Part of the series:

Quick Answer

  • Repair your Multi-Tool Scanner first so you can find resources and Sodium.
  • Gather Ferrite Dust, Carbon, Di-hydrogen, Oxygen, and Sodium to fix your ship.
  • Follow the Awakenings main quest. It teaches every core system naturally.
  • Scan every creature, plant, and mineral you see; it's one of the best early Unit sources.
  • Buy an Exosuit inventory slot at every Space Station you visit.
  • Build a Portable Refiner and a Base Computer as soon as possible.
  • Claim the free Freighter that appears after your first several hyperspace jumps.

Overview

No Man's Sky drops you on a damaged ship with low resources, hazardous weather closing in, and almost no explanation. That opening hour can feel overwhelming, but the game has a clear progression path if you know what to prioritize. This checklist walks you through the first 10 hours in a logical order so you're never spinning your wheels or wasting precious early resources.

The game is in excellent shape in 2026 following updates like Worlds Part II and Remnant, which refined survival mechanics and added new content. The fundamentals for new players, however, remain the same rewarding loop: explore, scan, craft, upgrade, and warp.

Phase 1: Survive the First Planet (Hours 1–2)

Repair Your Scanner Immediately

Your Multi-Tool Scanner is broken when you spawn. Fixing it requires a small amount of Ferrite Dust, which you can mine from rocks nearby. Do this before anything else, without the Scanner you can't locate resources like Sodium easily, and Sodium is what recharges your Hazard Protection.

Essential Resources to Grab

Resource Where to Find It Why You Need It
Ferrite Dust Small grey rocks Ship repair, crafting
Carbon Trees, plants, vines Fuel for the Portable Refiner
Di-hydrogen Blue crystals on the ground Ship launch fuel
Oxygen Red-leafed plants Recharges Life Support
Sodium Yellow plants Recharges Hazard Protection

If the weather turns severe, duck into a cave. Caves shield you from storms and often contain Cobalt and other valuable minerals. Don't wander far from your ship until repairs are done.

For a detailed breakdown of keeping your suit systems running, see the No Man's Sky Survival Guide: Life Support, Hazard Protection, Oxygen & Sodium.

Repair Your Ship

Once you have the required materials, repair your ship's components one at a time following the Awakenings quest markers. Your ship is your escape pod, storage unit, and primary transport. Getting it flight-ready is the single most important task on the planet.

Phase 2: Follow the Awakenings Quest (Hours 2–5)

The Awakenings quest is No Man's Sky's tutorial mission and it does a remarkable job of introducing each system organically. Resist the urge to ignore it and free-roam. It will walk you through:

  • Building a Base Computer and claiming your first base
  • Crafting a Portable Refiner (requires Metal Plating and Oxygen)
  • Installing a Hyperdrive so you can warp between star systems
  • Visiting a Space Station for the first time
  • Meeting the Space Anomaly and its research merchants

The quest also connects to the broader Artemis Path, which is worth following through to unlock portal Glyphs later in the game. If you ever feel lost, open your mission log. It almost always points you in the right direction.

Phase 3: Make Your First Units (Hours 2–5, Ongoing)

Scan Everything

Your Analysis Visor is among the most powerful early income tools in the game. Every time you fully scan a creature species for the first time, you earn Units. With Scanner upgrade modules installed, fauna scans can pay out very well. Rare or large creatures yield the highest rewards. Flora and mineral scans also pay out, though typically less than fauna.

Aim to complete full planetary surveys (all creature species on a planet) for bonus rewards on top of individual scan payouts. Read more about maximizing this in our guide to scanning for Units with the Analysis Visor.

Install Scanner Modules Early

Visit the Technology Merchant at any Space Station and look for Analysis Visor Upgrade modules. You can install up to three of these in your Multi-Tool: installing a fourth disables all of them, so stop at three. Placing them adjacent to each other in your inventory provides an additional synergy bonus. This is one of the best early investments of Nanites you can make.

Phase 4: Build Your First Base (Hours 4–6)

You don't need a grand structure. A functional starter base needs:

  • Base Computer (claimed from the Awakenings quest)
  • Save Point so you can manually save
  • Portable Refiner for turning raw materials into crafting components
  • Teleporter so you can fast-travel to your base from any Space Station

Place your base somewhere you find interesting: a scenic vista or a resource-rich area. Don't overthink it. Your first base is a stepping stone, not a permanent home. When you're ready to go deeper, the No Man's Sky Base Building Guide for Beginners covers layouts, power, and expansion.

Phase 5: Expand and Upgrade (Hours 5–10)

Buy Exosuit Slots at Every Station

Every Space Station has an Exosuit Upgrade terminal. You can purchase one inventory slot per station visit. It costs more each time you upgrade, but early slots are relatively affordable. Make buying a slot a habit every time you dock somewhere new. Inventory space is freedom in No Man's Sky. The Space Anomaly also has its own Exosuit Upgrade terminal, giving you another slot each time you visit.

Drop Pods scattered across planets also give Exosuit slots once repaired. For the full upgrade strategy, see How to Get More Inventory Slots.

Claim Your Free Freighter

After you've made several hyperspace jumps, you'll be pulled out of warp by a distress signal: a Freighter under pirate attack. Defeat the pirates and the captain will offer you the Freighter for free. Accept it. A Freighter gives you a massive mobile base, storage, and the ability to send Frigates on automated expeditions for resources and Units. If you decline the first offer, subsequent rescue events remain free until you claim one, so you can hold out for a ship you like.

Visit the Space Anomaly

The Space Anomaly is a special station you can summon from the Quick Menu while in space, once the Awakenings quest unlocks it. Inside you'll find:

  • The Nexus: a hub for community missions that reward Nanites, Units, and a daily Quicksilver mission
  • Research merchants who sell blueprints for advanced tech using Salvaged Data
  • The Multi-Tool Research Terminal for unlocking Multi-Tool upgrade blueprints
  • Other players' bases to browse for inspiration

Make it a regular stop. Nexus missions are a steady source of Nanites and Quicksilver in the early game, and both currencies unlock crucial upgrades.

Early Game Priority Table

Priority Action Why
1 Repair Scanner Find Sodium, navigate safely
2 Repair ship Escape the starting planet
3 Follow Awakenings Learn all core systems
4 Scan fauna and flora Earn Units passively
5 Buy Exosuit slots More inventory = more flexibility
6 Build a base with Teleporter Fast travel access
7 Install Scanner modules Dramatically boost scan income
8 Claim free Freighter Mobile base and frigate missions
9 Visit Space Anomaly Nanites, Quicksilver, and blueprints
10 Expand to new star systems Better resources and trade

Unlock Sealed Doors

Once you are travelling between systems, craft an Atlas Pass so locked containers stop being wasted stops. See the Atlas Pass guide.

FAQ

Should I follow the main story or explore freely?

Follow the Awakenings quest for your first few hours. It introduces every mechanic you need to survive and progress: Hyperdrive, base building, space stations, and more. Free exploration is rewarding, but doing it before you understand the systems often leads to frustration. Once the quest sends you to your second star system, you can safely start mixing in exploration at your own pace.

What's the fastest way to earn Units as a beginner?

Scanning fauna with upgraded Scanner modules is the most accessible early income method. Beyond that, selling discovered minerals and completing Nexus missions both provide solid early returns. For a full ranked breakdown, see Best Money-Making Methods by Game Stage.

How do I stop running out of inventory space?

Buy an Exosuit upgrade slot at every Space Station and Space Anomaly you visit, and repair Drop Pods on planets for additional slots. Prioritize keeping high-value or hard-to-find items and discard common materials like Carbon and Ferrite Dust when your bags are full. You can always mine more.

Can I change game modes if I picked the wrong one?

Yes. No Man's Sky lets you adjust difficulty settings from the pause menu using the Custom Difficulty system. You're not locked into your starting choice. If you find Normal too easy or too punishing, you can tweak individual survival parameters at any time.

What should I spend Nanites on first?

Scanner upgrade modules for your Multi-Tool are the highest-return early purchase. They multiply your Unit income from every scan. After that, prioritize Hyperdrive upgrades to reach better star systems, and weapon modules to handle tougher Sentinels. Avoid spending Nanites on random upgrades before you understand which stats matter.

When should I worry about getting a better ship?

Your starter ship will carry you through the first 10 hours without issue. Focus on Exosuit upgrades and Scanner modules first. When you're ready to shop, read No Man's Sky: Best Starter Ship & Early Upgrades for what to look for.

Key Takeaways

  • Fix your Scanner before anything else. It's the foundation of resource-finding and Unit income.
  • The Awakenings main quest is the best tutorial in the game; trust it.
  • Scan every creature you see. Fauna scans are a reliable early source of Units.
  • Buy one Exosuit slot at every Space Station and Space Anomaly, no exceptions.
  • Build a base early with a Teleporter so you always have a fast-travel anchor.
  • Install up to three Scanner modules in your Multi-Tool and place them adjacent for synergy bonuses.
  • Claim the free Freighter. It's one of the best assets in the game and costs you nothing.
  • When in doubt, check your mission log. No Man's Sky always has a next step waiting for you.