Subnautica

One word, YES. Subnautica is by far one of the best open world games i have ever played by far. From the Craters edge to the Aurora crash site everything about this game is amazing, personally this game still holds up really well. The story is really good, i don't want to get into spoilers even though the game is like 6 years old (full release) but the bacterium was actually an unexpected plot point for the story. When i first went into Subnautica i thought the whole story was just you crash land on an alien world and then you try to get off said alien world but i was surprised when the Kharaa bacterium just popped up, overall this game gets a solid 8/10 from me

More than 10 years after its release and yet, its still better than most games. This is an absolute must play and I 100% recommend it. This game got rid of my thalassophobia, now I do have a reason to be terrified of the ocean. 10/10

Really good game if you enjoy exploration. As for the "horror" side of it, there isn't that much to be honest. Like unless you're like 9 years of age you should be good.

Honestly one of the best games I have ever played. I really enjoyed the survival aspects, building my bases and having to figure things out. Really worth your time and make sure to avoid spoilers!

Amazing gameplay and story. Can't wait for Subnautica 2.

One of the best underwater exploration and survival games out there, if not THE best. I cannot describe the AWE I felt when I played this for the first time. I have since played many, many runs and built several base designs. There is a ton of replay value in the base building function and hardcore (permanent death) mode. I just completed hardcore before writing this. While I wish I could experience this game for the first time all over again, subsequent playthroughs are just as scary and intimidating as the first time.

Oh and for goodness' sake, use the pathfinder if you plan to go into a cave system, and always keep an eye on your oxygen. Asphyxiation is more deadly than any creature on 4546B.

Just play it. One of the few games you can play where are sucked in the whole time. It is up there with games like Outer Wilds.

Avoid any sort of discussion about this game for the best experience. The game is not extremely punishing and rewards exploration! The dialogue is charming, with humor that is subtle and relevant to the situation.

I liked the part where I got scared and had to call in a friend to watch me scan a certain creature that rhymes with "peeper". To illustrate how this game makes me feel, read this:

It took 70.3 hours for me to beat the game, even while babying myself towards the end. I started playing on November 27th 2023, and beat the game on April 13th 2025. I invested myself into Subnautica three times in late 2023, late 2024, and early 2025. In the words of my favorite time capsule, "The Ocean is Scary!"

I have no idea where the additional 11.7 hours came from.

If you like survival crafting games, you'll like this one

Unlike many, it has a static map and a plot, which I recommend going into blind if it hasn't been spoiled for you already. There's also a wonderful modding community if you feel it's missing something, but there's a reason I've put over 550 hours into this game at time of posting

I first discovered this game by watching Jacksepticeye playing, but after watching him playing while the game was developing was very fun to discover and then I watch Pewdiepie do the same and Markiplier. I really enjoyed watching them playing so I said why not buy it.

Since I bought it, I played at least 4 playthrough and I never once regret it. It is such a good balanced between survival, adventure and base building. It is most likely my favorite survival craft game.

I really love the graphics, not so realistic, but still beautiful. (Most of the time scary though)
I love the crafting system, so enjoyable and satisfying and so is the blueprints system. I love that you have to find the pieces in the maps and scan them to get more advance and more useful tools and vehicules. (Makes it rewarding to find them)
The vehicules in this game are so well made, the way you control them, the sound, the upgrades, and the movements. The movements are so smooth and never once had a bug in them.
The story is engaging, and it shows you (in a cool way) where to go early in the game so you don't get lost too quick in the vast ocean that awaits you.

I am actually suprised I did not review this game sooner, but this is a big Recommendation from me, even if you are scared of water. This game is 1000/10.

Good job on the developers on this game and I can not wait for Subnautica 2 to come out :)

This game is the best survival game ever made. Nothing can change my mind

Back when this released i played it almost everyday, eventually i grew bored and left, but after subnautica 2 has been announced i am revisiting this, and the nostalgia kills me, i feel like like I've met an old friend whom I've left behind

If I could I would experience getting thalassophobia from this game again

10/10

Just started. It's a game with great scope. No manual though, basically figure out. Once the basics are understood (which are easy - after finding them!) It's an excellent game.
Runs very beautifully, and should run well on older machines too.
I've only started so this review is only first impressions, but intuition tells me this will be a very immersive game. A game that if the player so desires can be very engaging.

Played this on Epic Games back in 2018. Playthrough after playthrough. I just kept restarting.
Eventually bought it again on Steam just to have an excuse to dive back in one more time.

An absolute masterpiece in atmosphere, exploration, and subtle storytelling.
The music. The depth (literally). That mix of awe and loneliness.
Subnautica is one of those games that sticks with you.

Subnautica 2? HELL YEAHHHH. I'm so ready.

got it for free on epic its so good i bought it to support the developers

Love the gameplay and the storyline, which is quite the combination! Only dislike is the demon fishes, so... the things you're supposed to dislike! well done and will probably play again (love the base-building)

SUBNAUTICA.
Personally I love this survival simulator. It is mostly all ocean survival, but you do get the occasional island or spacecraft. I prefer to play in sandbox mode to cut out the tedious nature of locating a resource, then crafting the tool to mine it only to find it is not enough to do anything with so you need to spend hours locating and collecting one resource.
Subnautica is the original & first edition of this game and it is so much better than the Below-Zero edition. In a single word why the original Subnautica light years better than Sub-Zero, it would be 'SUBMARINE'.

In Subnautica you can build a genuine submarine with a smaller exploration craft... While in Sub-Zero you dont get a submarine at all. To best describe it... I'd have to call it a section of train like cabins stuck together in random order which not only looks ridiculous but the manoeuvrability of what essentially is an underwater train carriage is painfully annoying to operate underwater without constantly getting stuck. I have even just abandoned it altogether and build another.
Seriously, my Sub-Zero game the sea floor is littered with abandoned underwater trains.

I recommend buying Subnautica absolutely to survival sim lovers as it keeps you busy for hours discovering all kinds of stuff, but just be warned the Sub-Zero edition might not be for everyone. It's basically the original game without a cool submarine and offers nothing new to the game with the exception of a few penguins.

I don't think there's a better survival game than subnautica. They got it right.

I'm terrified of things in the water. I've never been able to play underwater games until this one. There's just something about how the game spoon feeds you upgrades to deal with threats.

Leviathans aren't that big of a deal. I ahd a harder time with those f**king bone sharks.

go behind the crashed ship lots of good loot (and its a fun game)

The game is really good. Don't get me wrong, but I do not enjoy survival games that take an extremely long time to figure things out.

This game will be really fun for the people that love survival games that don't care how long they take.

Great game. Combination base builder, explorer and survival game.
Pay close attention to the PDA hints and read everything your PDA accumulates.
Turn to the Wiki and Youtube when stuck or needing hints.

I find all the youtubers are either lets play types or walkthrough types. If you follow them too closely you miss out on a lot of in game fun.

One last note, dont leave base building to the end after you collest everything. Build constantly to enjoy your bases throughout the game.

Best game i've ever played! Total banger. I'm excited for Subnautica 2.
15/10

I bought the game as I saw so many people playing this on YouTube. I wish there was a co-op option as I would 100% play more if I had someone to play with. The graphics and game play is really good but it's just genuinely not my cup of tea. I thought i'd give it a go but unfortunately I just didn't like it. But 100% buy it if you love single player open world games as this would defo be the game for you!

I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN EXPLORATION GAME. THIS IS A HORROR GAME. PLAY IT ONLY IF YOU DONT HAVE THALASSOPHOBIA

This game is perfect. The story is great, the exploration is FANTASTIC and the horror is crazy. No other game is a beautifully terrifying as Subnautica. Play this right now.

Although finding places can be annoying but overall great game.

While very fun at first, will become frustrating as the game locks progression behind blueprints that are thrown all over the map and relies heavily on blind exploration. Going back and researching a location over and over again gets tedious and eventually very frustrating.

goated game like holy moly the sounds? and when you get to a part where its REALLY deep and you only see black now THAT is a true horror game i mean its not always a horror game but is REALLY good i would recommend it

go behind aurora and build a base in the dunes especially of your new! such a good place to build there is no leviathans there at all!

this game iS super fun it has you on your toes and its scary plus you can get mods that me it more fun and scary

The premiere underwater open world survival crafting game that pushed the boundaries on the genre. I still love coming back to this. The sound design in particular is top notch - Few other games give me the tingleys like the sound of a reefback call or the Cyclops submarine powering up.

Absolute banger. The exploration is unmatched by any game today. I redo a campaign from time to time as the beauty of this game world is still breath taking and immersive.

literally the greatest survival game out there imo. the mix of fear and curiosity work really well in this game, and would definitely recommend. goated indie game 10/10

It's a really cool underwater game, Also if you see many people saying "The reaper is danger!" those are just simple lies, for newer people you can feed the reaper items, and the reaper will spit out better ones, It is really op.

This is a pretty fun game. It's like Minecraft, but realistic and you're underwater. I love the survival concept.

Instead of reading this review, you should buy, download and play Subnautica. It is a fantastic single player experience that left me an emotional wreck, in more than one way.. Just dive in, you’ll see what I mean..

Still here? Well then, I’ll see if I can convince you to experience one of the best gaming experiences of the century.

Subnautica weaves an experience about surviving on an alien planet with a large ocean teeming with life. With nothing but the tools and gadgets salvaged from the wreck of the intergalactic cruise ship that your employer, a dystopian corporation that gives OCP a run for their money, you have to carve out a niche and find a way to get back home.. From brilliant narration at the start of the game you realise that you are down for the long haul, and with a brilliant example of emerging storytelling you are nudged into exploring further and further away from your lifepod to find out what exactly caused the crash landing and how you can get away from the planet with your life and sanity intact..
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3443838413
The core gameplay is a mixture of crafting and survival with food and oxygen being your two main resources to keep an eye on. The beginning of the game is rather serene where you end up exploring a large coral reef filled with alien flora and fauna. You begin the game with some basic supplies and a rudimentary crafting station that gets you started. Efter fixing the main systems on your lifepod you are more or less free to explore on your own, and the constant scanning of new creatures and flowers as well as seeing new and exciting biomes lends itself perfectly to the scientific style of gameplay that I really adore.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3443838805
This game is absolutely gorgeous.. Both visually as well as from a storytelling perspective. Now I might be biased coming from an academic background with studies in biology, but who in their right mind would not be enthralled by the thought of freely exploring an alien ecosystem in all its grandeur? On top of that the story that emerges from the deep is both compelling and refreshing with an environmental connection that really ties the narrative together. Everyone's first playthrough will be different and that in itself is part of the magic of this game. The early game might be a bit confusing if you fail to understand that the hand scanner is basically your tricorder filled to the brim with analyzing potential, and every coral and strand of kelp might hold untold potential if you are curious enough.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3443839358
To me Subnautica was an instant love story. I have a dear friend who told me ages ago that I would love it, and she was absolutely right. From the brilliant storytelling, the compelling gameplay and the near perfect sound design, this is a perfect example of how worldbuilding should be done. The only nitpick I have is that there are a few clipping issues and minor bugs, but never anything gamebreaking for me. And to those willing to explore, this is a smorgasbord of potential! Now there are moments of thalassophobia in this game, but personally this just enhanced the overall experience of being abandoned on an alien planet. So go in blind, and explore to your heart's content!

Highly recommended to anyone intrigued by survival, exploration and marine biology. A masterclass in emergent storytelling!

A survival crafting game about exploration. It's very good. It almost feels like a horror game at times because you're alone in a dark ocean.

Play it on Windows, it's phenomenal. You'll struggle on certain Linux distros(under Proton) after about 20 mins - it'll get laggy and you'll need to quit-out and start the game again. Nothing against the game itself - I still think it's an awesome game.

A fun to play game.
Lets you pretty much set the pace for your style of playing.
A whole lot of information on the internet you can use for help if you choose.
Most of the folks who made comments about the game and others play style seemed to be pretty laid back and not the click-fest bunch that like to bash other folks individual ways of enjoying how they like to play.
Game had quite a bit of challenges, but at the same time found it to be easy to just lay back and have lots of time to just enjoy exploring, building, and living the story line.
I do wish it had built in methods to pick times you would like to like to save that you could reload and play from rather than the one only overwriting save method used.
You can do it, but have to do the old copy save to another folder from outside the game. Or maybe I just didn't find it.
All in all, ya, I would recommend it, had a lot of fun playing it.
Was a fun game to just relax and savor it.

One of the best games ever made.
Even better if you fear the open ocean (:
Also, there is a co-op mod, pretty cool.

Honestly what could I say at this point. This game is practically a meme unto itself.
After completing a Hardcore, Vegan, Scan-Everything, Build-a-Garden-of-Renewables, Basically-See-Everything-This-Game-Has-to-Offer...run, I can comfortably say Subnautica has made my shortlist of all-time favorite games.
My only real complaint, unfortunately, encompasses the entire experience. The game feels distinctly unfinished.
Rushed unclean voxel-based terrain geometry, low-res repeated textures even at close range, collision meshes and camera scaling that don't match true object sizes, and minimal creature behavioral intelligence(programming) and animation. This hurt my enjoyment at times because it truly seems like the environment and wildlife are the primary focus/selling point of the experience.

truly one of a kind, an all time classic for survival and horror fans alike. I adore the ocean and all of its quirks, this game takes that and runs with it, quite literally thriving on the idea that we hardly know whats down there. I've played almost every version of the game I could get my hands on; Xbox one, ps4, switch, epic games (free copy), and now steam. 10/10 game nothing quite like it

1. grab fish for funny
2. eat fish or turn it into lean
3. fun
4. stop looking at this please
5. i said stop.

One of the most amazing games i've ever played . The story behind it is complex , amazing and full of surprises . If you want to dive into a game for hours , this will be the one for you .Love it !

Сильні сторони:
- Красиві і різноманітні біоми, з цікавою флорою та фауною
- Імерсивна взаємодія з обʼєктами, майже весь інтерфейс це фізичні кнопки, важелі, планшети, тд.
- Гра добре передає відчуття дослідження
- Непоганий сюжет

Мінуси:
- Називають водолазом

Quite a bit buggy, but an absolute delight. If you enjoy exploration and mystery, you'll probably love this game.

Super fun survival exploration game!! Sometimes I found it a little unclear on where to go next, but there's such a vast and developed community that it was very easy to find supportive guides! Really love that you get to pace yourself how ever you'd like and all the cool creature designs. World building and creature interactions are also great!

This game was an absolute blast! I loved how well it captured the fear of being alone, a lot of games now struggle with that particular aspect of horror.

Really great game with exploration and light survival mechanics. I know it's a small thing, but the surface water effects look SO GOOD, it's a shame you seldomly see it.

I've never completely understood why so many people think this is some sort of "terrifying undersea horror" game. It isn't. I can only assume it is because some youtubers wanted to make clickbait video's. The game is, for the most part, pretty chill and I still play it from time to time to sit back and relax. Sure, sometimes their are some moments that make you jump, but that doesn't make the game some kind of supernatural, alien, undersea, horror, survival game that some would lead you to believe.

It's a fun semi story-driven, exploration, (light) survival game that happens (mostly) underwater. Great game, check it out.

I rarely replay games, especially to the end. That's one of them.

This is an amazing game. The horror aspect has depth and inspires true fear as well as having good replay ability and a great hours per playthrough.