If you’ve spent even a few hours wandering No Man’s Sky’s procedurally generated galaxies, you’ve probably stumbled across tiny outposts or abandoned shelters, but wanted something bigger to call your own. Figuring out how to find settlements in No Man’s Sky opens up a ton of new gameplay options, from running your own colonial hub to unlocking exclusive crafting recipes and story beats. I’ve spent over 200 hours bouncing between star systems hunting for the perfect settlement location, and I’ve narrowed down the most reliable methods that work for every playstyle, no matter if you’re a brand new traveler or a seasoned interstellar veteran. You don’t need high-end gear or a fully upgraded starship to pull these off, either.
How to Find Settlements in No Man’s Sky Using In-Game Navigation Tools
If you’re still learning how to find settlements in No Man’s Sky, starting with in-game navigation tools is the lowest-risk way to get the hang of the process. The most consistent option is buying Settlement navigation charts from the cartographer NPC at any space station, which costs 5 nanites per chart. You can earn nanites easily by scanning flora and fauna on planets, so this method is accessible even for players just a few hours into the game. When you use the chart in your inventory, it will mark a settlement location on your current planet, or point you to a nearby system with a suitable settlement if none exist on the world you’re currently visiting.
You can also use your analysis visor to scan for colonial outpost signals once you land on a planet you like. Hold the scan button, and you’ll see all nearby points of interest pop up, including settlements, outposts, and ancient ruins. Keep in mind that if you already own a settlement, your scans won’t pick up new ones until you abandon your existing hub from the administrative terminal. The only downside to this method is that charts will occasionally point you to settlements on toxic, irradiated, or high-sentinel planets that you won’t want to call home, so you may go through 2 or 3 charts before you find a spot you like.
Hunt for Settlements During Regular Planetary Exploration
You don’t always need a navigation chart to find a great settlement. Many of the best spots are found completely by accident when you’re exploring a planet you already love for its resources, weather, or creature variety. Settlements almost always spawn away from extreme weather zones, so if you’re flying low over a lush, temperate or frozen planet with calm conditions, keep an eye out for glowing landing pads and tall communication towers sticking up above the tree line. I once found my favorite tropical settlement by accident when I was chasing a herd of exotic diplos for my creature log, so don’t write off random detours during your regular exploration runs.
If you see a distress signal or minor settlement marker pop up on your HUD while flying, it’s worth veering off to check, even if you’re on a different errand. You can tell you’ve found a proper settlement rather than a small outpost if it has multiple buildings, a central public square, and more than 3 NPCs walking around. There are a few easy telltale signs that a settlement is nearby when you’re exploring:
Don’t waste your time checking every tiny shelter you see, though. Most small outposts only have 1 or 2 NPCs and no administrative terminal, so they won’t qualify as a settlement you can claim as your own. If you don’t see a terminal within 30 seconds of landing, you’re probably at an outpost, not a full settlement.
Use Multiplayer Features to Find Pre-Vetted Settlements
If you don’t want to waste nanites on random charts or spend hours flying over planets, you can leverage the game’s massive community to find pre-vetted perfect settlement spots. Joining a friend’s game session lets you visit their existing settlement, and if you like the planet it’s on, you can scan for an unclaimed settlement on the same world without having to travel through multiple star systems on your own. You can also use community shared coordinates from fan forums and groups to find settlements in ideal locations, like lush planets with no sentinels, abundant rare resources, and gorgeous views.
That means you can skip all the hunting and jump straight to a spot that other players have already confirmed is great. Just make sure you turn off multiplayer base building permissions if you’re visiting a stranger’s settlement, so you don’t accidentally alter anything that doesn’t belong to you. The only downside to this method is that you may have to travel dozens of light years to reach the system the settlement is in, which can be hard if you’re early in the game and don’t have a fully upgraded hyperdrive. It’s still worth the effort, though, especially if you’re looking for a very specific type of settlement location.
What to Do Once You Find Your Ideal Settlement
Once you locate a settlement you want to claim, head straight for the central administrative terminal near the main square, which is usually marked with a blue flag icon. First, pull up the settlement’s stats to make sure it’s a good fit for you: look for low existing debt, high productivity rates, and a low sentinel presence if you don’t want constant interruptions while you’re building. Keep in mind that you can only claim one settlement per save file, so don’t rush this step. If the settlement has a lot of debt, you can either pay it off to become the overseer, or keep looking for one that’s already well-run so you don’t have to spend extra units fixing it.
After you become the overseer, you’ll unlock new building recipes, get exclusive discounts at the settlement’s vendor, and trigger random resident quests that give you nanites, rare upgrade modules, and free units. I once claimed a settlement that had 2 million units of debt, and it took me 3 weeks of running daily quests to get it profitable, so it’s definitely worth checking the stats first before you commit. You can also customize the settlement’s layout, add new buildings, and even name the town whatever you want once you’re in charge.
At the end of the day, figuring out how to find settlements in No Man's Sky doesn't have to be a frustrating grind. Whether you're using navigation charts, stumbling across one while exploring, or borrowing coordinates from the community, there's a method that fits every playstyle. Take your time to find a spot that fits what you want, whether that's a quiet frozen planet hideaway or a bustling trading hub in a high-traffic system. Once you have your own settlement, you'll wonder how you ever played the game without it.
