Honorable Mention #2: No Man’s Sky
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Senior Features Editor Ishmael Romero: No Man’s Sky is not for everybody. It’s a game that is more focused on exploration and discovery than extensive systems of gameplay mechanics and features. There isn’t much to No Man’s Sky other than the idea of exploring an impossibly large universe with the freedom to go as you please. For most that just isn’t enough, but for me that was where Hello Games’ latest release held most of its charm.
There’s something oddly serene about simply floating through space with nothing driving you but your own desire to see what’s next. It’s the lonely road, the one where it’s just you and wherever your ship can take you is where No Man’s Sky shines. Landing on a planet and seeking out artifacts along with odd looking creatures, visiting Space Stations and just watching ships land as you sit there silently, taking on pirates just because they happened to cross your path, these are all things that feed into the sense of you being just a speck in it all.
No Man’s Sky perfectly encapsulates what it means to be one in a sea of infinite beings. Yet, it allows you to find your own brand of significance as you sail through the stars, intent on making your own adventure.