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Both Minecraft and No Man's Sky remain extremely enjoyable experiences that are constantly updated with not just simple bug-fixing patches, but monumental updates that completely transform everything from gameplay to visuals. Both have achieved a tremendous amount throughout their respective existences, and both continue to garner huge player bases for that exact reason. One could likely spend the rest of their life playing nothing but No Man's Sky or Minecraft and feel more than content, they are both that feature-rich and content-heavy. However, as much as one could do that, one may not want to.
Thus, games like Minecraftand No Man's Sky are required to fill in the gaps between play sessions. Fortunately, there are plenty of titles that replicate the successes of both games individually, while adding their own spin. You'll find a plethora of block-based survival crafting games and a handful that let you jet around space exploring brand-new planets. Unfortunately, there are few that combine the two game's best elements to craft one legendary experience. Well, that was until recently, when a game that is very much Minecraft meets No Man's Sky released, and became playable for free.
If You Like Minecraft, Check This Out
While searching for games like No Man's Sky or titles that emulate the feeling we all got playing Minecraft for the first time, one may have stumbled across the critically acclaimed game, The Planet Crafter. Developed by Miju Games and released in 2024, The Planet Crafter has gone on to garner universal praise from critics and consumers alike, amassing well over 36,000 reviews on Steam, 95% of which are positive. Of course, it achieved such accolades thanks to its clever merging of No Man's Sky's alien setting and resource gathering, with Minecraft's creative freedom and control over the environment.
The Planet Crafter, as one would assume, sees players terraforming an utterly inhospitable planet in the hopes of getting it ready for human colonization. Much like Minecraft, players can completely alter the planet's landscapes through the construction of an array of devices and buildings which see the environment shift from unlivable barren wastelands into lush, vibrant, green spaces adorned with flora and fauna. While The Planet Crafter doesn't feature the voxel-based construction from Minecraft, it does attempt to emulate the same sense of expression and creativity.
Planet Crafter Has A Free Demo, And Is On Game Pass
For those who want to play The Planet Crafter but perhaps aren't convinced or don't quite feel like spending $23.99 just yet, there is a completely free demo available on Steam. It features around 30 minutes of gameplay, allowing players to explore a small area of the game's vast open-world and engage with some of the early base building and resource-gathering mechanics. It doesn't have an end point, but players are prevented from progressing after a certain point. Fortunately, progression carries over to the full release, for those who are tempted to buy it.
Additionally, much like with No Man's Sky's latest huge update, The Planet Crafter regularly receives game-changing updates that add new content or drastically improve gameplay based on player feedback. Most recently, it got its biggest one yet in the form of the 2.0 update, which also saw it launch on PS5 and Xbox (as well as Xbox Game Pass). For those who are subscribed to the Xbox subscription service, it can be played for free on there as well. For everyone else, it'll cost $23.99, much like it does on Steam.
While it is a little janky and can feel a tad unpolished at times, it manages to encapsulate the peaceful, almost melodic nature of Minecraft and No Man's Sky that often saw us playing well into the wee hours, utterly oblivious to the fact the sun set a long time ago. Sure, it is unlikely any game will quite match their collective brilliance, but The Planet Crafter certainly comes close, and is likely a worthwhile investment for those eager to take a break from Minecraft and No Man's Sky, if only for a moment or two.
