Ive been replaying NMS can have also been itching for a new series/book to read. And the vibe No Man's Sky has is what im looking for: a relaxing, laid back adventure across the galaxy, making friends, learning to understanding aliens and their culture, etc. But also with an unsettling undertone of 'is this rea/are we reall' or 'is our reality what we think it is'. Some existential crisis stuff but not to outweigh the good vibes.
The only book i can think of that fits this vibe to some extent is A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
by TheRainbowShakaBrah