UBOAT
- August 2, 2024
- Deep Water Studio
- 19h median play time
Get on Steam"UBOAT is a WWII submarine simulator and survival sandbox game, focused on the life of German sailors with crew management mechanics. Players must maintain their crew's physical and mental health while dealing with extensive damage and unprecedented situations in the hostile Atlantic. Realism and creativity are key in this atmospheric and challenging title."
Reviews
- Incredibly immersive gameplay that captures the tension of submarine warfare.
- Highly customizable difficulty settings allow players to tailor their experience from casual to hardcore simulation.
- Active development and frequent updates from the devs show commitment to improving the game.
- The game is plagued with bugs that can disrupt gameplay, including crashes and AI issues.
- The tutorial is inadequate and can lead to confusion, making it difficult for new players to learn the mechanics.
- Crew management can become tedious and may detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- story1,342 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and variety, with many players noting that missions feel repetitive and often lack meaningful context or progression. While there are some unique missions, such as espionage and port infiltration, the overall narrative experience is described as thin, with players expressing a desire for more engaging storylines and historical context. Additionally, numerous bugs and technical issues hinder the completion of missions, further detracting from the overall narrative experience.
“The gameplay loop consists of picking up a broad mission in port, then heading out to sea to find worthwhile targets to sink.”
“The missions you are offered can vary, anything from mine laying, doing a clandestine spy drop on foreign soil, hunting specific targets, or amassing tonnage and I’m finding that quite cool.”
“The fact that you have the ability to choose missions for your boat from a number of different missions offered by Kriegsmarine command, that are not simply patrol an area & sink ships, you can lay mines, drop a spy on the enemy coast which are challenging.”
“There's literally one way most of the missions and conversations go, and all the dialog choices presented make no difference.”
“The missions are very repetitive; there is only patrol, espionage, or attack port. There really needs to be much work into gameplay flavor (events, random missions, even crew interactions or dialog). Doing the same mission over and over again is quite repetitive.”
“I have not been able to go on a mission without encountering a bug.”
- gameplay925 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Uboat" is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and significant challenges, particularly in crew management and mission execution. While many players appreciate the depth and realism of the submarine simulation, they also report a steep learning curve, numerous bugs, and a lack of comprehensive tutorials that can hinder the experience. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of tactical gameplay and immersive environments, but it requires patience and a willingness to navigate its current technical issues.
“Great game if you love sub sims, realism is great, graphics are amazing, and love the gameplay.”
“The gameplay is superb, the world is completely alive... it's not all instanced spawns or 100% scripted encounters.”
“The gameplay is immersive and intense, and the attention to detail is impressive.”
“I have lost interest in modded silent hunters since there is always an extra level of nuisance, be it crashing, lack of tutorials, or just pure chore of gameplay.”
“The game is fun when it works, however it hardly ever works and many mechanics are simply broken.”
“I'm actually very disappointed - what looked like it could be a nice and entertaining game to play seems to have been a waste of my money; it's not intuitive, it's very badly UI/UX designed, whatever mode of gameplay you choose, nothing is simple enough to react quickly and to just enjoy finding and sinking convoys.”
- graphics847 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning detail and realism, particularly in the depiction of the submarine interiors and ocean environments. Many players noted the impressive water effects and atmospheric visuals, which contribute significantly to immersion, although some reported occasional graphical glitches and performance issues on lower-end hardware. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a major highlight, setting a new standard for submarine simulation games.
“The graphics are absolutely stunning, bringing the underwater world and the interior of the u-boat to life with incredible detail.”
“The graphics are gorgeous, so far super enjoyable and I will be continuing this game for sure.”
“The graphics are amazing and the ability to even micro-manage things like recharging the air compressor is a nice touch.”
“There are bugs and graphical glitches galore within the game.”
“The graphics are unfortunately lacking seaweed at final release and not the most detailed land-based and sea-based.”
“The graphics are a mixed bag of sorts.”
- stability516 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent crashes, glitches, and unresponsive AI, making it feel like a "buggy mess." Many users have experienced game-breaking issues, particularly during tutorials and mission progress, leading to frustration and the need for constant saving. While some acknowledge the game's potential and appreciate ongoing developer support, the consensus is that it remains too unstable for a fully enjoyable experience.
“For an early access game, it is very enjoyable and relatively bug free!”
“I dropped the game only to find out when I could play games again that this game had evolved into something that is not only playable, but virtually bug free now!”
“Quite bug free for an early access game with quite a lot of further development planned.”
“This game is a buggy mess.”
“The game is extremely buggy and unstable.”
“The game is still too buggy and crashes too often, making it unplayable.”
- optimization212 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including crashes, stuttering, and high resource usage, particularly on older hardware. While some users have noted improvements following updates, the consensus is that the game still requires substantial optimization to enhance stability and performance across various systems. Overall, while the graphics are praised, the game's current state is deemed unplayable for many, especially those with lower-end setups.
“Optimized for modern computers.”
“The first thing I want to say about this game is that it's possibly the best optimized game I have ever played.”
“With the constant updates, visuals and performance have improved greatly since the start.”
“However, it feels not quite optimized, runs quite badly on older hardware, crashes at least once per session, and has a lot of strange quality of life and UI quirks.”
“I wouldn't call this a complete game; it still needs a ton of optimization. When I played, it was so laggy I couldn't finish the tutorial.”
“The game is poorly optimized, has very little content, many bugs, and now, they're begging for money through their useless DLC.”
- atmosphere119 mentions
- 74 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and detailed representation of life aboard a U-boat during WWII, enhanced by stunning graphics and atmospheric sound design. Players appreciate the ability to tailor their experience, whether opting for a casual or hardcore simulation, and many highlight the game's ability to evoke tension and realism, particularly during intense gameplay moments. However, some reviews note that while the atmosphere is strong, there are areas for improvement, particularly in terms of gameplay flow and additional content to enrich the experience.
“The atmosphere in this game is great and immersive, and the sound effects cause a lot of this.”
“Furthermore, Uboat boasts stunning visuals and a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack that bring its wartime setting to life in vivid detail.”
“The atmosphere is very genuine and captures the look and feel of life on a U-boat in historical context.”
“Let me explain better: the game lacks the atmosphere of the movie, it lacks all the historical and artistic context that made the movie famous.”
“This game doesn't have the flow and the atmosphere from Silent Hunter 3.”
“Or at least the game has potential to be this, since currently in many respects it is a frame which still needs to be fulfilled with objects, decisions to make, characters (two constantly repeated sentences about family tradition and long time at sea are not enough to build the atmosphere of a small group of men closed in a steel coffin), and most of all stories, stories, stories...”
- music93 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing a desire for more variety and options, particularly in the radio stations, which currently feature a limited selection of songs. While some praise the atmospheric soundtrack that enhances immersion, others note technical issues, such as the inability to disable music and bugs affecting volume control. Overall, the modding community has stepped in to provide additional music options, which many players find essential for improving the experience.
“Furthermore, Uboat boasts stunning visuals and a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack that bring its wartime setting to life in vivid detail.”
“The soundtrack is amazing and really fits the mood, especially when you get into the deep.”
“It's beautifully (and brutally) accurate to WWII submarine combat, the focus on the crew is fun, and they even let you tune in to different radio stations so you can listen to the 'Tipperary' song from that one scene in Das Boot.”
“You cannot disable the music throughout the ship using the music volume slider, because it is regulated by the effects slider while on the boat.”
“The checkbox to disable music for FPV does not function.”
“Radio channels and music are very limited and annoying.”
- grinding83 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 76 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium associated with grinding in the game, particularly regarding crew management and mission execution. Many players find the micromanagement aspects overly complicated and time-consuming, leading to frustration, while others appreciate the depth it adds to gameplay. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game has potential, the grinding elements can detract significantly from the enjoyment.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Sub management is not too tedious and can be fun.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The game gets very tedious near the end of the upgrade path with little to do other than go here, sink as many ships as possible.”
“I'm an old school Silent Hunter fan and love the whole sub thing, but this game is far too tedious to be enjoyed. You literally have to control every crew member on the boat to do every tiny task. I mean really, a trained crew who don't know their jobs or how to do them without being kindergartened through it.”
“Graphics are nice, but they don't make up for the cumbersome design, tedious game mechanics, poor decision-making architecture, or game stability, which has a variety of crash problems.”
- replayability43 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, offering a variety of missions and sandbox options that keep players engaged for extended periods. While some users note that patterns may become recognizable over time, the inclusion of mods and dynamic gameplay elements significantly enhances replay value. However, a few reviews mention limitations in replayability, suggesting that additional content or features could further improve the experience.
“The game is extremely long, has a lot of replayability, and is easily worth the money.”
“You can follow missions or do your own thing, so there is an infinite amount of replayability.”
“With fantastic graphics, amazingly accurate day/night geographical realism, and varied replayable gameplay, U-Boat delivers a package that can keep you playing for several months.”
“However, it's worth noting that Uboat does suffer from limited replayability.”
“However, its limited replayability may deter some players from returning for multiple playthroughs.”
“Simply put, there are too many moving parts, and too many variables that must be accounted for before anyone can really enjoy it and tap into its potential for any kind of replay value.”
- humor31 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous bugs and glitches, which players find both amusing and frustrating. Many users highlight the comedic aspects of gameplay, such as absurd ship behaviors and unexpected events, which contribute to a lighthearted experience despite the game's technical issues. Overall, while the humor can enhance enjoyment, it often stems from the game's broken mechanics rather than intentional comedic design.
“The tutorial hilariously is like, 'Okay, time to learn how to shoot a torpedo.'”
“Funny part is the u-boat did a gator roll leaving the port.”
“If you speed up just as a torpedo hits a ship, it will launch the ship 4-5 meters in the air, which is funny and isn't game-breaking but it's not realistic lol.”
- monetization13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- -15 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the absence of pay-to-win mechanics and microtransactions, others criticize the developers for perceived cash grab tactics and prioritizing advertising over player experience. Concerns about the game's incomplete state and delayed release dates further contribute to the sentiment that it may lack genuine passion and commitment from the developers. Overall, players are divided on whether the monetization strategy enhances or detracts from the game's value.
“The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel intrusive, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend.”
“I appreciate that the in-game purchases are optional and don't affect gameplay balance, making it a more enjoyable experience.”
“The developers have done a great job of providing value in their monetization strategy, offering cosmetic items that enhance the game without being pay-to-win.”
“All seems like cash grab titles, I guess that sums it up...”
“Oh and if you want more reason to stay away from this or proof it's just a cash grab with zero passion behind it, this is the same people who have 1000 simulator games from hobo simulator to lawnmowing simulator, and this is double the price of all their other games.”
“Unless they change their new pay-per-install cash grab, Uboat will remain on the seabed, slowly running out of air until all the crew are no more.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of frustration and emotional engagement with the game's mechanics, highlighting a sense of helplessness when faced with technical glitches and slow responses from in-game officers. The detailed crew animations evoke emotional responses, but the overall experience can lead to feelings of inadequacy and disconnection, reminiscent of dramatic moments from narratives like "The Lion King."
“The crew looks detailed and has an emotional expression.”
“This game made me feel dumb for having played it.”
“We were all in touching distance of each other.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features strong character development, allowing players to form emotional connections with their shipmates through meaningful progression mechanics and upgrades. Reviewers express a desire for further enhancements in character development and role-playing elements as the game evolves. Overall, it is praised as the best U-boat simulator, with potential for even deeper character engagement in future updates.
“To me, it is the best sub sim I've ever played, and I cannot wait for it to fully mature and to have a complete campaign, lots more character development, tech, upgrades, missions, etc.”
“You find yourself starting to really care about the welfare of your shipmates, and I hope that character development and role-playing will be improved with time.”
“You find yourself starting to really care about the welfare of your shipmates, and I hope that character development and role-playing will be improved over time.”
“To me, it is the best sub sim I've ever played, and I cannot wait for it to fully mature and to have a complete campaign, with lots more character development, tech, upgrades, missions, etc.”
“Currently the best U-boat simulator available, with proper progression mechanics from boat upgrades to character development.”
