I still remember the first time I reached the edge of Euclid after 30 hours of gameplay, staring at the swirling core of the galaxy and wondering what was on the other side. If you’ve had that same thought, you’ve probably asked yourself how many galaxies in No Man’s Sky you can actually visit. The game’s procedural generation is famous for creating nearly endless content, but even long-time players often don’t know the full scope of what’s available outside their starting galaxy. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the game’s galaxy system, from total count to travel tips to common mistakes you should avoid.
How Many Galaxies in No Man’s Sky Are There, Exactly?
The vanilla, unmodded version of No Man’s Sky has 255 unique, fully explorable galaxies. Every single one is generated with its own set of star systems, planets, alien races, and resource spawns, so no two galaxies feel exactly the same. The first galaxy you spawn in is called Euclid, and it’s the default starting point for every new player, regardless of platform or game mode. All 255 vanilla galaxies are accessible to every player without paid DLC or mods, even if you’re playing on a console without mod support.
A lot of players assume there are infinite galaxies because of the game’s procedural generation marketing, but that’s not the case. The 255 count is a hard limit set by the game’s code, though the number of planets inside those galaxies is effectively infinite for all practical purposes. I’ve met players who have spent thousands of hours in Euclid alone and still haven’t seen 1% of the planets there, so you don’t have to rush to visit other galaxies if you’re happy where you are. Modded versions of the game can add extra galaxies beyond the 255 limit, but those are only available for PC players who install custom content.
What Makes Each No Man’s Sky Galaxy Unique?
Every galaxy is assigned a specific type that dictates its overall biome bias, difficulty level, and rare resource spawn rates. You won’t see the galaxy type listed anywhere when you first spawn in, but you can usually tell what type you’re in after exploring 3 or 4 star systems. There are 4 core galaxy types you’ll encounter most often, each with their own perks for different playstyles:
You don’t have to stick to one galaxy type for your entire playthrough, of course. I once jumped to a harsh galaxy on a whim, and I found three S-class activated indium mines in my first hour there, which let me upgrade all my starship tech in a single weekend. It’s worth trying out different types even if you think you’re happy in Euclid. You can travel back to any galaxy you’ve previously unlocked at any time, so you don’t have to abandon your old bases when you move to a new one.
How to Travel Between Galaxies in No Man’s Sky
There are three main ways to travel to a new galaxy, and each has its own pros and cons depending on your playstyle and how much progress you’ve made in the game. The first and most well-known method is reaching the core of your current galaxy. To do this, you’ll need to upgrade your hyperdrive to handle longer jumps, work your way through the star systems leading to the center, and then make the final core jump. Be warned, though: if you take this route, all the items in your starship inventory will be deleted when you spawn in the new galaxy, so always move all your valuable resources and gear to your freighter before you make the jump.
The second method is using a glyph portal. To use this, you first need to collect all 16 glyphs by completing the Artemis questline, which takes around 10 to 15 hours depending on how much you side quest along the way. Once you have all 16 glyphs, you can input a valid address for any galaxy in the game, and the portal will take you directly there. Using a portal to travel to a new galaxy won’t delete any of your inventory, so it’s the safest option for new players who don’t want to risk losing their hard-earned resources.
The third and easiest method for new players is using the Nexus teleporter in the Space Anomaly to visit another player’s base that’s located in a different galaxy. If you travel to their base and place a base computer of your own somewhere in that system, the galaxy will be permanently unlocked for you to return to whenever you want. You don’t have to complete any quests or upgrade your hyperdrive to use this method, so it’s perfect if you just want to check out a different galaxy without a lot of prep work.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Galaxy Hopping
Galaxy hopping is pretty straightforward once you know how to do it, but there are a few common mistakes that can ruin your experience if you’re not prepared. The first and most costly mistake is forgetting to move your inventory to your freighter before jumping to a galaxy core. I’ve seen players lose hundreds of hours worth of rare resources and S-class upgrades because they skipped this step, so always double check your starship inventory before you make that final jump. If you’re not sure if you moved everything, err on the side of caution and make a manual save before you interact with the core.
Another common mistake is assuming all galaxies have the same resource spawn rates. For example, activated indium and void eggs are far more common in harsh and unstable galaxies, so don’t waste 10 hours searching for them in a lush galaxy. Look up the type of galaxy you’re traveling to before you go, so you know what resources you can expect to find there and what you should bring with you from your old galaxy. Always test out a galaxy for a few hours before you commit to moving all your bases there, to make sure it fits your playstyle.
The last big mistake is rushing to visit all 255 galaxies just to check them off a list. A lot of players get burnt out grinding jumps from one core to the next, and they stop enjoying the exploration that makes the game fun in the first place. You don’t have to visit all 255 galaxies to enjoy the game, so don’t pressure yourself to rush through them. Take your time, stop to explore weird planets, and only move to a new galaxy when you feel like you’ve exhausted the fun of your current one.
At the end of the day, whether you’re a casual player who only explores Euclid or a completionist trying to visit every system, knowing how many galaxies in No Man's Sky exist opens up a whole new layer of gameplay you might have missed. There’s no right or wrong way to explore, so take your time, try out different galaxy types, and have fun finding weird, wonderful planets to call home. You don’t have to grind for 100 hours to see other galaxies either — hop through a portal to a friend’s base this weekend, and you might find your new favorite spot in the universe.
