No Man’s Sky Switch 2 Review

No Man’s Sky Switch 2 Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2

When No Man’s Sky was announced for the original Switch, everyone thought it would be a streaming title of a heavily cut-down version of the game. The idea that a procedural galaxy, brimming with alien wildlife, distant stars, and quite literally, a universe of infinite discovery, could fit in the palm of your hands was astonishing. Now, with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, HelloGames have brought that universe to Nintendo’s latest console in the form of a free upgrade for existing owners, or at the same price point as the original Switch version. Coinciding with the Beacon Update, which continues Hello Games’ relentless commitment to making the game better year after year, the Switch 2 release dropped on launch day, much to the surprise of many travellers. What’s it like? Fire up the hyperdrive, Chart a course, and see just how far this adventure has come as we review No Man’s Sky for Nintendo Switch 2.

What’s New in the Switch 2 Edition

It doesn’t take long to realise this isn’t just No Man’s Sky running on better hardware, it’s a massive leap bringing it close to parity on the current gen formats. Multiplayer is now fully enabled, meaning Switch 2 players can finally join their friends across the galaxy, building bases, exploring planets, and sharing discoveries in real time. It’s a major leap from the solo-only limitations of the original Switch release. Visually, the difference is night and day. The game looks almost indistinguishable from current-gen versions, a remarkable achievement for portable hardware. The clouds were the first thing that struck me as they looked thick and layered as I descended into a planet’s atmosphere. They peel back like fog on a mountainside, revealing lush worlds beneath, and it genuinely took my breath away and the draw distance and lighting effects add a richness the original Switch version simply couldn’t deliver. A lot of this comes down to the technical wizardry of Hello Games’ own Martin Griffiths, who quietly brought No Man’s Sky to life on Switch 2, reportedly working in near secrecy for the past year to make it happen.

Beyond visuals, load times have been massively improved, particularly at startup. Warping between systems and landing on planets feels brisk and responsive, helping the rhythm of exploration feel more fluid than ever. The game also offers touchscreen support for handheld play. While I found myself sticking with standard controls out of habit, it’s a welcome addition for players who like tapping through menus or navigating the galaxy map that way. Both handheld and docked modes run impressively well, though I did notice the system felt warm when undocking, most likely indicating that this is a demanding game pushing the Switch 2 to its limits.

One of the biggest additions in the Switch 2 version is the inclusion of settlements, which were noticeably absent from the original Switch release. These small, AI-populated towns add a whole new layer to planetary exploration, allowing players to become overseers and help manage resources, defend against threats, and shape the growth of their communities. Paired with the Beacon Update’s improved mission structure and quality-of-life changes, settlements now feel like a meaningful part of the overall experience, adding depth, purpose, and a sense of belonging to the vastness of space.

Performance on Switch 2

From a performance standpoint, No Man’s Sky runs beautifully on the Switch 2. The framerate remains smooth throughout, even in situations that would have brought the original Switch version to a crawl. I tested it by taking down a pirate frigate in space and pushing the planet-side sentinel alert to maximum, both of which ran without a hitch. Even in those intense moments, the game held steady, which is a huge step forward. There was one small exception: some brief loading during warp screens, where the game seems to stutter slightly as it transitions. It’s minor, but noticeable when you’re hyperspeeding across the stars. I did encounter a couple of quirks. One was purely visual, after defeating a Sentinel Titan, part of its shell remained floating in the air. It didn’t affect gameplay, but it stood out. The other two were more persistent: terminals and interactable objects on my frigate or in space stations would occasionally take a few seconds to become active after landing. I’m not sure if this is related to online syncing or a platform-specific delay, but it happened often enough to mention. I also had one instance where my base didn’t fully load until I hopped back into my ship, which will likely be something a future hotfix will tidy up. Still, these were the exception, not the rule. Across dozens of planets, battles, and warps, the experience remained smooth, fast, and impressively stable.

For my explorers looking into accessibility, No Man’s Sky has evolved over time to offer a more inclusive experience. There are several accessibility options for scaling the UI, removing flash transition, applying colour filters, removing blur from hazard effects and text contrast. There’s also a myriad of difficulty settings, too many to mention here, you can change to tailor the game experience to your liking. From a more cozy experience to a hardcore permadeath mode, you can mould the galaxy around your playstyle.

From a value standpoint, the team at HelloGames have not increased the price of the Switch 2 version, and even has the original Switch sale price on at the moment, which is roughly $34 AUD. For owners of the game already, the Switch 2 upgrade is completely free as well, continuing the trend of Sean Murray and the team’s commitment to building their game the originally envisioned.

I have written about No Man’s Sky a fair bit on What’s It Like as it’s been an incredible journey from what could have been conceived as a huge loss on launch was turned into one of gaming greatest comeback stories. No Man’s Sky arriving in full on the Switch 2 is just another step on that journey… What began as a bold vision on the original Switch has now landed as a complete, confident experience, rich with content, smooth in performance, and finally feature-complete with full multiplayer and settlements. The Beacon Update offers structure without restriction, the visuals rival current-gen consoles, and the technical work behind the scenes is nothing short of remarkable. Whether you’re a returning traveller or stepping into the cockpit for the first time, the Switch 2 version of No Man’s Sky not only reaches for the stars, it takes players beyond them to a universe of infinite adventure.

So, What’s it Like? No Man’s Sky is like Minecraft crossed with Elite Dangerous.

Just like the Original Switch version, No Man’s Sky is a What’s it Like Certified Exceptional game.

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