If you want a true “Minecraft in space” experience, I recommend Space Engineers. Not as broad as NMS, but much deeper (especially with mods like WeaponCore, MES, and Aerodynamics).
TBF, it kinda sucked on release. I still remember the monoliths of Hydrogen…
still, I use it as one of gamings biggest comeback stories because it is.
Did y’all ever mention it to him or was it just a commonly accepted “Oh yeah, that’s just ‘Background Porn Brad’ haha” type thing?