Mode Select Screen
Beginning with the Path Finder Update, there are four modes available for game play, one of which is new. Each provides a different experience, different opportunities, and different restrictions.
Normal mode
This is the original mode of play in the initial release of the game in August 2016. It is labeled as a "chill exploration experience". Original gameplay style with regular difficulty, standard technology and building costs.
Death in normal mode involves returning to the location of death to retrieve lost inventory items. If the player dies in space, they must retrieve it with their ship, and one or more parts of the ship might need to be repaired. If the player dies on foot, they must return to the planetside location to retrieve their items.
Survival mode
This new mode of play provides a "more challenging survival experience", and was added as part of the Foundation Update. The player is expected to survive with limited resources, increased hazards, and stronger, more aggressive enemies.
The player's first ship is located some distance away from the spawn point. This requires careful resource management to even reach the ship, let alone repair damage.
Death in Survival mode results in loss of your current inventory, whether in-ship, or on foot. If you die in your ship, you respawn on the nearest planet, a brief distance from your crashed ship. All inventory items on the ship are lost, and one or more components must be repaired.
Permadeath mode
All Progress wiped upon death. Face the risk of permanent character death with the increased hazards and dangers of Survival Mode gameplay. This game mode was added as part of the PathFinder Update.
Creative mode
This mode of play is a more relaxed version with the ability to "explore and create freely," and was added as part of the Foundation Update. The player is allowed to indulge their creativity and construction skills, with unlimited health and resources, and zero building costs. It is important to note that trophies will NOT unlock in Creative Mode. Story elements like the Atlas Path and Black Holes are not available in this mode.
Comparison
| Creative | Normal | Survival | Permadeath | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Position | Near Habitable Base | At ship | Away from ship | Away from ship |
| Fauna and Sentinel Threat Level | Default | Default | More aggressive | More aggressive |
| Death | Impossible | Inventory retrievable | Inventory is lost, tech breaks | Permanent |
| Starship Destruction | Impossible | Inventory retrievable | Ship crashes on planet | Permanent |
| Trophies/Acheivements | Not available | Available | Available, one exclusive. | Available, one exclusive. |
| Costs | None | Default | Increased | Increased |
| Story | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Black Holes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Additional information
- Each mode provides a separate save structure.
- The seed or interpretation of the planet seed is different in the individual modes.
- Base building is included under creative mode, as are all Exocraft, and Freighters.
- Game language files contain hints at a future mode titled "Ambient Mode". It appears to be a free exploration experience with the player controlling a disembodied camera.
- It is possible to return to the game mode select screen from the options menu.