Subnautica: Below Zero

 PC
User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 190 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 93 out of 190
  2. Mixed: 51 out of 190
  3. Negative: 46 out of 190

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  1. Quazder
    Aug 22, 2023
    9
    Better version of subnautica, unique atmosphere, original, dont know whats with the reviews tho
  2. Aci_yt
    Aug 14, 2023
    8
    This game is much better than some of the reviews here will have you believe.
    Objectively, it MASSIVELY improved almost every single aspect of the original game, with some exceptions that are up to your expectations.
    The building system, level of detail, graphics, performance, voice acting, environmental effects and customizability are MUCH better than in Subnautica, with Below Zero    This game is much better than some of the reviews here will have you believe.
    Objectively, it MASSIVELY improved almost every single aspect of the original game, with some exceptions that are up to your expectations.
    The building system, level of detail, graphics, performance, voice acting, environmental effects and customizability are MUCH better than in Subnautica, with Below Zero offering more building options, ways to customize and decorate your base and vehicles to suit your playstyle and needs, a completely new weather system and a ton of love poured into the biome design.
    The only things that could fall flat for you might be the more direct approach to the story, with a now voiced protagonist and clear objectives, instead of the exclusively passive story telling through exploration of the previous game, though you still get elements of it here.

    People also seem to really not pay attention to why things are the way they are, with a certain review here complaining about the PDA's "downgrade". Yes, it is a downgrade, because you're using secondhand equipment from a shady company. It's not supposed to be on the same level of quality as alterra, and definitely not have the same voice. (Gameplay wise it functions completely the same anyways)

    Below Zero features a completely new dry-land section which - while not as interesting as most aquatic sections - has it's own unique set of gameplay mechanics, creatures, secrets and threats and is definitely worth exploring.

    The story expands the Subnautica universe massively and concludes in a sequence that is worthy of the Subnautica series, especially considering this is a spin-off, not a sequel like many people seem to assume.    … Expand
  3. Liquid_Cold
    Aug 1, 2023
    9
    Отличное продолжение отличной игры, приключения продолжаются в новых биомах с новыми направлениями для крафта.
  4. Young_Fawn
    Jun 21, 2023
    8
    A Good Sequel To The Original

    I'd like to start off by saying that Subnautica: Below Zero is less than a sequel as it is more Subnautica 1.5, more of a spin off if you ask me. The game is the same as the original in the sense that you're stranded in a deep water planet and need to gather resources, upgrade yourself and make vehicles in order to delve deeper into unknown parts of the    A Good Sequel To The Original

    I'd like to start off by saying that Subnautica: Below Zero is less than a sequel as it is more Subnautica 1.5, more of a spin off if you ask me.

    The game is the same as the original in the sense that you're stranded in a deep water planet and need to gather resources, upgrade yourself and make vehicles in order to delve deeper into unknown parts of the ocean.

    Below Zero introduces a new mechanic which is effectively "Heat" or "Hypothermia" if you will. You'll spend a bit more time on land in this one than in the previous game and that's where this new mechanic comes into play.

    There's a bunch of new sea creatures and resources to gather in this game which keeps everything fresh and the map itself isn't as convoluted as it is in the first one.

    This could be viewed as a criticism or a positive for some; but Below Zero has a voiced protagonist, who's storyline is effectively to find out what happened to her sister before you arrive on the planet. I say this could be a criticism as usually in these types of survival games I prefer to self-insert a little and make my own storyline intertwined with the games, but it could be a positive as it creates much more of a clear goal in this game which can lend a bit more credence to what you're trying to accomplish. A pro and a con depending on your personal preference.

    The only criticism I have is that some of the parts you need to scan to build certain things are quite spread out and far apart. Some modules I just never simply found and could not create for my Sea Truck, it's not game breaking but it's just a tad annoying. There's more to create in this game but finding the recipe can be more of a chore than a challenge.

    Why is lead, like the last game, so hard to find?

    The storyline in this game is definitely better, three main storylines to go through and they're all pretty magnificent, naturally, they are a little convoluted so don't feel like you're cheating yourself by allowing a peak at a walkthrough to nod yourself on the right path. It's better to follow a river than wander the forest aimlessly.

    There's a really good quality of life change in this game than in the first one, and that is you can pin recipes to your screen so you know when you have everything whilst searching for materials, this is a great change.

    Overall, if you're only going to play one of the games, play this one. But it's not that different from the first game so if you can, play both, they're genuinely exceptional games and I am looking forward to seeing where they'll take the franchise, especially since Subnautica 3 is in development.

    8/10 - Does what the first one does but better.    … Expand
  5. twinkwer
    Jun 5, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Subnautica: Below Zero stands as a remarkable addition to the renowned Subnautica franchise, leaving a lasting impression on a seasoned enthusiast like myself. Despite the disheartening wave of negative reviews that inundated the title on platforms like Metacritic, it is my duty to provide an honest appraisal of this captivating experience.

    The gameplay has undergone a monumental transformation, surpassing its predecessor in terms of innovation and user-friendly enhancements. The inclusion of features such as customizable bases and recipe pinning has undoubtedly elevated the overall gameplay experience to new heights.

    Aesthetically, Subnautica: Below Zero dazzles with its stunning graphical prowess. Admirably, the developers opted to steer clear of hyper-realism, instead opting for a charming, slightly cartoony art style that permeates both the characters and the immersive world that surrounds them. The attention to detail is nothing short of awe-inspiring, effortlessly luring players into an exquisitely polished universe that beckons exploration. However, it is worth noting that the one blemish on this otherwise immaculate canvas is the somewhat constrained size of the game world. Swimming away from the icebergs only to find oneself adrift in the void is a disheartening realization. Nonetheless, the terrestrial environments are an undeniable triumph, with each location boasting a distinctive allure. Among these locales, the magnificent purple acacia forest reigns supreme, leaving me mesmerized by its sheer beauty.

    The narrative aspect of Subnautica: Below Zero has drawn the ire of many critics, but it is my solemn duty to defend its merits. While the story may not ascend to the realm of greatness, it certainly does not deserve the label of mediocrity. Detractors decry the protagonist's frequent interjections, accusing them of disrupting the flow of the game. However, I contend that Robin, the protagonist, only interjects at crucial junctures, heightening the core story elements.
    The root cause of the game's polarizing reception, I've discovered, lies in people's aversion to its deviation from their preconceived notions. Many expected a horror-driven experience, an ordeal of fear-inducing proportions. However, Subnautica: Below Zero consciously eschews those expectations, instead opting to immerse players in an Arctic ambiance, conjuring a cozy adventure. The lack of high stakes, owing to the protagonist's voluntary presence, engenders a remarkably intriguing atmosphere that I personally find enthralling. It is abundantly clear that this game has been unfairly maligned and woefully misunderstood.

    In summary, Subnautica: Below Zero shines as a testament to the developers' dedication and ingenuity. With gameplay improvements, visually arresting aesthetics, and a narrative that, despite its unconventional nature, manages to captivate, this game unequivocally transcends the undeserved vitriol it has received. Subnautica aficionados and newcomers alike owe it to themselves to dive into this engrossing experience, replete with the charm and wonder that only this franchise can deliver.    … Expand
  6. Hyperfailure
    May 20, 2023
    4
    Not as good as the first one, granted it reuses much of the same ideas and all. Overall, just felt genre fatigue playing it and did not finish or even get far
  7. ComandanteCobra
    May 6, 2023
    6
    Less engaging than Subnautica, If you haven't player that, try It before this one.
    Some life improvement has been made (a litte more resources, some clever veichles ideas), visual bugs fixed...but story is less engaging and also exploration is less "scary" and less impressive.
    Navigation is somewhat worse than the first one: A lot of interesting things to discover are placed in places    Less engaging than Subnautica, If you haven't player that, try It before this one.
    Some life improvement has been made (a litte more resources, some clever veichles ideas), visual bugs fixed...but story is less engaging and also exploration is less "scary" and less impressive.

    Navigation is somewhat worse than the first one:
    A lot of interesting things to discover are placed in places and background veeeery similar to each other and very easilly missed leading to some frustration.
    Very good soundtrack.    … Expand
  8. aap4ixx
    Apr 27, 2023
    8
    Твёрдая 8 но с очень большим условием. Офециально

    С игрой я познакомился на пират ресурсе. Поиграл всё очень понравилось (8 баллов) и купил её (хорошие проекты надо поддержать). Через год решил перепройти игру и после установки лицензии я был очень сильно удивлён что игра не имеет русской озвучки. Я начал искать в чем проблема и понял что на пиратке была не официальная озвучка. В    Твёрдая 8 но с очень большим условием. Офециально

    С игрой я познакомился на пират ресурсе. Поиграл всё очень понравилось (8 баллов) и купил её (хорошие проекты надо поддержать). Через год решил перепройти игру и после установки лицензии я был очень сильно удивлён что игра не имеет русской озвучки. Я начал искать в чем проблема и понял что на пиратке была не официальная озвучка.

    В итоге игра от меня имеет твёрдую 8 балов но исключительно благодаря неофициальной русской озвучки.    … Expand
  9. Gabrielhov
    Feb 22, 2023
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I just finished the game and it's such a disappointment. When I finished the first game it quickly became one of my favorites. So I couldn't feel more disappointed when I faced: - boring vehicles available
    - boring fauna - uninteresting storyline
    - nonsense ending
    - boring land exploration

    Base building is great, Graphics are good, gameplay is fine
    But it doesn't feel rewarding after playing some hours.    … Expand
  10. Sharoot
    Nov 8, 2022
    8
    An alright sequel that goes 1 step forward, and two steps back. Horror is still here, but I feel as if many of the things that made the 1st game a masterpiece haven't been built on.
  11. jeffkren
    Oct 24, 2022
    0
    This is a downgrade of the original, its like they stripped the game into a DLC and then called it a game.
  12. coltsr2
    Oct 6, 2022
    0
    SUBNAUTICA: BELOW ZERO is a very disappointing anti-climax to its predecessor.
    I Was expecting a much bigger game, with a much bigger underwater map, a better version map of the original subnautica, one in which there were far more submersible vehicles to use with more exciting interesting features, equipped with better and more varied equipment to use, instead we got a cut down, tiny    SUBNAUTICA: BELOW ZERO is a very disappointing anti-climax to its predecessor.
    I Was expecting a much bigger game, with a much bigger underwater map, a better version map of the original subnautica, one in which there were far more submersible vehicles to use with more exciting interesting features, equipped with better and more varied equipment to use, instead we got a cut down, tiny underwater map (compared to the original), with ONE main underwater vehicle excluding the boring prawn! ONE! The boring sea truck with ridiculous, limited and claustrophobic views sat inside it! When you add all that to the repetitive silly sea creatures (mostly just 'ice versions' of the original) with rubbish AI and a boring clichéd story, and that pointless above water land mass to explore, which was completely boring and seemed like more of an after thought than a real attempt at some decent content. You end up with a big pile of excrement!
    This could have been amazing, it could of built on the original, instead it seemed like it was a major step backwards. I remember all the requests to the devs on the forums, for more submersibles and other ideas...it seems EVERYTHING was ignored and this is basically a slap in the face for the fans of the original. IMAGINE IF THIS WAS A FLIGHT SIM...the first had lots of interesting planes....and the sequel had just one! Once again we see the PAID FOR reviews from the main so called Critic website reviewers, who obviously couldn't review a rainy day in the desert let alone be sincere in their pc game review offerings! One reason i come to Metacritic is the user reviews, despite some being fake positives on this game, and blatantly so... many here giving it 10! and offering reviews saying they haven't even played it!....they are basically fan bombing it to make it look better than it is....MY honest opinion....
    SUBNAUTICA: BELOW ZERO is worth ZERO points for the ZERO effort they put into a sequel with ZERO new vehicles and ZERO new creatures with ZERO worthwhile stories worth my effort or time...which is why i have rated it ZERO! ....SUBNAUTICA: BELOW ZERO..gets a 0!    … Expand
  13. zebsy
    May 30, 2022
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I got the original Subnautica for free on Epic Games and loved it, and put around 70+ hours into it. A fantastic game. So I supported this follow up in Early Access and paid for it. I don't regret this as I feel like I effectively paid for Subnautica, but this follow up is worse in almost every aspect. The thrill and horror of the original is replaced by twee penglings, poor dialogue, and terrible ground based sections - the snowfox being truly awful. Subnautica for me was about the clever and gradual realisation that you didn't need to keep coming to the surface - you could live far far underwater, setting up various bases to move between. It was utterly mind blowing and one of the best video game experiences I've ever had.
    Below Zero had a lot to live up to, and it falls well short.

    Another notably awful part of Below Zero, (for which I have just removed another point from the score), is the terrible, risible Sea Truck. The original game's Sea Moth and Cyclops combo, with the later addition of the Prawn, was just absolute genius. A mobile, customisable base which could dock other vehicles. Just amazing. This expanded upon the base building and living underwater theme I mentioned above. Fantastic gameplay and great fun all round.
    The Sea Truck replacement is just awful. It's like it's been conceived in an afternoon, and many of the dev team must have played it and thought "ergh". But they kept it. Why? I have no idea.
    It's ugly, slow, cumbersome, boring, and a daft long shape to fit through gaps. And you have to manage putting it together and taking it apart again. Sounds good possibly, but the gameplay is shockingly bad. You can't even dock it properly in the moonpool. Rubbish.

    The story of Below Zero is rather average, with the huge disappointment that the creature in the ice didn't break out and start to move. That would have saved the game. The actual ending, once it was finally added, was rather limp and not worthy of even a second play through. This contrasts badly with the awesome ending to the original game, which is a brilliant climax and something I've replayed a few times to get the full experience.
    If I was being ironic, I'd score this game "Below Zero" (ahaha) but will give it a 3 for effort. Very disappointing after the superb and utterly mesmerising original game. Play that instead - you won't be sorry.    … Expand
  14. TheTim
    May 13, 2022
    0
    Pure downgrade from the previous game, with terrible forcefed story with a full set of completely unlikeable characters rather than wonder and exploration. Locations aren't enjoyable to visit. The overland walking segments of game are much longer and inferior to the previous game. The vehicles, one of the few bits of appeal in first game, were made less fun and less useful. Ending feelsPure downgrade from the previous game, with terrible forcefed story with a full set of completely unlikeable characters rather than wonder and exploration. Locations aren't enjoyable to visit. The overland walking segments of game are much longer and inferior to the previous game. The vehicles, one of the few bits of appeal in first game, were made less fun and less useful. Ending feels like sudden short cliffhanger of disappointment. Played for tiny price on gamepass and it wasn't even worth the time it took to install it. Would've done a refund if I'd had to pay the asking price.… Expand
  15. JackPlack
    May 13, 2022
    8
    Good but too much snow/land exploration, and smaller ocean then previous game.
  16. TactlessCorpse
    Mar 28, 2022
    6
    The original Subnautica was really special to me and had great world design, an interesting story line that gave many moments of surprise, and there were reasons to have multiple bases and generally have interest at almost every type of biome. I paid for Subnautica: Below Zero the moment it was available for early access because of how well they made that game! After that... I patientlyThe original Subnautica was really special to me and had great world design, an interesting story line that gave many moments of surprise, and there were reasons to have multiple bases and generally have interest at almost every type of biome. I paid for Subnautica: Below Zero the moment it was available for early access because of how well they made that game! After that... I patiently waited for the release of Below Zero while avoiding any spoilers. Even with all that preparation for success... Below Zero really didn't have anything unexpected or surprising for me.

    This sequel is a lot more like an expansion. It's worth playing with that in mind. You do get a chance to start from scratch, explore some new territory, collect resources, and build. In other ways, it falls short in everything the first game did so well. I was particularly disappointed in the extremely predictable story line and it's lackluster endings. I made one base and never felt a need or desire to make more. New tech was cool to add, but I was already bored with the world and had nothing left to explore by the time I was able to craft most of it. They really could have taken the opportunity to go a bit further with scale and the story line but it feels like they just didn't spend much time even thinking about that.

    Hope the best for this dev team in the future and I hope they find ways to not only match the success of the first game, but introduce some more layers of greatness! I'll certainly keep giving them a shot!    … Expand
  17. gatezz0007
    Jan 7, 2022
    2
    Terrible story, terrible music and ambient sound, smaller map, it's really downgrade from first game.
    Original Subnautica is one of my favorite games, but this "below zero" is a trash.
  18. WellEvil
    Jan 5, 2022
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Great game with a huge focus on story, characters, and world-building. I don't remember the last time when the story absorbed me so much. Yes, there are a few bugs here are there, but nothing game-breaking. Usually minor visual glitches.… Expand
  19. imwritting
    Nov 22, 2021
    1
    where to begin
    The game feels like a ripoff of Subnautica with decent graphics. usually the sequels are more ground breaking the only real change is the addition of actual voice acting a characters. that seems like a good thing no? its not good at all it feels void of humanity more so than the first. "you work with these people", "no i dont" is most of the dialogue between two characters    where to begin
    The game feels like a ripoff of Subnautica with decent graphics. usually the sequels are more ground breaking the only real change is the addition of actual voice acting a characters. that seems like a good thing no? its not good at all it feels void of humanity more so than the first. "you work with these people", "no i dont" is most of the dialogue between two characters and its boring. the other main character is monotone and is like that know it all back seat driver. it mashes to a formula that just doesn't work in the confines of the game.
    the actual gameplay is mediocre at best its the same exact formula and nothing changes you do the same things you did before and was tired of. The enemies in the first one kept you scared and paranoid, these are like the Halloween costumes you see on children and the scariest of them all is wearing bumblebee costume from the transformers, while in the first one was a guy coming from the shadows with a knife trying to rob you. they changed the rock drops cause you move north and all the minerals in outcrops drastically change.
    the pda, oh good god the pda. to some it up the first one was a nice English speaking person with jokes that made you smile. the one in below zero is calling you over your cars extended warranty from Bangladesh. why just why would you make the staple voice worse. what thought process would seem reasonable to take the original voice include it in some aspects like the habitat and completely redo the rest.
    biomes it gets worse. looking at the originals biomes felt alive and different colors constantly changing always something different. this one guess what 80 are the same color pallet just different designs and its all dull colors yeah there is a few colors that are different but they are few and far between the spiral forest which is a good chunk of the map glows in the dark but in colors that still remind you of the dull pallet of colors. if you compare the size of this game to the first you would expect it to be a dlc not a independent game.
    conclusion i could go on for days about the poor decisions this game entailed. to make a long story short i had no emotional connections no urge to replay and no urge to finish it was go here do this and your really not exploring just mindlessly wandering around waiting for the game to tell you your here. then changes were not well thought out and make the game seem more abysmal. Its dlc type content not solo game type I wish i didnt spend the money or time playing this it was a waste of both. I loved the first and thoroughly dislike the second there are plenty examples of good sequels this isn't one.    … Expand
  20. metro_lover31
    Nov 17, 2021
    7
    This game is mostly about developing the graphics of the previous game and presenting it to us by adding slightly different vehicles, places and places. I'm a story game lover and the story of this game really drew me in. I'm giving this game 7 points for Subnautica's sake, but the game is extremely boring, loot all the time, I'm okay with all of these, but it's so hard to loot that IThis game is mostly about developing the graphics of the previous game and presenting it to us by adding slightly different vehicles, places and places. I'm a story game lover and the story of this game really drew me in. I'm giving this game 7 points for Subnautica's sake, but the game is extremely boring, loot all the time, I'm okay with all of these, but it's so hard to loot that I spent 36 hours just to finish the story mode of the game, the story of the game is 24 hours.… Expand
  21. Salador2606
    Nov 8, 2021
    7
    Начало игры очень интересное. Но окончание скучное и не интересное. Кучу контента вырезана и не доделана.

    The beginning of the game is very interesting. But the ending is boring and not interesting. A lot of content is cut and not finished yet.
  22. The_Elike
    Oct 25, 2021
    0
    You'd think I'd love this game since everything good is copy pasted from the first game. Unfortunately that is not the case because the technical issues are so bad the game barely functions. The constant crashes, poor render distance, environmental pop-in, the weird fog that covers everything, having to explore on land, and a poorly thought out map that is too crowded in the middle and tooYou'd think I'd love this game since everything good is copy pasted from the first game. Unfortunately that is not the case because the technical issues are so bad the game barely functions. The constant crashes, poor render distance, environmental pop-in, the weird fog that covers everything, having to explore on land, and a poorly thought out map that is too crowded in the middle and too barren everywhere else combine to crush any enthusiasm I had for playing. I would put this glorified dlc up against No Man's Sky and Halo MCC as one of the worst experiences on release.… Expand
  23. jolychik
    Oct 24, 2021
    7
    Ну кароче, сабнатика below zero

    Прошёл за 14 часов, использовал трейнер после 9-10ти часов Из положительного нового: - анимации новые - новые звуки - суша играет более значимую роль - новые механики - русская озвучка есть теперь (чем например маленькая инди студия Microsoft не может похвастаться) - теперь меня не заебало читать тонны текстов, можно было спокойно слушать То    Ну кароче, сабнатика below zero

    Прошёл за 14 часов, использовал трейнер после 9-10ти часов

    Из положительного нового:
    - анимации новые
    - новые звуки
    - суша играет более значимую роль
    - новые механики
    - русская озвучка есть теперь (чем например маленькая инди студия Microsoft не может похвастаться)
    - теперь меня не заебало читать тонны текстов, можно было спокойно слушать

    То что осталось таким же хорошим как в первой части:
    - саундтрек правда по личным ощущениям проседает на бала 2 гдет
    - всё такие же красивые виды

    Из минусов:
    - мини минус, есть предметов 5 которые ты скрафтишь 1 раз и больше никогда ими не воспользуешься
    - озвучка хромает, местами прям кринж
    - появилось много диалогов, которые по мне прям лишние, ну рил какая то хуйня в воздух, по типу "о я скрафтила сканер ахуенная и незаменимая вещь " почти буквально
    - кринжовые и странные диалоги между тобой и новым персонажем(в этот раз ты не один развитый объект на этой части планеты)
    - очень много локаций, местами забываешь что где находиться или заёбываешься бегать туда обратно
    - ебучая метель
    - я совершенно заебался бегать по суше в метель ебучую искать место по нарисованной блять карте с не особо соблюдёнными пропорциями блять (ну реально где то час проебал)
    - опять суша, но меня заебали подземные(подлёдовые) черви которые нахуй каждую секунду вылезают из земли, и даже ап на наземный транспорт что бы режи вылезали не работает как будто
    - постепенно перехожу к самому важному, сюжет хромает сильно достаточно, не чувствую какой то завершенности от него что ли и красоты, идут как бы 3 сюжетные линии сразу, можно сказать, завершена ток одна и то она такая, мдеееее
    - 30 долларов??? 30 (столько же стоила первая часть) за те же самые модельки много где и за более плохой сюжет + в 2 раза меньше игрового времени ???

    Итог:
    Дизайн и красота картинки - 10
    Саунддизайн и музыка - 8
    Атмосфера - 8
    Сюжет для выживалки - 6-7
    Техническое состояние - 8
    Геймплей и то насколько мне нравилось путешествовать по миру не считая стандартного для выживалок заёбного крафта - 9
    Купить советую по скидке в 30%+    … Expand
  24. max_gradient
    Oct 14, 2021
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was so excited for this game, but the moment they did the dev reveal stream it all went downhill. Instead of the mysterious eerie feeling of the first part, they jumped on the SJW bandwagon and presented some highly implausible characters for diversity reasons.
    Although they tried to tune the annoyance level down since the reveal, the hastily rewritten "new" story and the protagonists are still subpar, for example we now have a black lesbian super-scientist who found the cure for an alien disease that a super-high-tech alien couldnt. Also the alien blew everyone up, but it becomes your friend for no reasons. WTF.

    The story line basically consists of scanning a dozen of glowing green items in a row. "oh, you scanned a shiny green thing? here, let me add the location of the next shiny green thing to the map!". Incredibly boring.

    Also, the new mechanics are few and far between, and the amount of assets added does not really warrant a standalone sequel for this price. The game design feels unfinished, I was so excited to finally get the prawn suit, but you actually never need it and can finish the game easily without it. Of the 5 or so seatruck modules, I only needed 1. The rest is completely useless.

    Dont bother making a part 3 unless you: have a decent story and good progression/quest design to go with it, can nail the atmosphere as the first game did, and add enough new content to warrant the price.    … Expand
  25. T-D-L
    Oct 3, 2021
    3
    I know people who paid and supported the alpha for this game, and if this was Subnautica 1 I would say their patience and money was well rewarded. Subnautica: Below Zero presents a serviceable story and interesting arctic alien zone yet does virtually nothing to improve the dated gameplay mechanics it established back in 2014.

    You would be forgiven for confusing it with the first game    I know people who paid and supported the alpha for this game, and if this was Subnautica 1 I would say their patience and money was well rewarded. Subnautica: Below Zero presents a serviceable story and interesting arctic alien zone yet does virtually nothing to improve the dated gameplay mechanics it established back in 2014.

    You would be forgiven for confusing it with the first game at a glance, especially in the first 2-4 hours of play as it's the same game. the recipes are the same, the oxygen mechanic is the same, you'll hunt for peepers and bladderfish just like you did back in the first game it hasn't changed one iota and it sets a precedent for a new story told with the same tired, old, engine. I wasn't an hour in to the game before I had to summon forth the console (Shift+Enter by the way and that info is only available in a bloody PATCH NOTE) in order to warp myself out of a stuck spot because despite having half a decade of development time to improve things, gravity and collision is apparently still a problem.

    Truthfully, I love the world that the game presents to me, but I fear I am now too old to deal with all of the inconsistencies in Unknown World's design. After a decade of experience as a company, I'm surprised that this game still feels like amateur work. It was cute back in Subnautica 1, but now its 2021 and I don't have the patience for a non-stacking inventory system, one-item-at-a-time crafting(WHY!?), manually hunting out blueprint fragments because the scanning room has *never* been helpful in this regard. By far, the most frustrating thing about this game is that all of the designs problems are about one small change away from being great.

    Take titanium for example, the game literally has a joke in it about titanium being comically easy to find and duh, it's the first material you use, but a few hours in you'll find salvage which you can pick up with a hint that says "can be recycled into titanium", cool so this must be a more efficient method of gathering titanium at the expense of it being bulky, right? Wrong! It takes up 4 slots in your inventory and gives you how much titanium? Well 4, which takes up (wait for it) 4 slots in your inventory, So it's titanium with an extra step and in fact it's actually WORSE than gathering regular titanium because salvage has to be arranged in a square pattern in your non-stacking inventory.

    If you've played the game before you may have noticed I haven't mentioned the temperature meter yet, that's because it's the same as the oxygen meter but above ground, and I would bet money that they inherited it from the same script as the oxygen meter. Copy-pasting mechanics don't make them new, devs, even if you rename the script file.

    The new vehicles are cool, but because this game is forever cowering in the shadow of it's predecessor, none of these vehicles outperform the prawn suit, which is a mech suit that was nigh-unstoppable in the original game and is nigh-unstoppable now, there is no reason to use the seatruck when the prawn suit is more agile and can pick stuff up, there is no reason to use the snowfox because the prawn suit can go on land. The new vehicles feel more like gimmicks than actual additions.

    Honestly, I was excited to play this game because I have such fond memories of Subnautica 1 but I have been thoroughly disappointed by this iteration and all it would have taken to make Below Zero an amazing game is someone giving half of a care about the fundamental mechanics of this no-longer-unique survival series.    … Expand
  26. Nickolababaiko
    Oct 1, 2021
    8
    Subnautica: Below Zero это продолжение мега популярной выживалки в подводном инопланетном мире Subnautica! Сюжет продолжает события первой части, расширяя и дополняя его!
    Суть игры осталась прежней: изучаем территорию, осваиваем новые технологии и приспособления! Строим и благоустраиваем свои базы попутно делая вылазки по сюжету! Мир Subnautica: Below Zero стал компактным с множеством    Subnautica: Below Zero это продолжение мега популярной выживалки в подводном инопланетном мире Subnautica! Сюжет продолжает события первой части, расширяя и дополняя его!
    Суть игры осталась прежней: изучаем территорию, осваиваем новые технологии и приспособления! Строим и благоустраиваем свои базы попутно делая вылазки по сюжету! Мир Subnautica: Below Zero стал компактным с множеством пещерных лабиринтов подводных и надводных что меня раздражало! (легко заблудиться) Из транспорта новая подлодка "мореход" которую собираешь как поезд из разных по назначению вагонов!)) Убрали подводную лодку Циклоп из первой часть т.к он никуда не пролезет!
    Исчез дух глобального исследования местности когда ты несколько дней готовишься к дальнему походу на другой конец карты! Забиваешь трюмы подводной лодки ресурсами, запасами еды, воды и инструмента! И оставляешь много места под новые ископаемые которые найдешь в неизведанной пучине морской!
    Subnautica: Below Zero маленькая по размерам но более проработанная по контенту и с высоким темпом прохождения! И да, левиафаны тут не такие страшные и опасные как в прошлой части!
    Мне эта часть понравилась гораздо меньше чем оригинальная Subnautica но к прохождению Below Zero рекомендую!    … Expand
  27. rundor
    Sep 16, 2021
    0
    When you make a sequel, you should not only try to make a game as good and fillied with content as the original but also perhaps even improve upon and increase the amount of content and quality of it.

    Below zero does absolutely none of that, everything is either worse, at best mediocre/the same, and above all most times extremely lacking compared to the original. This game literally    When you make a sequel, you should not only try to make a game as good and fillied with content as the original but also perhaps even improve upon and increase the amount of content and quality of it.

    Below zero does absolutely none of that, everything is either worse, at best mediocre/the same, and above all most times extremely lacking compared to the original. This game literally feels like a cash grab DLC compared to the original game and should NEVER have been marketed anywhere near as being a sequel. Even for a DLC it would have been lacking in some areas. It literally feels like this is about a THIRD of the game the original was, and that is including all the content from the first that was re-used for this game.    … Expand
  28. Nicotin
    Aug 27, 2021
    5
    To anyone that is saying that this game is just as good as the first one, just different, they're completely out of their mind. Below Zero fails miserably to recreate some of the key components that made the original Subnautica great, and also fails miserably to achieve the things they were supposed to innovate on to compensate this change. I will try to ilustrate why even though there areTo anyone that is saying that this game is just as good as the first one, just different, they're completely out of their mind. Below Zero fails miserably to recreate some of the key components that made the original Subnautica great, and also fails miserably to achieve the things they were supposed to innovate on to compensate this change. I will try to ilustrate why even though there are some great 1 hr. + reviews on YouTube that explain this.

    Map: The map is a lot smaller and less deep that the original, and has biomes packed together, even vertically in some cases. This doesn't seem very realistic since you have a lot of biomes a few meters appart and more importantly it makes you loose the feeling of being on "open ocean"; you can see the limits of your enviroment almost all the time, which are also clearly iluminated as opposed to the deep dark sea on the original. You never wonder if there's a scary creature ready to get you since you always have clear visibility of your surroundings.

    Terror: there is literally NO TERROR in this game. Leaviathans are a sad joke and there are only squid sharks in every single biome, which is practically the only fauna you will practically see in the game. And they don't do absolutely nothing. You will very soon find that you are invincible with the defense upgrade of the Sea Truck. Late game leviathan? No problem, it will do 10 damage and run away. The PDA even tells you of the presence of them which takes away any fear of anticipation.

    Story: You basically have two story lines: finding what happened to the main character's sister and helping an architect to rebuild his body. None of them make absolutely any sense once you pay attention to it. The developers were supposed to compensate the lack of terror and map design in BZ with a great story, which aside from being very generic, it's full of plotholes that don't make any sense at all. You also are introduced to another survivor named Margaret, which you of course expect to develop over time and form a relationship which, but it turns out you only see her again twice in the game for a grand total of 5 mins on screen. The writing seems extremely lazy I couldn't even believe it. We lost all the greatness of the original Subnautica for this "great storyline".

    Land gameplay: it was just okay. Nothing special, and very buggy. I did not get any damage from either the land creatures and land leviathans since using the snow vehicle makes their behaviour so buggy they can't even hit you once. Ridiculous.

    Overall this game feels very bland, lazy, and definetly nothing special like the first one. The most worrying part is that after playing BZ, it really makes me wonder if the developers just stumbled upon the greatness of the original Subnautica by random chance. They really screwed everything they could screw in BZ which does not deliver anything other than Sea Monkeys as a replacement for the Cuddlefish. This is not just a "different game but equally good". It's just and OK 5/10, which is trash compared to the original Subnautica.    … Expand
  29. TwiTu
    Jul 26, 2021
    0
    "Being inclusive is not political. Playing as a woman is not political."
    Thats what one of the developers replied to a customer complaining how much effort they put into race and gender, while blatantly ignoring real issues with the game.
    Shoving the sexuality (and sexual preference - WTF kids play this game too!) of protagonists, how strong they are for women and how diverse the    "Being inclusive is not political. Playing as a woman is not political."
    Thats what one of the developers replied to a customer complaining how much effort they put into race and gender, while blatantly ignoring real issues with the game.

    Shoving the sexuality (and sexual preference - WTF kids play this game too!) of protagonists, how strong they are for women and how diverse the characters are, that all your white and male characters are either dumb, goofy, gay, evil, corrupt, stupid and useless down the throat of people is the very definition of politics and makes your game propaganda.

    Everyone knows what the last game was. Nothing political was included at all. But I am sure you will make your Keep Calm Kitty brown or black too once someone on Twitter claims youre racist for having a white kitty on it. Or just from this review, just to spite me.

    Back then you still understood that nobody plays games for politics. Not even political simulations. They do it to escape the overly political real world. Making the story revolve around it and mentioning/pointing it out every single dialogue is the very definition of political propaganda. Have you never been shown Soviet or Nazi propaganda in school???

    You could have easily added a customizable player character. You could have easily made the story more of a mystery like on the last game. But due to the choice of character, and your urge to virtue signal, she bleats out the whole plot already after 30 mins of gameplay.

    Not to mention, the way you portrayed these "inclusive" characters made them extremely unlikeable. They are incompetent, arrogant, overly aggressive, cant control their emotions, unfunny, cringy, narcissistic, insecure and stereotypical in general. So what picture are you trying to paint here in any case? Is that supposed to be inspiration for POC and females? You only look like the devs of TLoU2, who tried to be woke and then made the worst people POC and/or female, made you kill doggies and horses, made the vast majority of the people you need to kill POC and female and to top it off even added a Jewish character who has a huge nose.
    Bravo. Congratulations. But thats what happens when you force something without even understanding it. Politics after all.

    Other than that I cant really add anything that others havent said already, except that... well... Racists do make bad games, because all they care for is race while neglecting the important things like story, immersion, map, vehicles, characters, dialogue, bugs, controls and early access player feedback in general. Just like in this game. Seriously, if you look at the choices they made, the feedback they blatantly ignored and how they treat their players, it seems this game was just made to make the people mad that they think are racists. Yet they are the racists themselves. No self-reflection at all.
    Yet they dont mind taking the money from the people they think that are racists. Again, very telling.

    When you look at Steamcharts its very obvious that most players dont like this game nearly as much as the last one. Even now the 3+ year old game has 1000 to 2000 more players than the new Below Zero. And the peaks in player numbers are even more drastic. Sometimes twice or triple that of Below Zero.
    Get woke go broke.    … Expand
  30. fetqqq
    Jul 25, 2021
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 4/10
    A stripped-down version of the first part, which is lost in music, atmosphere, oddly enough plot. In the first part, there was a feeling that I was not on my own on the planet, and I need to get out by any means, or at least find someone else who survived, such a plot is easy to believe and easy to penetrate. All this gave an incentive to explore the map, where parallel landscapes that admired. In the second part, the character's strange motivation, there is no longer a desire to survive, you have to motivate yourself by the fact that you need to find a sister, girlfriend or someone there, and this is difficult. The most boring winter top (I don't want to float). I liked the first part very much, I bought the second one, but the desire to play it is absent after what I saw.

    Well, what else let down is the lack of additional complexity for those who played the first part and already understands how to quickly find resources, drink and feed themselves. Survival in the first part was not an obstacle, but due to the fact that it was the first experience of overcoming obstacles that added interest to the game.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Best PC Game of 2021
40
#40 Most Discussed PC Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. GameGrin
    Aug 19, 2022
    90
    Subnatica: Below Zero is an excellent survival game, being equally beautiful and terrifying. The narrative is strong but can feel out of place at times.
    Read full review
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Feb 17, 2022
    80
    If you played the original part and you enjoyed it, Below Zero is a good choice. For those who once had enough, there is probably no need to play again. The sequel takes the best from the original game and adds something new.
  3. CD-Action
    Jul 23, 2021
    90
    The world of Below Zero is much smaller than its predecessor’s, but it is still an absolutely brilliant survival game that tells an interesting story set in a fascinating environment. Additionally, it is more friendly towards less experienced players, and managed to get rid of some technical issues that affected the original Subnautica. [08/2021, p.78]
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