10 Pioneering Video Games That Were Way Ahead Of Their Time
5. No Man's Sky
Released in August 2016, No Man’s Sky is the most recent example to be featured on this list, but is no less valid.
In the game, players assume the role an unnamed pilot, tasked with exploring a seemingly infinite universe, gathering resources in order to progress further into the unknown. Upon release, the game was met with mixed reviews, praised for its concept and technical achievements, yet criticised for its repetitive gameplay and lack of direction.
Almost entirely procedurally generated, the game is incomprehensible in scope, and includes eighteen quintillion planets – each with its own ecosystem, complete with its own collection of flora and fauna, randomly generated by numerous deterministic algorithms built into the game’s engine.
Honestly, No Man’s Sky is ridiculous in its complexity, an unfathomable technical achievement, and – while certain aspects of the game are lacking, the overall experience something of a mixed bag – it is undoubtedly ahead of its time, especially considering the limitations of its budget, as well as the relatively small amount of people who actually worked on the game.