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Game pageSubnautica: An ocean that makes you curious beyond your fear
The dark ocean is frightening, yet you want to see what lies a little farther away. Reviews describe curiosity drawing players onward despite that fear.
It suits players who want both the excitement of venturing out and the satisfaction of building a base of their own.
What makes it fun
Turn back or dive deeper
Do you turn back while you have oxygen, or swim a little farther into the dark? You want to see what is ahead, even as the water gets unsettling.
Build a place to return to
After a dive, you can add rooms and windows to your base and change the view of the sea. Your next session can be another expedition or a quiet stretch of building.
Piece the story together
Read the records and connect clues found across the ocean. A dive for materials can also bring you closer to understanding what happened here.
Game details
As of Oct 29, 2026- Steam Deck
- Verified
- Release date
- Jan 24, 2018
- Developer
- Unknown Worlds Entertainment
- Languages
- Japanese, English (Full audio), Simplified Chinese, Korean ／ 27 languages total
A typical run
Explore an alien ocean while managing oxygen.
A new place can attract you even as fear urges you back. That tension is central to the exploration experiences described in reviews.
An Observatory lets you look out at the underwater scenery from inside your base. You can make time to enjoy the ocean as well as venture into it.
Reviews describe becoming absorbed in developing a base. Beyond rushing toward the next destination, there is pleasure in creating a place you want to return to.
Players also enjoy piecing together what happened through records. Curiosity about the mystery can motivate a trip, not just a need for materials.
Tools and vehicles can make expanding exploration satisfying, though reviews also mention feeling unsure where to go next. Consider whether following clues yourself is part of the pleasure.
Core systems
Hull integrity Hull Integrity
Windows and added compartments reduce integrity; reinforcements increase it.
Consider reinforcement when adding views or space. Choose both the ocean you want to see and the shape of your home.
What sets it apart
The question is whether fear makes you curious as well as cautious. Accounts of being drawn into the unknown offer a different appeal from comfortable gathering alone.
Learning curve and difficulty
Consider separately whether you want a new view today or time to improve your base. Reviews find enjoyment in both exploring and building.
Builds and playstyles
Room for an ocean view
The Large Room and Glass Dome offer choices for the space and outlook of a base. They invite time spent making a home rather than rushing the next expedition.
What longtime players say
One reviewer planned to retrieve a lost vehicle but instead became absorbed in rebuilding a base. It is an individual example of an enjoyable detour, not a universal play pattern.
What players like
Players enjoy building and developing a base of their own.
Exploring an unknown ocean remains compelling despite fear.
Tools and vehicles make expanding exploration satisfying.
Learning the world’s story through records and clues is enjoyed.
Common complaints
Players describe strong tension around depth, creatures or sounds.
Players have felt lost or uncertain because guidance was limited.
Repeated gathering or trips for materials have felt burdensome.
Who it’s for
Players who want curiosity to guide them through an unfamiliar ocean.
Players who also enjoy developing a personal base between expeditions.
Who might not enjoy it
Players who want to avoid tension around dark water or large creatures.
Players who want the next destination to be clearly explained at all times.
FAQ
- May I stream or upload videos?
- The developer permits posting videos recorded from its games. Streaming and video monetization are also permitted within the conditions of its official video policy.
These impressions are based on 100 Steam reviews sorted by “Most Helpful.” They do not represent the views of all buyers.
Image: Subnautica on Steam