Subnautica

Subnautica's a survival game with focus and an excellent sci-fi story, but its greatest achievement is its underwater horror.

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Subnautica is an underwater adventure game set on an alien ocean planet. As the sole survivor of a crashed space ship, players must explore the depths, gather resources, and craft equipment to survive. With a variety of unique creatures, beautiful biomes, and surprising discoveries, Subnautica offers a compelling and immersive survival experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 170,397 reviews

story14,649 positive mentions

stability3,107 negative mentions

story
29,604 mentions
49 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of Subnautica is widely praised for its depth and engagement, seamlessly woven into the gameplay through environmental storytelling, audio logs, and data entries. Players appreciate the organic progression of the narrative, which encourages exploration and discovery, allowing them to piece together the mysteries of the alien planet at their own pace. While some find the story's pacing slow or occasionally confusing, the overall consensus is that it enhances the immersive experience, making Subnautica a standout title in the survival genre.
- “The story is so good; it really is the defining aspect of this game to me. I've played similar survival games, but none have hooked me this much because they don't have a good story.”
- “With enough time, you slowly come to understand how the story of 4546b reflects itself on our own world.”
- “The way the game tells its story is like a puzzle, which makes it even more enjoyable, in my opinion, because you (the player) have to look for clues in the abandoned PDAs and the environment itself.”
- “The story is vague at first, but reading all the abandoned PDAs, finding bases built by people in the past, and going deeper as a whole helps you with understanding.”
- “The story is difficult to progress, requiring thorough searches of buildings for quest items you're not told about, and 3D orientation ability in large caves with no map or waypoint where you get stuck if you miss the particular non-descript branch or hole you were supposed to go down.”
- “The story can either land for you emotionally or be too bogged down by its plot holes.”
graphics
12,730 mentions
66 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of Subnautica are widely praised for their stunning visuals and immersive environments, effectively capturing the beauty and terror of an underwater alien world. Players appreciate the vibrant colors, detailed textures, and the game's ability to run smoothly even on lower-end hardware, although some report issues with graphical pop-in and minor glitches. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics, atmospheric sound design, and engaging gameplay contributes to a captivating experience that keeps players returning for more exploration.
- “The graphics are absolutely stunning, with crystal-clear waters, majestic sea creatures, and underwater environments that are breathtakingly beautiful.”
- “Its stunning visuals and immersive gameplay create an unforgettable journey beneath the waves.”
- “The graphics, sound design, and overall gameplay are really great!”
- “The graphics, even when turned down, still make the ocean environment look amazing, and as for the storyline... oh boy, it's really fun, though I'll have to say, it really picks up towards the end, so be ready for that.”
- “The graphics are not what one might expect at the time of this review (Sep 2024), but they are beautiful nonetheless.”
- “The graphics are decent, not next-gen or anything, but it looks nice.”
gameplay
10,747 mentions
47 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Subnautica is widely praised for its immersive exploration mechanics, engaging crafting and survival systems, and stunning underwater environments. Players appreciate the balance between resource management and narrative progression, which keeps the experience fresh and rewarding, although some note that the survival mechanics can feel tedious over time. Overall, the game successfully combines elements of horror and adventure, creating a captivating atmosphere that encourages players to delve deeper into its mysteries.
- “The thrill of discovering new biomes, encountering unique creatures, and unlocking new technologies keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.”
- “Its stunning visuals and immersive gameplay create an unforgettable journey beneath the waves.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are well thought out, the atmosphere is incredibly immersive and deeply compelling, and while it can be stressful at times, it's not too difficult in terms of progression.”
- “The gameplay can get tedious at the end of the game where you have to get a ton of resources to complete the game which is kinda just my main complaint.”
- “The survival mechanics are more of a hindrance than a gameplay mechanic.”
- “The gameplay loop runs like a well-oiled machine, and you can expect to easily lose track of time while exploring the world looking for resources if you're not careful, it's addicting, fun, and at times, almost meditative.”
atmosphere
5,054 mentions
69 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in *Subnautica* is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, combining stunning visuals, haunting sound design, and a rich, alien underwater environment. Players frequently describe the game as both beautiful and terrifying, with a unique ability to evoke feelings of wonder and dread as they explore its diverse biomes. The game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest features, enhancing the overall experience and making it a standout title in the survival genre.
- “The sounds, the visuals, the atmosphere—it all pulls you in completely.”
- “The vibrant colors of the coral reefs, the intricate details of marine life, and the haunting beauty of underwater caves create an atmosphere that is both enchanting and eerie.”
- “The atmosphere is so good that it can pull you out of reality in ways other games can't match.”
- “But if I'm being critical, that atmosphere hasn't been balanced well against grinding.”
- “The atmosphere is terrifying, but not in a horror way.”
- “The atmosphere the game creates is one of the most immersive I've ever found in a game.”
music
4,782 mentions
58 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in *Subnautica* has been widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the game's exploration and survival elements. Players appreciate how the soundtrack adapts to different biomes, creating a sense of tension or tranquility that complements the visuals and gameplay. Despite some criticisms regarding occasional music glitches and repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional impact and sense of wonder.
- “The music in Subnautica perfectly captures and enhances the atmosphere of the game's world.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing, the visuals are stunning, and the gameplay is incredibly immersive.”
- “The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack perfectly complements the underwater world, creating an atmosphere that draws players in and enhances the overall gameplay experience.”
- “The music in this game isn't looking to be iconic, but what it is aiming to do is set the tone, and it does so wonderfully.”
- “The music and atmosphere draws you in while everything works like puzzle pieces into a great story.”
- “The music was also something worth remembering as it helped set the different atmospheres depending on what you were doing.”
stability
3,259 mentions
4 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
Overall, the stability of Subnautica has received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the game's immersive experience and stunning visuals, a significant number of users report frequent bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly in the later stages. Issues such as vehicles getting stuck, graphical pop-ins, and occasional crashes are common, leading to frustration for some players, especially in hardcore mode where losing progress can be particularly punishing. Despite these challenges, many players still find the game enjoyable and recommend it, often suggesting regular saving to mitigate the impact of these glitches.
- “Everything about this game is impressive, atmosphere, story, mechanics, world, but most importantly performance for the graphical fidelity, this game looks and runs great.”
- “The game is so amazing, the story is so involving and it runs great.”
- “The game runs great, looks great, and is filled with loads of things to do!”
- “The last third of the game is buggy, and some parts of the levels are poorly designed where the collision issues, which the game generally has, are dramatically highlighted.”
- “It's an amazing game, but it has so many glitches; my game crashed several times and I lost so much progress. Please fix the crashing.”
- “The game is incredibly buggy, with issues like my prawn suit getting stuck in the ground and losing hours of progress due to glitches.”
grinding
2,761 mentions
2 % positive mentions
11 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of Subnautica has received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the sense of accomplishment that comes from gathering resources and crafting, others find the process tedious and repetitive, especially in the late game where resource collection can feel like a chore. Overall, the game balances exploration and survival mechanics, but players should be prepared for significant grinding, particularly if they aim to build extensive bases or upgrade equipment.
- “The exploration is fast-paced and very progressive, and the crafting and material gathering are very well balanced and not tedious at all.”
- “The crafting is cool, the materials aren't too grindy, and the visual design of the technology is futuristic and interesting.”
- “The story is great, the resource collection is not too tedious, the world is absolutely magnificent, and the graphics... oh god the graphics.”
- “I found it to be more tedious than it is fun.”
- “My quandary comes with the excessive, unending, overbearing amount of farming for materials that must be done in order to complete the experience.”
- “There were points when it seemed I spent more time grinding for materials than actually exploring or enjoying the story.”
optimization
2,388 mentions
20 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The optimization of Subnautica has received mixed feedback from players. While some report smooth performance and beautiful graphics, many others experience significant issues such as frame rate drops, stuttering, and texture pop-in, particularly in later game stages or when building large bases. Despite ongoing updates aimed at improving performance, players express frustration over persistent optimization problems, suggesting that the game still requires further refinement to fully realize its potential.
- “Everything about this game is impressive: atmosphere, story, mechanics, world, but most importantly performance for the graphical fidelity; this game looks and runs great.”
- “The graphics and optimization are on top, and the musical accompaniment adds atmosphere.”
- “The game is wonderfully optimized.”
- “The only problem is that the optimization is not great; to get consistent frames, you are most likely going to have to lower some settings, and pop-in will still be an issue.”
- “I'll say it like it is: optimization issues hang over Subnautica like a plague.”
- “The worst thing about this game is that it is so unoptimized and the draw distance is set so close that this is one of the worst games for pop-in textures I have ever played.”
replayability
1,136 mentions
34 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The replayability of the game is a mixed bag among users. While many praise its engaging gameplay, beautiful environments, and the potential for base building and exploration, several reviews highlight a significant limitation due to the static map and linear storyline, which diminishes the replay value after the initial playthrough. Overall, players find it enjoyable to revisit, especially with different challenges or mods, but the lack of procedural generation and varied experiences means that replayability is often considered low to medium.
- “The game offers exploration, survival, and terror at first, and after you have explored everything (or almost), the game is surprisingly replayable; you can try challenge runs, speedruns, try to build a base somewhere interesting or build a base in every biome, or you can play with mods and rediscover the game like it was the first time.”
- “With plenty of exploration and research to be done, distinct underwater vehicles, and an interesting storyline, the game has plenty of content and replayability.”
- “Subnautica offers significant replayability, with players often returning to explore different strategies or to uncover secrets they may have missed.”
- “Only two things that bring this game down a bit are the occasional bugs and the lack of replayability because the map is not randomized.”
- “Sadly, this game has no replayability because maps are not randomly generated, creatures don't move far from their spawn points, and there is only one ending.”
- “The only downside for me is that it has close to no replayability.”
humor
1,053 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying the mix of funny creatures, quirky dialogue, and unexpected comedic moments amidst the tension of survival. Many reviews mention the amusing interactions with various sea life, such as the humorous antics of the reaper leviathan and the playful nature of smaller fish, which contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere despite the game's underlying horror elements. Overall, the humor is described as well-placed and effective, enhancing the overall experience of exploration and adventure in the underwater world.
- “It's wonderful, some radio transmissions are actually funny, etcetera.”
- “You can find the hoverfish and the reaper leviathan in the same biome, which is hilarious.”
- “The humor is also great.”
- “This game is so broken and buggy it's not funny.”
- “Please fix this, I've died so many times this way; it's not funny.”
- “So bad, it's actually funny.”
emotional
904 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of *Subnautica* is profoundly impactful, with players frequently expressing feelings of awe, fear, and attachment throughout their journey. Many report shedding tears during the game's poignant moments, particularly at the touching conclusion, which resonates deeply due to the immersive storytelling and the emotional connections formed with the game's environment and creatures. Overall, *Subnautica* is celebrated not just as a survival game, but as an emotional odyssey that leaves a lasting impression on its players.
- “This game is amazing; there has been no other game with the same emotional response.”
- “It’s not just a survival game; it’s an emotional journey through one of the most beautiful and terrifying alien worlds I’ve ever seen.”
- “The ending was so satisfying and emotional.”
- “I do not suggest it with its current progression system; the slow and boring storyline really detracts from the emotional experience.”
monetization
96 mentions
3 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
70 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received largely positive feedback, with many users appreciating the absence of microtransactions, loot boxes, and pay-to-win elements. While some mention the presence of ads and DLCs, the consensus is that the game offers a complete experience without the typical cash grab tactics prevalent in the industry. Overall, players commend the developers for prioritizing gameplay quality over monetization schemes.
- “What I also like is that there are no microtransactions, loot boxes, premium currency, or any of that other 'live service' stuff I have come to loathe.”
- “Also, considering the current state of the game industry, I feel the need to point out one more good thing about this game: there are no microtransactions.”
- “Subnautica is a unique diamond in an oversaturated genre and definitely deserves your time because the developers have clearly put time into their game, and because of that, Subnautica provides a gameplay experience much better than most modern triple-A games for a lower price and without microtransactions.”
- “Microtransactions gate-keep quality of life features.”
- “It seems as though the developers just slapped a VR sticker on a game clearly not optimized for VR in order to make a quick cash grab.”
- “Still overall this game feels like a huge cash grab.”
character development
25 mentions
28 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the depth of the story and worldbuilding, while others find it lacking or minimal. Many reviews highlight the impressive character and creature designs, but note that character growth is often tied to gameplay mechanics rather than narrative progression. Overall, while the game excels in graphics and environmental storytelling, it may fall short for those seeking substantial character arcs.
- “The amount of detail, plot, and character development is unreal, so much that it makes me feel sad that I completed it.”
- “Went from being scared of everything to fighting the biggest leviathan in the game in a mech suit... and that's called character development!”
- “The story, environment, and character development (of other people) is tied in together to create this wonderful game.”
- “Interesting story as it unfolded, but not much character development.”
- “Character development: non-existent.”
- “Granted I’ve only played the game a total of 20+ hours and it’s still very much in development, but I would really like to see something to enhance the storyline and add substance to character development.”