How Does Free Roam Work?

Players cannot free roam an entire planet or free roam in space in Starfield. Learn how free roam works, how to travel within planets or to other star systems, if there are invisible barriers, and if you can exit your ship in space.

How Much Can You Free Roam Planets?

Invisible Barriers

Sadly, players cannot free roam and walk around an entire planet. You can only walk and explore up until an invisible barrier on the edge of the map where you will be prompted to travel to explore another region in the planet or go back to your ship.

However, you can land on any point on the planet by selecting it on the map screen, even if it is not a pre-determined landing area. This means that you can technically explore a whole planet by going to the map menu and landing on each region, but you cannot do it seamlessly.

List of All Planets

Can You Manually Fly to Planets?

Not Possible to Fly from Planet to Planet

Unfortunately, it is also not possible to fly your ship manually from planet to planet. Even if you are in the same star system, you will need to select a planet and press the 'Travel' button to get there.

How to Fast Travel

Cannot Manually Land on A Planet

You also cannot fly straight down at a planet. You will have to select a landing point on the planet and press the 'Land' button if you want to touch down. While there are pre-determined landing points, you can also select a manual landing point anywhere on the planet, as long as it is not a gas giant.

Cannot Manually Fly to Star Systems

It seems that free roaming from system to system is also not possible. Instead, you have to rely on grav jumping instead since you have to set a course when traveling to another system. You can also fast travel to another system if you have already visited it previously.

How to Increase Jump Range

Can Dock on Space Station and other Ships

However, players can fly to space stations and other ships and dock their ship while they are orbiting a planet. You will need to get close enough, roughly around 500-1000m, for the Dock button to appear. Additionally, you will need to demobilize ships and destroy their engines before you can dock onto them.

How to Dock Your Ship

Can You Free Roam Around Your Ship?

Possible During Space Flight

Players can roam around the ship while flying. You just need to hold the enter/exit seat button while flying in space. Note that your ship will stop moving when you leave your seat. While roaming on your ship, you can manage your ship's storage, go on workbenches, and talk to your crew members.

How to Access Ship Storage

Can You Exit Your Ship in Space?

Exiting Ship in Space Unlikely

The only way to exit your ship while in space is if you’re docking into a different ship or space station. There is no gameplay feature present where you can float around in space with only a spacesui, and you can only hail other ships or dock while you are out and about.

Starfield Related Guides

Tips and Tricks

All Tips and Tricks