Games worth discovering

Build bases and explore a massive planet in a relaxing open world game that feels like No Man's Sky

15K View2023-07-07

Auroria is a stunning sci-fi game that lets you scout and settle a vast, beautiful planet. If you've ever dreamed of playing No Man's Sky on your phone, this game will definitely satisfy your all interstellar exploration cravings. Even though I spent all of my playtime on one planet, I spotted amazing sights in every direction, from fantastical alien creatures to mysterious ruins to fully functional farms.

Before I kicked off my interstellar journey, I had the chance to design my character. The character creator offers tons of options, including four different races, lots of hairstyles, and color customization. While I had a blast building my character, her face was hidden behind a helmet during most of my playtime. I could see her face when she was showering, it was a little disappointing to put time into designing a character that I couldn't really look at.

When I landed, I was the planet's only settler, but it wasn't long before I was joined by other colonists. With their help, I was able to expand my base, craft a wider range of items, and make the planet feel a little more like home. As I explored, I also encountered some of the planet's native creatures. Some of them were hostile, but I was able to befriend some cute aliens that looked a little like Minions. Before long, I was farming and cooking food right alongside the locals!

I loved the exploration and crafting in Auroria, but the controls felt a little clunky, especially during combat. Targeting and firing at hostile creatures was easy enough, but when I tried to dodge enemy attacks, the creatures would retreat, which caused them to instantly regain any health that they lost. After a few frustrating encounters, I started standing in one place and firing at enemies until they dropped, even if they were shooting bullets right at my face. They didn't do much damage, so this strategy didn't cause any problems for me, but it wasn't very fun.

Auroria is still in early access, so I'm hopeful that most of these issues will be ironed out in the months to come. It's still rough around the edges, but it's bursting with potential, and it's fun to play even in its current state. If you're a fan of No Man's Sky, love crafting and basebuilding, or just want to wander around a breathtaking planet, now is a great time to kick off your Auroria journey. Even if you decide to hold off playing for now, you should keep this sci-fi sandbox on your radar.