Barotrauma

About

Barotrauma is a single player and multiplayer survival simulation game with horror and science fiction themes. It was developed by Undertow Games and was released on March 13, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

Barotrauma is a 2D co-op submarine simulator set in a harsh underwater environment on Jupiter's moon, Europa. Players must work together to explore and survive, with the option to sabotage and let the ship go down in fire and flood. The game features teamwork, physics-based mechanics, alien sea monsters, and multiple factions to interact with.

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 68,584 reviews

gameplay1.3k positive mentions

stability376 negative mentions

The game delivers a unique blend of cooperative gameplay, emergent storytelling, and intense decision-making that keeps players engaged throughout their deep-sea adventures.
Players appreciate the game's immersive atmosphere, characterized by eerie sound design and visuals that enhance the feeling of isolation and tension.
The humor and chaotic situations in multiplayer settings create memorable moments, balancing tension and comedy for a uniquely entertaining experience.

The game suffers from significant performance issues, including bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes.
Many players find the gameplay loop to be repetitive and grindy, especially in single-player mode, leading to a sense of monotony over time.
The story aspect is perceived as minimal, often overshadowed by emergent gameplay experiences, with missions becoming repetitive quickly.

gameplay
4,908 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
69%
4%
The gameplay of *Barotrauma* is characterized by its intricate mechanics and cooperative multiplayer dynamics, requiring players to assume specific roles such as captain, engineer, mechanic, and medic to manage a submarine's operations while navigating the treacherous depths of Europa. Players often experience a steep learning curve, but the game rewards teamwork and strategic thinking, leading to intense and unpredictable scenarios filled with emergent storytelling. While the core gameplay loop can become repetitive over time, the depth of mechanics, modding community, and the potential for chaotic interactions among players contribute to a unique and engaging experience, especially when played with friends.
- “The gameplay is great and the freedom is amazing.”
- “The combination of tense submarine simulation, survival horror elements, and emergent gameplay creates a highly addictive and rewarding gameplay loop.”
- “The cooperative gameplay, where players work together to pilot a submarine through dangerous, alien seas, is intense and rewarding.”
- “It's been released almost 2 years ago, but the bugs and gameplay say otherwise.”
- “The gameplay loop, without mods, the base game's loop is very bare bones and after a few voyages it will become boring to just go from point A to point B, putting in more random events and actual dangers between those two points would greatly benefit it.”
- “The gameplay side of things for me personally is a bit meh.”
story
4,834 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
84%
4%
The story aspect of "Barotrauma" is generally perceived as minimal and often overshadowed by emergent gameplay experiences. Players engage in various missions—ranging from transporting cargo to battling sea monsters—while navigating the treacherous underwater environments of Europa. While the game lacks a strong narrative, it fosters unique player-driven stories through cooperative gameplay, chaotic encounters, and the unpredictability of mission outcomes, leading to memorable moments and shared experiences among friends.
- “Just this game and a great developer that far surpasses any of the more polished, 3D games I have seen in a long time, and the story and immersion are great.”
- “Barotrauma is a story generator, as it does leave you with tales to tell, despite missions going about the same way for the most part; it's not a boring and tiring kind of repetitiveness, but rather a very apprehensive one.”
- “The game delivers a unique blend of cooperative gameplay, emergent storytelling, and intense decision-making that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout your deep-sea adventures.”
- “The story is weak and barely there until right at the end, and the factions are decent, but ultimately pretty ignorable.”
- “The actual goal is relatively basic; the missions only exist to provide a setting for the aforementioned disasters (and reward you so).”
- “The missions can get repetitive quickly, as there are only about 5 different types from repairing a comms station, prisoner escort to kill missions.”
humor
1,910 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Barotrauma" is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting the game's ability to create chaotic and hilarious situations, especially in multiplayer settings. The combination of dark humor, unexpected mishaps, and ragdoll physics leads to memorable moments that range from laugh-out-loud antics to absurd disasters, making it a fun experience when played with friends. Overall, the game successfully balances tension and comedy, resulting in a uniquely entertaining gameplay experience.
- “Combining tense submarine simulation with survival horror elements and a robust modding community, it creates a deeply immersive and often hilariously chaotic gameplay loop.”
- “The complex systems governing the submarine, combined with the unpredictable nature of the underwater world, create countless unexpected and often hilarious situations.”
- “The experience of hilarious side-busting moments that lead right into adrenaline-filled serious fights for life is something I've rarely gotten in any other game.”
- “But not funny enough sometimes.”
- “Funny game, not funny when a large tapeworm attacks and scares the living daylights out of me.”
- “Not funny.”
atmosphere
1,228 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
34%
1%
The atmosphere in "Barotrauma" is widely praised for its immersive and tense qualities, effectively capturing the claustrophobic and eerie experience of navigating a submarine in the depths of an alien ocean. Players highlight the game's sound design, visuals, and the sense of dread that accompanies exploration, creating a unique blend of horror and teamwork that enhances gameplay, especially in cooperative settings. Overall, the game's atmospheric elements are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal and replayability.
- “Barotrauma is a standout game for its unique blend of teamwork, tension, and strategy, all set in a hauntingly atmospheric underwater world.”
- “The atmosphere is amazing and the dangers are varied enough that you always have something to worry about.”
- “The oppressive atmosphere intensifies the feeling of being submerged in an alien ocean, adding to the game's overall sense of dread and suspense.”
- “The oppressive atmosphere, coupled with the constant threat of hostile creatures and malfunctioning systems, creates an intense and nerve-wracking experience.”
- “The atmosphere is eerie, claustrophobic, and really makes you feel like you're piloting a submarine underneath the icy surface of Jupiter's moon, Europa.”
- “Despite my criticisms and lack of enthusiasm to replay the game, the atmosphere of the game is otherworldly, haunting, and horrific.”
graphics
1,000 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
The graphics of Barotrauma are characterized by a unique 2D art style that effectively captures the eerie underwater atmosphere, with many players appreciating its dark and gritty aesthetic. While some reviews note that the visuals may not be groundbreaking or highly detailed, they contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience, enhancing the sense of isolation and tension during gameplay. Overall, the graphics are seen as functional and fitting for the game's theme, though opinions vary on their appeal, with some players finding them charming and others considering them simplistic.
- “The game has stunning visuals that shift as you descend deeper into Europa; at every biome, you will see significant changes to your environment and your enemies.”
- “The game’s immersive 2D side-scrolling visuals and eerie sound design enhance the feeling of isolation and vulnerability, while the unpredictability of each mission ensures that no two sessions are ever alike.”
- “Barotrauma features a 2D art style with detailed submarine interiors and atmospheric underwater environments.”
- “The graphics are like nostalgia from a vintage Atari system, dipped in murky water.”
- “Basically reused mobs, insanely pixelated textures on some assets, very boring visuals that try their best to impress you with constant flashes, flickering and stuff like that, but in the end it only made my eyes hurt and it's nothing I didn't see before.”
- “The graphics are very poor at giving a sense of depth between background and foreground items.”
music
452 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the tension and overall experience of underwater exploration. Players appreciate the eerie and unique soundtrack, which complements the game's dark themes and sound design, creating a memorable ambiance. While some find the music can become repetitive over time, many enjoy the ability to mod custom tracks, further enriching their gameplay experience.
- “It's a game that is truly unique and one-of-a-kind, with an incredible and dark soundtrack, with amazing sound design that you'll never forget.”
- “The sound design further enhances the immersion, with eerie ambient sounds and tense musical cues adding to the suspense and excitement of underwater exploration.”
- “The soundtrack is superb, in my opinion it really encapsulates the world and its feel.”
- “The soundtrack kinda just plays random tracks and sometimes it doesn't fit what's going on at all.”
- “The game is very immersive and immediately is off-putting just by the music and sounds of the ship, it makes my stomach drop.”
- “I stay awake at night dreading the main menu music.”
stability
388 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many players reporting a significant number of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, especially in multiplayer modes. While some users find the occasional bugs add to the charm and humor of the experience, others express frustration over game-breaking issues and performance problems, particularly when using mods. Overall, the game is still considered fun, especially with friends, but players should be prepared for a somewhat unstable experience due to its early access status.
- “Sure it booted up fine, there were no glitches, no installation errors.”
- “Runs great on most systems (though it does require a stable connection when playing with friends).”
- “Really love this game, but can't recommend until the game is tested and bug free.”
- “However, large amounts of mods and playing with friends leads to very unstable gameplay, with several of my friends having repeated issues when trying to join despite following every single troubleshooting guide.”
- “This game is a buggy, unfinished mess in which you can't go one session of play without having to restart the mission through no fault of your own.”
- “As much as I love this game, the amount of insufferable game-ruining bugs, glitches, lack of optimizations, and more truly ruins the experience of a fun and unique game.”
grinding
360 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
21%
78%
The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing it as tedious, slow, and often frustrating, particularly in single-player mode. While some players find enjoyment in the multiplayer experience and the chaos it brings, the repetitive nature of missions and resource management can lead to a sense of monotony. Overall, the game seems to require a significant time investment to overcome its grindy elements, making it more enjoyable when played with friends rather than solo.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “A bit grindy.”
- “Singleplayer is unbearably tedious.”
- “The later stages of the campaign are very 'grindy' and they make for one boring trip of fighting the same enemies and stopping at outposts for necessities.”
- “Just overall, the game is tedious and really isn't very fun.”
optimization
314 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
63%
19%
The game's optimization has been a significant point of contention among players, with many reporting severe performance issues, particularly in multiplayer and during intense gameplay scenarios. While some users note improvements over time and the availability of community mods to enhance performance, others express frustration over persistent lag, stuttering, and the game's reliance on a single CPU core, which hampers performance on various systems. Overall, while the game shows promise and can run smoothly on mid-range hardware, it still requires substantial optimization to provide a consistently enjoyable experience.
- “Rocky start but over the years they fixed every major issue I can think of, improved performance to an insane level and they continue to put in a lot of effort, thought, and work into this game.”
- “It runs smoothly on most mid-range systems, so you won’t need the latest hardware to play.”
- “After some updates, the performance has improved considerably, and the dev team is still adding/improving features and game modes.”
- “Performance, lag, camera snapping, multiplayer disconnects, wonky hitboxes, damage not registering on enemies, and eclectic physics dog the experience - which can put a real damper on trying to do much of anything.”
- “The only downside to this game is that it is horribly optimized, runs on one CPU core, and tends to stutter itself into oblivion mostly in the 3rd and 4th biome, making a modded 'lag fix' almost mandatory.”
- “The game is horrendously unoptimized, and can become unplayably choppy on even decent hardware with 16+ GB of RAM, especially on larger subs or with more than 4 or 5 bots in your crew.”
replayability
310 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
49%
1%
Barotrauma boasts exceptional replayability, largely due to its rich modding community, procedural generation, and diverse gameplay modes, which keep each session fresh and engaging. Players can customize their experience through various roles, missions, and submarine designs, ensuring that no two playthroughs are alike. While some users note a potential for repetitiveness, the overall consensus highlights the game's depth and the endless opportunities for strategic decision-making and cooperative play, making it a highly recommended title for fans of the genre.
- “With its rich modding support and growing community, Barotrauma provides endless replayability, making it a must-play for fans of cooperative survival games.”
- “The game's procedural generation ensures that each playthrough feels unique, enhancing replayability and the sense of discovery.”
- “The replayability factor is through the roof, thanks to a wide array of mods that cater to different playstyles.”
- “While the game offers a lot of engagement and replayability, its current price point might not justify the investment for everyone.”
- “The game doesn't provide the amount of content or replayability to justify it.”
- “I cannot recommend this game to someone looking for a single-player experience, as you will lose most of the replay value for singleplayer within four hours at most.”
emotional
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a wide range of emotions while engaging with the game, from laughter and joy to heartache and nostalgia, often highlighting the strong bonds formed with crew members and the chaotic yet wholesome multiplayer experience. While some compare its emotional depth unfavorably to titles like Dark Souls 2, many still find it capable of delivering an emotional rollercoaster, with moments that evoke genuine feelings of connection and investment in the game's narrative and community. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to create memorable and emotionally charged experiences, despite occasional frustrations with gameplay mechanics.
- “Dark Souls 2’s difficulty may be punishing, but its sense of accomplishment and emotional resonance make it the best game ever made.”
- “This game really takes you for an emotional rollercoaster.”
- “You made me feel something, besides dread, in a game about surviving the cruel depths of an alien ocean.”
monetization
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
4%
93%
The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, with players expressing a preference for a one-time purchase price of $30 over higher-priced AAA games that include microtransactions and DLC. Many users appreciate the lack of microtransactions, emphasizing the value of a polished game experience. However, there are concerns about the game's advertising and the need for better promotion to reach a wider audience.
- “I would much rather pay $30 for a game that is polished with zero microtransactions than a $60 AAA game that is broken with three maps and DLC on release.”
- “That being said, I would much rather pay $30 for a game that is polished with zero microtransactions than a $60 AAA game that is broken with three maps and DLC on release.”
- “It's 1.0 and bots are still unusable, why even bother advertising that you have a single-player mode?”
- “Coding the karma system should have been done faster and not a cash grab.”
character development
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
55%
15%
Character development in the game is highlighted as a strong aspect, with players appreciating the ability to create and customize their characters, enhancing immersion and roleplaying experiences. While some feel the character designs could be improved, the overall atmosphere, interactions, and regular updates contribute positively to the game's evolving narrative and player engagement. The unique art style and enemy designs also add depth to the character development experience.
- “It's the player roleplaying/character development that pushes it even further though! I love the interactions, the mood, atmosphere, and setting.”
- “Excellent game that keeps getting better and better with regular updates from the devs. Recently, they overhauled character development and I can't wait to hop back in and check it out!”
- “It is a unique simulation unto itself with a smorgasbord of features including character development, crafting, factions, and a unique storyline that develops as you progress through the single-player campaign.”
- “Character designs leave something to be desired, but enemy designs are quite fantastic and some of them will send a chill through your blood.”
- “It's the player roleplaying and character development that pushes it even further though. I love the interactions, the mood, atmosphere, and setting.”
- “This game is not just interesting and scratches my exploratory itch; it also interests me with its unique art style and character designs.”