No Man’s Sky’s new Worlds update shook up all my favorite planets

No Man’s Sky is a game large enough to handle many playstyles. I could head into an Expedition and stomp bugs, explore derelict space stations for valuable loot, or role-play with a group of like-minded fans. But I’ve always enjoyed playing No Man’s Sky as an explorer and photographer. I like to enjoy an edible, go to space, and wander around gorgeous planets taking photos.

To my wonder — and occasionally, my dismay — the latest No Man’s Sky update, Worlds, has swept over my corner of the galaxy. I’ve explored and cataloged scores of systems while wandering around and enjoying good vibes. Some boring worlds have been spiced up, some familiar planets now look very different, and I’m getting back into my habit of being a galactic tourist and landscape admirer.

Before, seen below, my home planet of Anxiease had lovely pink skies, green grasses, and crystal waters. (Also, the occasional massive worm.)

The tranquil planet of Anxiease in No Man’s Sky, with pink skies, blue waters, green grasses, and purple birch trees.

But when I logged on post-update to see the changes, I was startled to find a whole new world. I’d call it an improvement; I miss the pink skies, but at night, the fluorescent grass glows in waves while mushrooms pulse their own lights. It’s utterly alien, relaxing, and a visual treat.

Then there’s my settlement of Sporeholm, named because of the giant orange mushrooms that were speckled all over the landscape. That, combined with an acrid green fog, made the entire place feel like an acrid swamp (seen below). It wasn’t exactly a tourist destination, but it had a certain charm. Plus, the inhabitants make Welding Soap, which I can sell at a huge profit.

A swampy planet in No Man’s Sky, with weird fungi and grasses dotting the landscape.

But Sporeholm has also been changed by the Worlds update, and instead of mushrooms, the landscape is spotted with these weird, spindly tree-like plants with pink bulb lights on the end.

Three plants on a planet in No Man’s Sky, with spindly flora topped with pink bulbs, against a light cyan sky.

The smoke and fog has completely dissipated, which means that things look much more hospitable during the day. But when you arrive at Sporeholm at night, those trees give everything a vaguely menacing aura.

A shot of Sporeholm, a No Man’s Sky settlement, at night, with the trees’ pink bulbs glowing ominously and lighting the dark settlement.

Jumping around my already explored planets and seeing what’s changed is neat, but I’m also having fun checking out new, unexplored worlds. With a little bit of hunting, I was able to discover a world with lots of floating little islands — great real estate for someone who’s a creative base builder.

A spaceship in No Man’s Sky flies over the surface of a planet. The sky is cyan, and the land is covered with red grasses. In the air are floating platforms of land.

It’s this sense of discovery — and re-discovery — that makes No Man’s Sky so special to me. I love exploring these alien worlds, finding terrifying fauna and mysterious flora. I love finding lost, overgrown shrines with messages left by the doomed survivors of great wars. I love getting absolutely roasted on edibles and spending hours wandering around cool planets, taking screenshots and trying to remember the rule of thirds.

Hello Games has been careful to note that this is just part one of the Worlds update, which means we’ll likely get more overhauls in the future. I’m trying not to get too used to any one planet; in the future, it might be shaken up by one such patch. But I’m OK with new planets appearing in mapped galaxies and old planets looking entirely different. I’m here to relax, unwind, and enjoy the view.