Subnauticafor Windows

Subnautica is an engaging take on the survival genre, tossing players into a world underwater. Danger lurks around every corner. Can you survive?

Find your way offworld

Survive against terrifying leviathans, explore beautiful caverns, and scavenge for resources.

This title, brought to you by Unknown Worlds Entertainment, thrusts the player onto a strange ocean planet. Your ship has crash landed, and you’re stuck without supplies or hope of survival.

This game is incredible. While it suffers from a few technical issues, it hits the majority of the marks that good games need to hit.

The gameplay is awesome. You feel like the environments and creatures are reacting to you, the alien invader. You feel unwelcome and in danger every moment you’re out of your safezone, whether that’s your starting pod or your new underwater home.

Unlike a lot of survival games (Rust or Minecraft, for instance), this one has a narrative. You’re stuck on this planet for a reason. As you explore and gather resources, you uncover artifacts of a long-lost civilization. You’ll need to piece the story together if you want to get off the planet alive.

If the game falls short anywhere, it’s on the technical side. The map is the same each time you play. While that lends itself well to the narrative of the game, it’s a shame that the experience isn’t unique each time.

There’s also not enough variety or freedom with the base-building mechanic. While it’s fun, there’s only so much to functionally do and not nearly enough threat to keep you on your toes. The lack of multiplayer is also a shame, but that’s likely to maintain the feeling of isolation that the game’s trying to give you.

Where can you run this program?

Subnautica is available on Windows 7 64-bit and up.

Is there a better alternative?

No. While the sequel, Below Zero, has much more to build, the narrative isn’t a strong as it is in the original.

Our take

This game offers a great experience and a ton of adrenaline-pumping, fear-driven action. The environments are gorgeous, the storyline is interesting (if a little vague), and the base construction is addicting.

Should you download it?

Yes. If you’re a fan of survival games, you need to pick up Subnautica.