Is Starfield worth playing now?
Starfield is worth playing now if you enjoy Bethesda-style RPGs: faction questlines, side quests, ship building, outposts and a New Game+ twist. Post-launch updates added city maps, a land vehicle, more difficulty and gameplay options and the Shattered Space expansion, which fixed several launch complaints. It is not a seamless space sim like No Man's Sky, though: travel runs through menus and loading screens, and many planets are procedurally generated and sparse.
Who will enjoy it
- Fans of Fallout and The Elder Scrolls who like long questlines and roleplaying a character.
- Players who enjoy building and customizing ships.
- People who like replaying with New Game+, which has a story-driven reason in Starfield.
Who may not
- Players who want hand-built worlds on every planet.
- Anyone expecting seamless flight from orbit to surface.
- Players who dislike inventory and menu management.
Tips for a new start
- Focus on the main faction questlines (UC Vanguard, Freestar Rangers, Crimson Fleet, Ryujin Industries), which are the best-written content.
- Don't try to survey every planet; explore when a quest or resource takes you there.
- Finish the main story when you are ready for New Game+; you don't need to rush it.
FAQ
How long is Starfield?
The main story takes roughly 20–30 hours. With faction quests and side content it easily passes 100 hours.
Does Starfield really have 1,000 planets?
Yes, there are over 1,000 planets you can land on, but most are procedurally generated with repeating points of interest.
Can you romance in Starfield?
Yes. Four Constellation companions can be romanced: Sarah Morgan, Sam Coe, Barrett and Andreja.
Can you go to Earth in Starfield?
Yes, but it is a barren, uninhabitable planet with only ruins of the past left to explore.
Should I buy Starfield or No Man's Sky?
Pick Starfield for a story-driven RPG with quests and factions, No Man's Sky for seamless exploration, survival and base building.