Subnautica

 PC
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 39
  3. Negative: 0 out of 39
  1. Eurogamer
    Jan 24, 2018
    An oppressively beautiful portrayal of an undersea environment, and a well-wrought survival game with a vaguely eco-friendly message. [Recommended]
  2. Kotaku
    Jan 24, 2018
    Saying much more would spoil the pleasure of letting the mysterious story unspool. Trust me that it’s worth experiencing.
  3. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Jan 24, 2018
    Subnautica is at the top of my mental list of the greatest survival games. [RPS Recommended]

Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Best PC Game of 2018
8
#8 Most Discussed PC Game of 2018
20
#20 Most Shared PC Game of 2018

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1406 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,191 out of 1406
  2. Mixed: 133 out of 1406
  3. Negative: 82 out of 1406
  1. SplatMan_DK
    Jan 26, 2018
    10
    Best open-world I have played in about a year. And best indie title for almost a decade! Great atmosphere, great graphics, attention toBest open-world I have played in about a year. And best indie title for almost a decade! Great atmosphere, great graphics, attention to detail. Amazing what this little studio did with a small budget, compared to "the big guys". They made a competitive shooter called "Natural Selection 2" as well - be sure to check it out if you like fast-paced FPS action. :-)… Full Review »
  2. Telembrium
    Jan 25, 2018
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. Subnautica takes mechanics from the survival genre and incorporates them into the core gameplay of an adventure game. While this does work well in the early game, it quickly becomes a chore when the story opens up, with the player being perpetually inconvenienced with the trifling tasks of collecting food, water, and resources after they've long stopped caring. A story which creates questions, provokes thought, and presents outrageous implications is ultimately anticlimactic, with the metaphorical key which could explain everything just being idly thrown away as if it were nothing. Despite this, an exotic world to investigate, combined with a pleasant graphical style, offers an enjoyable, if somewhat rudimentary, experience in exploration.

    The story begins with the player crash-landing on a planet almost completely covered in water. Immediately, they’re tasked with trying to survive as well as attempting to find other crash-landed crewmembers. This is the best part of the game. There's a sense of urgency, plot questions actually get answered, and becoming acquainted with the foreign environment is exciting. The survival mechanics work here, as they slowly draw the player out of the starting area's safety and present a clear path of progression. Unfortunately, the game quickly shows its lame side, as every single crewmember calling for help dies immediately before the player arrives. Eventually, the player discovers that they are infected with a deadly alien bacterium, which they need to cure.

    The player soon find that aliens have built several underwater bases on the planet which (conveniently) happen to be a facility for researching a cure to the alien bacterium. From here, the gameplay becomes an utter chore, as the player is endlessly tasked with finding or creating another differently-coloured keycard to enter the next alien base, essentially making the gameplay analogous to 1993's Doom, except for the lack of shooting alien abominations.

    The player continues to find new alien bases, with each one delivering another bit of story exposition which usually creates more questions than it answers. All the while, they'll constantly be harassed by incredibly annoying enemies called "warpers", which teleport the player around (potentially into certain death) and which can't be killed. The player, however, can be killed, and the end result is that they respawn at home or in their submarine and have to go back to where they were, meaning that death is simply a complete waste of time.

    Eventually, the player finds the final base and meets an ancient, sentient sea monster who communicates by speaking to the player telepathically. This sea monster could potentially explain everything the player wants to know: who are the aliens, where are they from, what were they doing with artifacts from Earth, why was the native fauna experiencing such accelerated evolutionary patterns, and etcetera. Instead, the monster tasks you with a fetch quest to power a button, which, when pressed, inexplicably kills them. Ensue another fetch quest where the player builds an escape ship, which, after using it to leave the planet, prompts a kicker that shows that the monster is apparently still in existence, telepathically revealing that it's "together" with the player somehow. Return to title screen.

    Ultimately, the exploration is fun, but everything else is a drag. One has to deal with meaningless and tedious deaths as well as the constant annoyance of the “warper” enemies to do it, but the exotic landscapes, pleasant visuals, and sense of scale make the experience of exploration a positive one regardless. The survival mechanics, however, need to be reapproached. They should be harmonious with the adventure gameplay, creating an interactive system rather than being an excuse to impede progress. In regards to the story, questions need to be answered, and unexplained events should not be left on the table. Without closure, the story becomes superficial, and it leaves the player feeling burned.    … Full Review »
  3. Bulsajo
    Mar 2, 2018
    9
    A very strong contender for "THE BEST GAME I'VE EVER PLAYED." This is coming from someone who started out playing Atari Pong in the 70s (andA very strong contender for "THE BEST GAME I'VE EVER PLAYED." This is coming from someone who started out playing Atari Pong in the 70s (and has been diving around the world since the 80s). Graphics, game play, plot, progression, sound, music all combine in an intensely satisfying and addictive experience. Completing the game (135 hours, I like to take my time) was very rewarding and left me craving more. disclaimer: I didn't experience any major bugs nor do I know anything about the company's HR policies.… Full Review »
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