Subrov

About

Subrov is a single player open world simulation game. It was developed by sqr3lab and was released on December 2, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

"subROV: Underwater Discoveries" is a simulation game that allows players to operate a remotely operated underwater vehicle to explore the ocean depths. Complete missions, discover new species, and upgrade your ROV as you uncover the mysteries of the sea. With stunning visuals and realistic gameplay, this game offers a unique and immersive underwater experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 49 reviews

story4 positive mentions

stability1 negative mentions

The game offers a satisfying and immersive experience of piloting an ROV, with a strong focus on marine exploration and scientific discovery.
The atmosphere and graphics create a believable underwater environment, enhancing the sense of exploration and tranquility.
The developer is responsive to community feedback and shows a clear passion for the project, which bodes well for future updates and improvements.

The game currently lacks a variety of missions and marine life, leading to repetitive gameplay and a less engaging experience.
Performance issues on certain platforms, such as the Steam Deck, can hinder the overall enjoyment of the game.
Some players find the pacing too slow and the gameplay can feel boring, especially during long descents and ascents without significant discoveries.

story
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The game's story aspect is criticized for its lack of depth and variety, with players noting that missions often feel repetitive and centered around basic objectives rather than a compelling narrative. While the atmospheric sound design and exploration elements are appreciated, many reviewers express a desire for more engaging storylines, diverse missions, and wildlife interactions to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as stable but in need of further development to enrich its storytelling and mission variety.
- “The sound design is good, the missions are very interesting and atmospheric.”
- “Each mission begins on the waves in your support vessel; where you will be tasked with sailing to and deploying your ROV in order to achieve set objectives.”
- “Subrov could also benefit greatly from adding a storyline, a career, or perhaps simply the ability to convert XP into upgrades for your ROV and your scanning equipment.”
- “There isn't a lot of missions that are centered around wildlife; there isn't enough wildlife in general.”
- “Yet... there isn't much mission variety; at least I haven't seen much yet personally.”
- “Sometimes you just need to deploy and detach to complete an objective; I’d like to see more complex missions requiring intricate ROV skills to complete complex tasks.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The gameplay is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging due to its deep-sea exploration mechanics and educational elements, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking in content. The physics and controls are well-executed, but the visuals are described as dry and uninteresting, which may detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the gameplay can be addictive for those who appreciate the simulation aspect.
- “So far I have not come across any bugs or anything that would tell me this is even an early access title if I didn't know strictly based off of gameplay.”
- “Perfect execution of a deep sea exploration sim, and a good mix of educational and entertaining gameplay.”
- “It has a simple yet realistic button command and multi-cam interface including a mechanical arm; allowing you to manipulate, repair, and move specific scientific artifacts safely whilst at depth.”
- “Given there is not much content other than a few showcase videos on YouTube, I was basing my impressions off of Steam reviews and the small amount of gameplay I watched.”
- “At first glance, you might consider the graphics a bit of a negative, and while it is true that we’re not looking at ground-breaking next-gen graphics here, they do enough to help convey the gameplay experience.”
- “I feel like this would be a whole gameplay element on its own.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The graphics are generally well-received, effectively supporting the gameplay experience despite not being groundbreaking or highly varied. While some visuals may appear dry, key elements shine and contribute to a realistic portrayal of the ocean environment. Overall, the graphics are functional and smooth, enhancing the calming yet eerie atmosphere of the game.
- “For what this is, the graphics work and they work well.”
- “There may not be a lot of sea life variety (yet!) but the graphics of those included so far are great.”
- “It's calming yet oddly terrifying, and while not all of the visuals are spectacular, the ones that matter really shine.”
- “At first glance, you might consider the graphics a bit of a negative, and whilst it is true that we’re not looking at ground-breaking next-gen graphics here, they do enough to help convey the gameplay experience.”
- “Compared to videos from deep-sea roving, I think the visuals and feeling are in the category we would call realistic.”
- “For what this is, the graphics work, but they are not impressive.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive and detailed underwater environments, evoking a strong sense of exploration and realism. Players appreciate the beautiful marine biomes, effective sound design, and the overall satisfying experience that enhances the feeling of piloting an ROV. The combination of stunning visuals and engaging missions contributes to a captivating and atmospheric gameplay experience.
- “The first time I saw one, not gonna lie, I got some goosebumps; very atmospheric!”
- “Very atmospheric with beautiful marine biomes.”
- “The atmosphere in this sim/game is very immersive :)”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Overall, players report that the game is well-optimized, running smoothly even on lower-end hardware like a five-year-old laptop and performing well on the Steam Deck. Users express hope for continued performance improvements in future patches, but currently, the game is stable and resource-efficient.
- “My 5 year old laptop has zero issues with performance using the ultra preset, and from what I can tell, Subrov is fairly light on resources, although that may change as content is added.”
- “Deck controls and performance are quite good, and that's how I've mostly played so far.”
- “I've found the game to be quite stable and haven't had any performance issues.”
- “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, making it unplayable on lower-end hardware.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the optimization is so poor that it frequently crashes on my system.”
- “I was really disappointed with the frame rate drops and stuttering, even on medium settings.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its stability, with users noting that it feels polished and free of bugs, resembling a fully released product rather than an early access version. Players report no glitches encountered so far.