet Data To Helios

The exploration is the reason why people pick up this game, but the connections they make might be why they keep coming back. Helios hangs out at the Anomaly and he kind of looks like a twisted-up Groot. But he also helps out with exploration and connections.

Not only can you trade in scanned data to him for nanites, but you can pick up derelict freighter coordinates. He gives one away to every player each week and they lead to an abandoned freighter full of loot and spooky mysteries. They are great and fruitful missions to do with friends.

4 Do Anomaly Missions With Friends

The Anomaly is the big spherical spaceship players can summon wherever they are. It is the home of Specialist Polo and Priest Nada. People can also exchange nanites for a plethora of items here such as base upgrades, multi-tool mods, and more. However, it also allows anyone to pick up unique missions that give quicksilver.

In the main area where spaceships land, there’s a Nexus where players can pick up different missions. Some are scanning animals or collecting materials while others involve killing sentinels. But the rewards are fantastic with players solo and even better with cohorts. The unique currency of Quicksilver lets people buy ship baubles, base decorations, and unique armor and head types.

3 Remember To Pick Up Planetary Maps

Every space station has a Cartographer station that lets players trade in navigation data. They offer five different types of planetary charts: Secret Cartographic Data, Emergency Cartographic Data, Commercial Cartographic Data, Alien Cartographic Data, and Specialist Planetary Data - the last of which is for finding settlements added with the Frontiers update.

As veteran players know, navigation data is very common in the game, found in devices across space stations or buildings. Trading it in for various planetary charts can help speed along with missions, lore discovery, and resource hunting. It can even lead players to crashed ships that they can claim and scrap - or use for themselves.

2 Track Down Abandoned Exosuit Upgrade Pods

Another great way to grow available inventory slots for an exo-suit is these drop pods. As mentioned earlier, you can purchase an upgrade at new space stations, but that can become expensive quickly, as the cost will increase with each upgrade you buy.

Instead, players can craft signal boosters and pair them with drop pod coordinate data. This will lead them to any drop pod in the area for a “free” upgrade. It requires specific resources such as Dark Matter, minerals, and other items, so it isn’t technically free. You can also happen upon these as they explore planets, as well, so they’re worth keeping an eye out for.

1 Upgrade Your Ship’s Hyperdrive ASAP

No Man’s Sky offers players the chance to explore a relatively non-creepy version of space. Those of us who don’t deal well with jump-scares can enjoy the vastness of space, with only some dark ambiance. But in order to do that in the best way, you need to upgrade your ship’s Hyperdrive. You can install upgrade modules that will increase the distance your ship can jump, and increase the efficiency of the warp cells.

There are three main types of hyperdrive additions: Cadmium, Indium, and Emeril. Each drive lets players go to systems of different colors. Get the most out of the game by upgrading the Hyperdrive with all of the drive types as soon as possible. All they require are the blueprints, wiring looms, and the associated resource like cadmium.

NEXT: No Man’s Sky: How To Save (& Other Things You Need To Know How To Do)