If you’ve ever stared up at the procedurally generated sky in No Man’s Sky and wondered just how far you can travel, you’re not alone. I’ve spent over 300 hours in the 2026 version of the game hopping between star systems, hunting for rare fauna, and chasing that next big discovery, and the first question I always get from new players is how many galaxies are there in no man's sky. The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think, especially with the 2026 Frontier Overhaul update that added a handful of secret endgame galaxies most players never stumble across. I’m breaking down everything you need to know, from the base count to hidden galaxies, how to jump between them, and what you’ll find once you get there.
How Many Galaxies Are There in No Man’s Sky in 2026?
Hello Games originally launched the game with 18 quintillion planets spread across 255 core galaxies, but that number has grown with the 2026 content update. As of 2026, the total confirmed count of galaxies in No Man’s Sky sits at 263. The 255 original galaxies are all accessible via normal core jumps, while the 8 new hidden galaxies are only unlockable through specific endgame quests that most casual players never trigger.
The community spent three full months after the 2026 update launching data mining tests and shared playthroughs to confirm the count, so you won’t find this number listed on official Hello Games materials yet. You don’t need to visit all 263 to beat the main story, but completionists and long-time players will have plenty of new content to chase with the added hidden zones.
What Makes Each No Man’s Sky Galaxy Unique?
Every galaxy in the game is categorized by a specific biome type that changes the spawn rate of planet types, resources, and threats. Harsh galaxies have 3x the rate of extreme weather and sentinel planets, making them perfect for players who love a challenge. You’ll find way more rare upgrade modules and high-value resources in these galaxies, but you’ll also have to stay on your toes to avoid dying to sudden storms or aggressive sentinel patrols.
Lush galaxies have 70% more habitable, low-sentinel planets, ideal for base builders and casual explorers. You won’t find as many ultra-rare resources here, but you can set up permanent bases without having to build elaborate storm shelters or anti-sentinel defense systems.
These are the most popular galaxies players target first when they start galaxy hopping:
I spent 2 weeks grinding to reach Eissentam last year, and I haven’t looked back. I’ve found 12 perfect habitable planets there so far, with almost no aggressive sentinels and frequent storm-free weather, which makes building large bases way less of a hassle. If you’re a casual player who doesn’t want to deal with constant extreme heat or sentinel attacks, it’s easily the best galaxy to set up your permanent home.
How to Jump Between Galaxies in 2026
The standard way to move between galaxies is to travel to the center of your current galaxy. Once you reach the core, you’ll be given a choice of 4 new galaxies, each labeled with their biome type so you can pick one that matches your playstyle. You’ll need a fully upgraded hyperdrive and at least 5 warps worth of fuel to make the final core jump, so stock up before you head to the center.
You don’t lose any of your bases, ships, or items when you jump between galaxies. You can warp back to any previous galaxy at any time using a space station teleporter, as long as you have a saved base or teleporter point in that galaxy. If you’re looking to check off every one of the galaxies in No Man’s Sky as quickly as possible, you can optimize your jump path by targeting only the galaxy types you haven’t visited yet.
To access the 8 hidden 2026 galaxies, you’ll need to find Ancient Rift events that spawn randomly after you complete the main Artemis story path. Each rift requires 10 anomaly cores to activate, and each activation will send you to a random hidden galaxy. You also have the option to use a galaxy summon item if you’re playing in creative mode, which lets you jump to any galaxy you’ve already discovered without having to travel to the center. That’s a huge time saver if you’re just looking to take screenshots or hunt for specific resources that only spawn in certain galaxy types.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Galaxy Hopping
The biggest mistake I see new players make is forgetting to upload their discoveries before jumping to a new galaxy. If you don’t upload your finds, you lose all your discovery credits for unuploaded planets and creatures, and other players won’t be able to see your discoveries. Always upload every discovery you make before heading to the galaxy center, even if you think it’s a boring rock planet.
Another common mistake is not setting a permanent base in your starting galaxy before you jump. If you don’t have a saved teleporter point in Euclid, you’ll have to jump all the way back through the core path if you ever want to return, which can take 10+ hours of travel time. I also see a lot of players pick a random galaxy when they reach the core, instead of reading the biome labels. Don’t waste 10 hours of travel time ending up in a harsh galaxy if you only want to build bases and explore calm planets.
Don’t make the mistake of selling all your anomaly cores for units early game either. Those cores are the only way to unlock the hidden 2026 galaxies, so hold onto at least 10 of them if you ever want to access that endgame content. You can earn anomaly cores by completing derelict freighter missions, or by defeating rare sentinel dreadnoughts in high-security star systems.
At the end of the day, part of the magic of No Man’s Sky is that you don’t have to visit every single galaxy to have a good time. You can spend 1000 hours just exploring Euclid and still find new secrets every time you log on. But if you’re a completionist or just love chasing new frontiers, knowing how many galaxies are there in no man's sky gives you a clear goal to work towards as you play. Take your time, stock up on fuel, and don't forget to stop and look at the view every once in a while—you never know what rare planet or creature you might stumble across between jumps.
