Subnautica

 PC
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

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  1. hameow
    Mar 2, 2019
    8
    Worth the price. One problem tho. Late game is laggy. I love the lore and how deep it goes.
  2. Waveform1
    Feb 25, 2019
    3
    REAL MIXED BAG HERE

    It is attention grabbing and intriguing... for the first 2 hours I'd say about when you're building your first habitat is when the boredom sets in, then when you're trying to advance (Especially the cyclops) the boredom starts to slide into frustration and impatience. The scavenging, while fun at first, quickly begins to devolve into a tedious, headache inducing    REAL MIXED BAG HERE

    It is attention grabbing and intriguing... for the first 2 hours
    I'd say about when you're building your first habitat is when the boredom sets in, then when you're trying to advance (Especially the cyclops) the boredom starts to slide into frustration and impatience. The scavenging, while fun at first, quickly begins to devolve into a tedious, headache inducing scavenger hunt. While the game is very visually appealing, towards mid game that luster too begins to fall away as you have to make constant, long... long trips back to wherever you set down your main base as the resources required begin to get farther and rarer. Even just on freedom mode I was a full 24 hours in and I was barely halfway through, which brings me to my next point...

    CHEATING

    This game drives you to cheat, I have NEVER in my life played a game that wants you to cheat this much. Unless you are a veteran and know exactly what to do, you constantly are needing materials you either can't get too or just plain don't know the location of. I've heard that this game doesn't hold your hand, but in all reality it puts a blindfold on you, spins you around three times and tells you to go get 4 Kyanite.
    My breaking point was when I got to the point where I needed a prawn suit. It needs aerogel and ruby among other things. The ruby was easy enough, the gel sacks for the aerogel were what got me. I had never seen them before and after spending two full hours just looking for these tiny deep sea sacks I gave in and started cheating. and cheated, and cheated.
    I couldn't STOP cheating when I figured out I could. what used to take me hours now took simple seconds, I could actually start to move forward in the story again, speaking of...

    THE STORY AND MY STUPID PROBLEM

    I have no complaints about the story, it's polished, well thought out and snarky at times, my problem with it was that I got STUCK.
    It had probably been 6 hours by now, I had a small base, a seamoth, discovered both islands, got to the one with the three degasi bases. I combed it up and down and dismissed the degasi crew as a cool subplot, nothing more nothing less
    I was very wrong...
    hours after I had combed over the island I was becoming increasingly desperate for something productive to do, the story had run cold, all I was doing at this point was running around for supplies to expand my base.
    I got sick of it, started looking it up.
    Turns out that I had missed a single abandoned PDA on the degasi island... one sitting on the side of a random trail... one that in my three expeditions I had not seen once because it was hidden in the grass. The exact one that gave me my next story marker. The level of fury I had at that current moment was unprecedented. I had been playing all day and a small portion of the night simply to get as far as I can only to get hung up on this one tiny detail. Wasted hours and hours trying to find this one crucial pda where I was given no hints or indication that I needed to do so in the first place.

    THE GAME ENGINE

    I think my feelings can be summed up as a single statement here "This game engine makes Fallout: New Vegas look strong"
    I was constantly clipping into things, at one point I beached my seamoth to explore only to find just the very tip of it sticking out of the sand when I got back, so I had to use my seaglide to ram the beach, clip into it, climb in my seamoth and then drive out (Which damaged it very badly)
    At one point I was exploring the Aurora, picked something up and ended up clipping into the wall. That almost permanently
    reversed the water and air, so every time I was inside a structure it acted as if I was outside and vice versa

    THE ATMOSPHERE

    I already touched on how towards mid game you have to make long long trips through ocean with very little to look at, and while that improves slightly towards end game it certainly isn't helped by the lack of music
    The music is amazing, there just isn't enough of it.
    At points I would find myself staring at dark mute blue for tens of minutes, nothing to look at, nothing to hear except the whir of my seamoth and even that starts to drone after a while.
    you could say that this makes it more realistic, but the truth is it just gets so *boring*, this only works to make the scavenging even more boring. Towards the end of the middle I found myself getting so bored that I just muted the game and used my own sci fi music. But I couldn't make it fit the tone like an in game soundtrack.

    CONCLUSION

    This is a good game. But it needs so much more work to be enjoyed to its fullest extent. Fix the pacing of scavenging, fix the paper thin solid layers and add more music. As well as the fact that spending hours trying to find a single type of resource and then having to run stupid long distances over and over again to get more of it isn't fun. But the game uses the scavenging as a crutch to prop up a game with no other substance or mechanics.    … Expand
  3. Sinatra
    Feb 13, 2019
    10
    The best survival game and one of the best games I´ve played. Thank you Dev´s for this amazing experience!

    This game is really something! Survival with story? Yes, and a good one. The game has a goal (well, more then one), has a great progression, a fantastic world and a very good crafting and (kind of) research system. Vehicle Design - the best I have ever seen! Like no other game, it    The best survival game and one of the best games I´ve played. Thank you Dev´s for this amazing experience!

    This game is really something! Survival with story? Yes, and a good one. The game has a goal (well, more then one), has a great progression, a fantastic world and a very good crafting and (kind of) research system. Vehicle Design - the best I have ever seen!
    Like no other game, it manages to bring forth many contrary feelings a once. Let me explain what I´m thinking as I get to a new biome for the first time:
    It´s so dark - I´m scared. But there are glowy things everywhere - it´s so beautiful. The music - I´m terrified! What kind of new machinery (unlocks) will I find here - I´m curios. Look a that thing swimming over there, is that making that awful noise? Let´s have a look - and some seconds later - I´m getting out of here and never, never, never coming back.... even though I´ll have to eventually. :-)
    I think Subnautica is a horror game disguised as a beautiful survival crafting game.

    But let´s start nitpicking.... is it absolutely perfect? No....
    Even with a high end pc I still have pop-ups.
    Towards the end of the game, there was a moment I felt a bit lost and was unsure of what to do (because I didn´t read all the entries in my PDA)
    Has no tutorial (but is very intuitive)

    I thought about giving this game a 9/10, but even if it´s not perfect, the experience is a 12/10....
    I hope the developers made a lot of money with this and will continue at this level of quality in other games!
    If you don´t know Subnautica, don´t look it up... just PLAY THIS GAME!    … Expand
  4. Moiizi
    Feb 13, 2019
    9
    very great game. A wonderful experience under water, nice secrets and story.
  5. fullmetal_boy
    Feb 9, 2019
    10
    Frankly, I am scared of depths. Now imagine me playing this one. The best survival game I`ve ever played. Period.
    The mixture of exploration and uknown drove me insane, and I`ve never thought I`d want to build a base and literally live there with occasional trips for recources. Honestly, I don`t know a game where I`d feel so unsafe. Now add an intriguing story, ocassional fears of uknown    Frankly, I am scared of depths. Now imagine me playing this one. The best survival game I`ve ever played. Period.
    The mixture of exploration and uknown drove me insane, and I`ve never thought I`d want to build a base and literally live there with occasional trips for recources. Honestly, I don`t know a game where I`d feel so unsafe. Now add an intriguing story, ocassional fears of uknown (or the fact your little Moth can be torn apart as a paper ship by some monsters that live there) and lenghthy searches for needed equipment. Plus don`t forget to drink and eat. Best experience!    … Expand
  6. kuczmcym
    Feb 8, 2019
    8
    A wonderful mix a beautiful and terrifying.

    A truly unique exploration experience.
  7. Moosher
    Feb 6, 2019
    10
    Do I even have to say anything? It's SUBNAUTICA we are talking about here.

    10/10 Instantly
  8. En0t_OZAVR
    Feb 4, 2019
    10
    Пожалуй лучшая сингл плеер выживалка!
    Мир игры настолько интересен,что хочется иследовать и иследовать!!!
  9. richardking007
    Jan 24, 2019
    10
    This is the Type of Game that o never never espect to play... and when i played.....wowwwwww no words enough to describe... One of the Best Games i´ve ever Played. Thanks Dev Team.
  10. supercagan
    Jan 15, 2019
    10
    Amazing game, great story, great game design, great visuals...enjoyed every last second. Waiting the new release from these developers.
  11. DSgamePL
    Jan 12, 2019
    10
    One of best survivals ever. (75 characters)..................................................................
  12. CR1T1Cando
    Jan 9, 2019
    10
    Subnautica, I must admit, that is a beautiful game. The gameplay flows well until well, several items to manufacture a medium-sized campaign with secondary objectives until you find out what happened to other crew members, record species that in your ... Tablet? You can see all the information about them, you can have gigantic Submarines up to steals in water, high possibility of creation,Subnautica, I must admit, that is a beautiful game. The gameplay flows well until well, several items to manufacture a medium-sized campaign with secondary objectives until you find out what happened to other crew members, record species that in your ... Tablet? You can see all the information about them, you can have gigantic Submarines up to steals in water, high possibility of creation, and incredible what the studio did to this game, I think it really deserves a good note.… Expand
  13. TheGameIsALie
    Jan 6, 2019
    9
    Subnautica é um survival horror que era para ser um dos melhores jogos de todos os tempos, mas sua otimização o prejudica drasticamente. É imersivo, tem uma história caótica, um visual agradável, efeitos sonoros incríveis e um gameplay que acerta em praticamente todos seus pontos.
  14. neotrix
    Jan 6, 2019
    10
    A exciting story in a brilliant Survivalgame . The feelings are between fear and euphoria all the time .
  15. Harshmelloz
    Jan 4, 2019
    9
    The absolute best survival game you'll find. Stunningly superb from start to finish with an EXCELLENT story unfolding as you progress and a wonderful soundtrack that adapts to fit your location and situation. The sheer depth of both the waters and the story is something you'll have to experience yourself, as no trailer will so much as scratch the surface. Deserving of a 10, but knockedThe absolute best survival game you'll find. Stunningly superb from start to finish with an EXCELLENT story unfolding as you progress and a wonderful soundtrack that adapts to fit your location and situation. The sheer depth of both the waters and the story is something you'll have to experience yourself, as no trailer will so much as scratch the surface. Deserving of a 10, but knocked down a point due to the high amount of potentially game/save-breaking bugs present that will almost require you to become familiar with the issues in order to manually avoid the situations that cause them, particularly phasing through world geometry either via excessive speed or entering areas that haven't fully loaded in. Save often and make backups of your saves regularly.… Expand
  16. passionne
    Jan 4, 2019
    6
    Good :

    - story - exploration - the only game under sea - 200 h to play - rich enough for crafting Bad : - stutters with a powerful PC (RTX 2080 TI, 9900K, 64 GB RAM, Samsung 960 Evo 1 TB) - mid-resolution textures : graphically, the game is average - the beginning of the game is laborious : every resource must be collected, everything must be built. After building a base,    Good :

    - story
    - exploration
    - the only game under sea
    - 200 h to play
    - rich enough for crafting

    Bad :

    - stutters with a powerful PC (RTX 2080 TI, 9900K, 64 GB RAM, Samsung 960 Evo 1 TB)
    - mid-resolution textures : graphically, the game is average
    - the beginning of the game is laborious : every resource must be collected, everything must be built. After building a base, the Cyclops and the Prawn, the game becomes more interesting.
    - Hunger and thirst management is really annoying
    - There is only one end whereas there should have been 3 ends, according to your deeds.    … Expand
  17. Luposlipaphobia
    Jan 3, 2019
    8
    I made an account to create this review. Imo this game excels at:
    -Cool environments. Lively art direction and interesting variety of biomes.
    -Great sense of scale. From the surface all the way down to the "depths." -Unique creatures. Large array of alien species make you want to explore more. -Original and well-executed core idea. The "water planet" backdrop is both a nightmare and a    I made an account to create this review. Imo this game excels at:
    -Cool environments. Lively art direction and interesting variety of biomes.
    -Great sense of scale. From the surface all the way down to the "depths."
    -Unique creatures. Large array of alien species make you want to explore more.
    -Original and well-executed core idea. The "water planet" backdrop is both a nightmare and a paradise.
    -Creative story and lore. I loved the plot, though I found some areas out of order.

    The downsides:
    -(Again) Out of order events. I felt completely lost at times because I ran into "deeper" areas out of order, often using the wiki or youtube to see what to do next.
    - Would benefit if they made the beacon a reusable tool so you don't have to remake this item repeatedly a couple dozen times (then forget when you need it most).
    -I wish I chose the "no food/water consumption" mode. I built things in my base to help, but I found myself tethered to my base because of it.
    -The Prawn suit needs more arms imo. That way you can be spiderman and not have to switch out appendages.

    Conclusion: The beginning of the game is extremely entertaining. The latter part gets tedious, especially if you have to deal with food/water every 15 minutes. Still a great and unique game.    … Expand
  18. Laycre
    Jan 1, 2019
    10
    Maybe the best game that i have played. The graphics are just awesome and the monsters are breathtaking. The ONLY problem in the game is the optimization, just that. The story is awesome, i almost cried in the end. Really Worth the money with you like survival games.
  19. Fiebork
    Jan 1, 2019
    10
    This is the best game what I have ever seen. I spent 32 hours, and i was so happy.
  20. Dubeau
    Dec 26, 2018
    7
    Subnautica is a good game. The exploration is fun under water. The under water world is well populated and the water effect is nice. The vegetation is perfect. The music is pretty good too. I had a lot of problems with the lack of a map. You see, you fabricated a device in the game that can render and detect the shape of the terrain, but yet you can keep any of this data for a map. It's aSubnautica is a good game. The exploration is fun under water. The under water world is well populated and the water effect is nice. The vegetation is perfect. The music is pretty good too. I had a lot of problems with the lack of a map. You see, you fabricated a device in the game that can render and detect the shape of the terrain, but yet you can keep any of this data for a map. It's a big logical hole for me. I felt the story didn't involved me that much at times and the task of keeping me alive was kind of boring. I did prefer to die then try to run fish for water or food. The lack of proper storing capacity becomes a problem and the solution they have wasn't very efficient. I give it a 72%. For an indie game it's impressive.… Expand
  21. SamuraiJapan
    Dec 20, 2018
    9
    Не смотря на то, что я не люблю игры про выживания, эта игра меня поразила. Очень классная игра, затягивает на долгие дни. Только вот сложновата немного, с трудом дается развитие. Подводный мир очень красивый, музыка просто класс! Все продумано до мелочей, супер!Не смотря на то, что я не люблю игры про выживания, эта игра меня поразила. Очень классная игра, затягивает на долгие дни. Только вот сложновата немного, с трудом дается развитие. Подводный мир очень красивый, музыка просто класс! Все продумано до мелочей, супер!
  22. ChadlyD
    Dec 20, 2018
    8
    Updated Review (8/10):
    I wanted to hate this game because of the game director but man, its just so good. I recommend not reading any reviews or watching any gameplay videos as it can reveal huge spoilers. Would easily be a 10/10 game for me if it wasn't for the game director.
    Original Review (1/10): The game director has no tolerance for political opinions that differ from his own.    Updated Review (8/10):
    I wanted to hate this game because of the game director but man, its just so good. I recommend not reading any reviews or watching any gameplay videos as it can reveal huge spoilers. Would easily be a 10/10 game for me if it wasn't for the game director.

    Original Review (1/10):
    The game director has no tolerance for political opinions that differ from his own. He fired his sound designer for not having politically correct thoughts. I won't support a company with this level of political correctness. Sad that politics had to ruin the experience because it's pretty close to being a great game. The game is currently free on Epic Games, so you can check it out without financially supporting pc/sjw culture. I would recommend playing it for free, as the exploration aspects are very enjoyable. Gaming is just not a good place for political agendas in my opinion.    … Expand
  23. Widden
    Dec 16, 2018
    9
    Firstly; I've finished the game. It is really good fun, highly recommended.

    However, you need to be open minded, ready to explore, act like you were really on an alien planet in an alien environment, and play reasonably carefully; you can easily die. And there's no handholding, you need to figure out a lot of things, which I can see some reviewers find frustrating. To me it's kind    Firstly; I've finished the game. It is really good fun, highly recommended.

    However, you need to be open minded, ready to explore, act like you were really on an alien planet in an alien environment, and play reasonably carefully; you can easily die. And there's no handholding, you need to figure out a lot of things, which I can see some reviewers find frustrating.

    To me it's kind of going back to the grassroots of gaming, just the way I like it :)

    Ok the good:
    - I don't need to tell you how good it looks.
    - It's a fresh idea, offers a good level of freedom, challenging (you can play it on really easy or really hard; up to you.
    - Decent storyline
    - Replayability; if the building aspect is what you like, then there's lots :)

    The not so good:
    - I've encountered one really bad bug where I've reloaded and was outside of the map, and a few not-so-deadly, so some bugfixing could definitely help.
    - I think some tech are a bit late in the game to be truly useful - but maybe it was just my luck
    - it can get tedious on hard levels, you really need to watch what you're doing, and yeah you might need some luck as well (just as in real life). And one bad decision on the spot can mean death.

    One small advice without giving away too much; you don't need to stack up on resources too badly, unless you're building the Hyatt underwater; it'll come easier.    … Expand
  24. Danieldkland
    Nov 29, 2018
    10
    This game is probably my all-time favorite, because, while it does have some bugs and a lot of minor inconveniences, it hasn't impacted my experience enough for me too really feel it when getting immersed into the game. And you really do get immersed, with the beautiful environment, incredible audio-design and music, and of course the creative and believable creatures on planet 4546B.
    For    This game is probably my all-time favorite, because, while it does have some bugs and a lot of minor inconveniences, it hasn't impacted my experience enough for me too really feel it when getting immersed into the game. And you really do get immersed, with the beautiful environment, incredible audio-design and music, and of course the creative and believable creatures on planet 4546B.
    For a small studio like Unknown Worlds to create this is an astonishing feat, and I'd recommend this game to everyone.    … Expand
  25. Brtk
    Nov 23, 2018
    8
    Great expirience. I buy this game when this game was in early access. This game is beautiful.
  26. pjnt
    Nov 18, 2018
    9
    Exceptional.
    Beautifully made.
    Thoroughly immersive.

    Other games take notice. This is what a game should be like.

    This is the cherry on top of the cream that rose to the top.

    If you are into first person, story driven, beautifully crafted games, buy this. Check out some of the in-game footage and be amazed.
  27. donnyjepp
    Nov 16, 2018
    10
    Subnautica makes you feel chillingly alone in a world full of beautiful flora and fauna, and I wouldn't want it any other way. The sense of isolation pushes you to constantly seek out survivors, thus teasing out a surprisingly captivating storyline adorned with moments of both terror and elation. The base building and crafting components are (almost) as compelling as the beautiful, curatedSubnautica makes you feel chillingly alone in a world full of beautiful flora and fauna, and I wouldn't want it any other way. The sense of isolation pushes you to constantly seek out survivors, thus teasing out a surprisingly captivating storyline adorned with moments of both terror and elation. The base building and crafting components are (almost) as compelling as the beautiful, curated world you exist in., and each new discovery - be it a towering wreck on the ocean floor or the blueprints for a coffee machine - fills you with excitement and the hunger to find more. The only criticism is that, as with almost every indie game, there are holes in the fabric with regards to optimization and bugs. As game-breaking bugs are reportedly few and far between (and did not impact my playthrough), I don't feel this is substantive enough to take away from a perfect score. This game is a top 10 for me.… Expand
  28. larsch
    Nov 16, 2018
    9
    Not without its flaws, but they are all forgiven, because this game is beautiful, immersive and just enjoyable way to spend a weekend (or two, or three...)
  29. P_r_o_x_y_
    Oct 17, 2018
    10
    Best survival i have played , have an very open world good history and graphics hope another one part of this great game
  30. eifbfvfhd
    Oct 10, 2018
    9
    Subnautica is a big open world survival game. This version of a survival game is quite different to normal survival games as it is set on an alien water planet called 4546B. It is only fully released on pc but the unreleased version can still be bought on Xbox and PlayStation. It is made by a small gaming developer company called Unknown Worlds. It is a well-loved game by the people whoSubnautica is a big open world survival game. This version of a survival game is quite different to normal survival games as it is set on an alien water planet called 4546B. It is only fully released on pc but the unreleased version can still be bought on Xbox and PlayStation. It is made by a small gaming developer company called Unknown Worlds. It is a well-loved game by the people who played it before and after release.
    The story starts with you in a big spaceship called the Aurora. You crash on an alien planet due to the ship being shot by an unknown alien blast. You get into life pod 5 and eject from the ship onto the ocean’s surface. During planet fall you become unconscious and wake up hours later after you have landed. As you get out of the life pod you find yourself in the middle of the ocean with the crashed ship in sight. Your goal is to find food and water while managing your oxygen, similar to other survival games. You will be able to find blueprints to items and vehicles that help you dive deeper into the water while still not drowning. Eventually the crashed ships energy core becomes unstable and the ship blows up. This makes a massive hole in the ship in which you can enter from. Inside the ship you can find out what happened to the other life pods and how the ship got shot down and where from. As you go towards the location you will find an alien base with a gun on it from an unknown race. You also find out that the ship crashed on a 2km by 2 km area which outside of hold the biggest and most deadly creature out of all of Subnautica, but you’ll have to find out what that is. Clues from the base will lead you deeper and deeper into the ocean to more alien bases. As you progress in the game you find out that you are infected by an unknown disease that is only on the planet that you crashed on. More clues lead you to find out what happened to the alien race and what they were trying to do about the disease. As you explore the ocean you find human made bases from the crew from a ship called the Degassi that went missing near the planet 10 years prior to the Aurora crashing. At each point on the map where you find information to progress the story there is usually a deadly leviathan class creature trying to kill you which get more deadly the further down you go. Eventually you find clues that could cure the disease and continue to look for a way to get off of the planet.
    Subnautica is a game that uses terror within the gameplay. It doesn’t feel like normal horror games where if you are found then you are most likely to be caught but gives you the imminent feeling that you could be caught and killed at any second while giving you the feeling that you only got away by the skin of your teeth. Creatures are able to grab your submarines and even take you out of it which immediately gives the player a sense of vulnerability. It has a good immersion factor to it which is only broken by the normal survival game basis or grinding for materials and food.
    It has good graphics which can be modified easily if your computer can’t handle it and doesn’t ever lag too much. However, the game does have a problem of glitches within the world’s barriers. It is made by a small team of 50 people so it can be hard to find and fix all of the glitches. Because of this the player can find places in which they can morph through some walls within bases but it can easily be fixed by another glitch in the wall or sometimes having to restart the game or dying and respawning.
    All of this for the price of £20.00 on steam.
    In conclusion the game is fun but only for the few days that the story goes on for. After the story ends there isn’t really anything much to do. Either way the normal gameplay before the end of the story is still good so I would say that it is worth buying.    … Expand
  31. akarnokd
    Sep 19, 2018
    6
    I wanted to like this game as it looks great and should supposedly have an interesting story. Instead, it was really tedious and there was practically no hint about what to do and how to do things. The inventory is small, the depths are crushing and the recipes are few and far between. I read walkthroughs, looked at videos for inspiration yet none came. I found the steps so convoluted andI wanted to like this game as it looks great and should supposedly have an interesting story. Instead, it was really tedious and there was practically no hint about what to do and how to do things. The inventory is small, the depths are crushing and the recipes are few and far between. I read walkthroughs, looked at videos for inspiration yet none came. I found the steps so convoluted and the difficulty of underwater navigation that I simply gave up after 14 hours. Maybe this game is not for a casual, all-in-one go gamer like me.… Expand
  32. Johe_97
    Sep 13, 2018
    10
    Best Open World game I've ever played. It has an incredibly wonderful story and exciting and intoxicating game-play. I would recommend it to everyone.
  33. Fevit
    Sep 13, 2018
    10
    This is the best game I have played in a long time. It is mysterious, satisfyingly challenging and rewarding. Great music, great visuals, great storyline. Just when I think I've got it mastered, there is another level and another to challenge. I highly recommend.
  34. aditya1101
    Sep 4, 2018
    8
    Really beautiful game, we've been oversaturated with survival games for a while, but this game did a great job of really tapping into my desire for exploration by providing an amazing area to explore that i didn't bore of for a long time. There were definitely a lot of small aspects of the game (combat, crafting, etc.) that certainly weren't perfect, but they were good enough to let theReally beautiful game, we've been oversaturated with survival games for a while, but this game did a great job of really tapping into my desire for exploration by providing an amazing area to explore that i didn't bore of for a long time. There were definitely a lot of small aspects of the game (combat, crafting, etc.) that certainly weren't perfect, but they were good enough to let the core of this game shine.… Expand
  35. SeussMyTub
    Sep 2, 2018
    10
    Quite simply the best open world survival game out there. There's an immersive story, and you are in complete control all the way.
  36. saito200a
    Aug 28, 2018
    10
    I love this game, and I don't say it lightly. It might be among my top 5 gaming experiences of all time. I love the sea, and I love sea creatures, I love exploration, and I love "progression systems", and this game puts it all together. This game is mainly about exploration and crafting, with a bit of a survival component. The underwater setting is very unique and appealing. I've spentI love this game, and I don't say it lightly. It might be among my top 5 gaming experiences of all time. I love the sea, and I love sea creatures, I love exploration, and I love "progression systems", and this game puts it all together. This game is mainly about exploration and crafting, with a bit of a survival component. The underwater setting is very unique and appealing. I've spent around 12 hours playing and fully enjoyed every hour.

    People complain about bugs, but I didn't encounter one single bug (it's about 6 months since release so I guess they patched it). I have been thinking about the negatives of the game, and nothing came to mind. Except just one thing: the popping of the terrain is a bit too much. They should optimize it.    … Expand
  37. Aladdin718
    Aug 19, 2018
    10
    A must play. Full stop. A breathtaking, meticulously crafted world with mechanics that make this a joy to explore. I do want to say much more than that as I do not want to give anything away. Dip your toe in. You will be delighted.
  38. Archound
    Aug 15, 2018
    10
    My score is 9+, but still closer to 10, than 9. It would be easily 10/10 without a doubt, if it weren't for 3 things: unfortunately the game engine does not manage thousands of objects and player is forced to see constant pop-ups of objects and their LODs; the quality of certain textures is a joke; one critical bug that removes water from the world is not fixed since 2016 (player walks onMy score is 9+, but still closer to 10, than 9. It would be easily 10/10 without a doubt, if it weren't for 3 things: unfortunately the game engine does not manage thousands of objects and player is forced to see constant pop-ups of objects and their LODs; the quality of certain textures is a joke; one critical bug that removes water from the world is not fixed since 2016 (player walks on the bottom of the sea and one has to use console commands to repair the game). Aside from this it is a gem. Great narrative, an excellent survival game (think of Cast Away). The plot is really interesting, it somehow feels similar to Fallout series, as you have a story told by the environment as well as many logs&diaries.… Expand
  39. JiKxn
    Aug 2, 2018
    9
    The beautiful yet so scary ocean in Subnautica, filled with unknown creatures in all kind of shapes.
    An great adventure awaits you in the ocean of planet 4546B.
    I have to be honest here, i really loved this game from the beginning until the end! The music is amazing and the story is almost perfect. You really feel like a small human in this ocean, even when you're equipped with the    The beautiful yet so scary ocean in Subnautica, filled with unknown creatures in all kind of shapes.
    An great adventure awaits you in the ocean of planet 4546B.

    I have to be honest here, i really loved this game from the beginning until the end!
    The music is amazing and the story is almost perfect.
    You really feel like a small human in this ocean, even when you're equipped with the best gear you still are the ant in this story.

    Exploring, Crafting, Surviving, and don't forget to enjoy the view!    … Expand
  40. parallax_84
    Jul 29, 2018
    8
    Best Indie game since Inside.Beautiful setting and It doesnt hold your hand for long and you have to figure out what to do next. The Story is good and when you reach the depths of the alien world you are in is when the game shines. Honestly i think it deserves a little more recognition, is a game with flaws (texture pop in, glitches etc) but this wont ruin the experience.
  41. keletsito
    Jul 22, 2018
    8
    Probablemente el mejor al que he jugado en 2017.
    Juegazo 100% inmersivo, con muchos crafteos y una historia bastante chula. Para amantes de los survival espaciales será una gozada
  42. Mullestafa
    Jul 14, 2018
    10
    while it does have its bugs and other dev issues, it still is one of the more entertaining games to play. And for me, that's enough for a "would recommend" rating. 10/10 since its the best game in its genre (as far as what I've played).
  43. Deadmeatsea
    Jul 7, 2018
    10
    Excellent game. Pleasantly surprised, wasn't expecting this level of completion, more engrossing than most games I've played in 2018.

    Atmosphere is amazing. Jumped out of my seat on more than one occasion. Extremely surprised this was a product from an Indie Dev.
  44. Mentalbot
    Jun 21, 2018
    8
    This game was amazing! I loved the visuals and the sound design was completely unmatched. 10 out of 10 game very immersive....... For the PC. I was stuck to the Xbox port which sucked ass. The Xbox port is absolute **** and it looks like for a game with tons of effort put in they couldn't care less for the Xbox. And I'd love to buy a PC but I can't afford one! This game is actually reallyThis game was amazing! I loved the visuals and the sound design was completely unmatched. 10 out of 10 game very immersive....... For the PC. I was stuck to the Xbox port which sucked ass. The Xbox port is absolute **** and it looks like for a game with tons of effort put in they couldn't care less for the Xbox. And I'd love to buy a PC but I can't afford one! This game is actually really great I mean the ending made me cry. Not because it was that good but because my game crashed and I didn't save any of my progress. So ya this game is good but the people behind it have seemed to left the console fans in the dirt with this. I mean yes! Its true!! Not everyone can afford a PC!!! So please keep this in mind so that this games Xbox port doesn't happen again!… Expand
  45. DavianQ
    Jun 12, 2018
    10
    Fantastic example of the survival/crafting genre. Provides a genuine sense of accomplishment with every milestone you pass from surviving the first day, to building your first base and exploring the depths in submersibles. The survival elements alone are done well enough to make this a great title on it's own, but it also has an excellent and engaging narrative which keeps you coming back.Fantastic example of the survival/crafting genre. Provides a genuine sense of accomplishment with every milestone you pass from surviving the first day, to building your first base and exploring the depths in submersibles. The survival elements alone are done well enough to make this a great title on it's own, but it also has an excellent and engaging narrative which keeps you coming back.

    Conclusion: A game with depth. 10/10    … Expand
  46. joshbreviews
    Jun 8, 2018
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Made an account just to review this game. Was never a hardcore fan of survival games, but this game is LEGIT. Let's break it down, simple stuff first:

    Sounds: Good. Nice sense of depth as you travel. A large variety of sounds that signify where you are and what's near you. The music is simple, but good, too. Instills a sense of mystery and alien-ness, as you travel from biome to biome.

    Visuals: Again, good. The world is full of diverse biomes for you to explore. You'll easily know you're in a different area when the flora, fauna, and the water's hue changes.

    Gameplay: Amazing. Don't be fooled by the very chill and laid-back starting area of the game. It's all colorful and pretty when you're starting out with cute little fishies all around, but as you progress you'll realize that the game will eventually force you to go further and further from your home base...and things get INTENSE. More on that later. For now - the gameplay loop. It's simple at first - fish for food and water, swim around for basic materials and craft your basic survival gear. Then you'll start building your one-man sub. Now you can really travel FAR AWAY. That's when things really pick up. And that's where things get straight up TERRIFYING.

    SURPRISE HORROR FACTOR: GOD-TIER HORROR. Like I said. Subnautica is chill and cute for like 2 hours, then you realize that to progress through the game you have to go away from your safe little home. And the further away you are from home, the deeper it gets - the DARKER it gets. Then you start hearing awful wailing noises in the distance. it never seems to stop. Then eventually, while you're surrounded by the pitch-black sea, you carelessly room to close to the ghastly wailing. BOOM. A Reaper. Instant heart attack. Instant Alt+F4 and change of underwear. This is when you realize that this isn't at all a cute game. Subnautica is a survival game, and by God, do you have your work cut out for you when titanic demons like the Reaper and the Ghost haunt the deep sea (don't Google them so you don't know what they look like - it's a surprise ;) ).

    A large chunk of the game is you forcing yourself to go NEAR the REAPERS and GHOSTS to get the items you need and progress the story. Play this game with no lights, turn up the volume, and use HiFi headphones and you have yourself a STRESSFUL HORROR GAME. This suffering is the mid-game of Subnautica. After all your crying and screaming and dying, then you hit the late-game.

    You'll know you've hit late game when you've got your giant sea vehicles and advanced equipment, and suddenly the game turns into a semi-horror, semi-action game. You now have the tools to kind of fight back against the Leviathans, if you so wish. You don't have to, but for me, this greatly increased my playtime of Subnautica. You take your giant sub, load it up with arsenal and your one-man deep-sea suit, and take it to the depths to fight the Reapers. Suddenly it's Mass Effect 3 under water. Just when you thought the game couldn't get better.

    Also the base building. Eventually you'll master the vast ocean. It'll be your home. And you'll have multiple bases all across the map. Then you sit back on your all-glass observatory and just watch the ocean wash around your base. You've done it. Base building in this game will make you OBSESSIVE. It'll create a desire in you to make everything efficient and perfect. You'll dream up the perfect lab and workstation where you build your gear and study the flora and fauna. Then you'll want to make a living room and bedroom even if you technically don't really need it.

    This game is a wild roller coaster ride and I'm happy to have played it. I hope the devs made STUPID amounts of money on this game so that they can make more like it.

    If you like survival games, PLAY THIS. If you like horror, PLAY THIS. If you like sci-fi, PLAY. THIS.

    Story: For a survival game, this has a pretty decent story. Lots of mystery involved, and it'll really keep you wanting to know more. If you're into sci-fi stories, you're in for a treat.

    Now some cons: 1) Draw distance is an issue, even on my high-end machine. Bushes and smaller items will visibly popup in the distance. Can be distracting, but YOU'LL BE TO BUSY WORRYING ABOUT REAPERS ANYWAY. 2) Lack of common-sense weapons. Like I mentioned, you WILL have weapons, but without spoiling anything...yeah, there are some weapons you'd think a diver should have...yet you won't. Trust me. It's a con. 3) Given that this is an indie game, don't expect AAA graphics. This ain't Witcher 3. But still, the graphics are good enough that you can absolutely lose yourself in the world.

    9/10. If they continue to patch this throughout the year, easily 10/10. PLAY IT.    … Expand
  47. macintosh_plus
    May 29, 2018
    10
    Close to a world below.

    Subnautica gets as good as survival/adventure game can get. It was 5 years in development (needs verification) and each hour makes you realize more that not a day was wasted. The game is impressive in both scope and execution. A quick summary for people new to the game (without any spoilers): in some very distant future, you are playing as a passenger on some    Close to a world below.

    Subnautica gets as good as survival/adventure game can get. It was 5 years in development (needs verification) and each hour makes you realize more that not a day was wasted. The game is impressive in both scope and execution.

    A quick summary for people new to the game (without any spoilers): in some very distant future, you are playing as a passenger on some kind of intergalactic space shuttle. An unknown accident happens when passing alien planet and the shuttle falls into the atmosphere and ends up crashing in the middle of the sea. You are one of the few people that managed to get to one of few emergency life pods and you end up falling conveniently on shallow waters about 1 km further from the shuttle. Now you must fight for your life in the middle of the ocean and also find a way to escape from the planet. You must find food, water (well that shouldnt be difficult) and in the meantime learn what actually happened, where are you exactly, and all the other stuff which I do not want to spoil. Its gunna get gud believe me.

    The first thing that gets attention is how Subnautica looks. The ocean is both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. It doesnt get more believable than that in current tech age. The graphics are not photorealistic, there is a right amount of artistic touch put into the game, which is very good, because I am sure this will help graphics stand test of time easily.

    Some parts of the presentation are not polished though - some animations, especially player-related, are very cheap and "blocky" and also game has its fair share of bugs, the most irritating ones being poping up the elements of environment just before your eyes and general issues with performance even on powerful hardware. I thought at some point that this will spoil the immersion a lot, but actually it somewhat ends on further plan - thats how good impression the game makes overall. Still I hope it will be optimized more, especially as the overall polish feels more important from a perspective of VR, with which the game is compatible. The game runs on Unity engine and I think the main problem is that it pushes the engine to its absolute limits in some aspects.

    After initial impression other things get players attention. The game world has distinctive "alien" feeling. You do not feel that you are just in the middle of the sea, it has this beautiful vibe of being alone in unknown world which resembles earth fauna/flora only superficially. The lore aspect is overall fantastic - fascinating, consistent and quite realistic. One of the highest points of the experience for me. Of course the sci-fi elements of the game can be considered over the top, but as you progress, you realize how lot of things about how the world works make sense and how it is simply fascinating.

    This is not simply survival/crafting game - it has a story which is minimalistic but very well written, with very satisfying conclusion. The games has System Shock 2/Prey vibe in terms of storytelling - you learn most of the things from abandoned audio/text logs and by scanning the hell out of everything. I recommend reading you database regularly - its not only important, but fascinating on its own.

    It took me about 50 hours to work it all out on my own, but it heavily depends on your perception skills and the amount of attention you put into the game. Working out the problems game throws at you is as satisfying as the exploration itself.

    I could go on with the mechanics and gameplay of the game. but the problem is that the game is about discovering how everything works by yourself. Its all good, survival aspect may get a bit tedious at times, but because of the presentation the game gets away with forcing player to do some repetitive stuff. Also lot of times I realized that the tedious aspect was mainly my fault as I have not noticed a better way to do things. My attention to details and world got higher the longer I played actually, because I knew that whenever I was spending too much time on doing same tasks over and over, I probably was missing some way to automate it. Anyway its all good and you will be glued to the screen for hours etc.

    This is a game about the journey to the world below, and easily this is one of the best journeys I had occasion to participate in video game.    … Expand
  48. generic83846921
    May 24, 2018
    10
    Accounting for the price tag and genre, i must say this was perfect for me. An entire playthrough and i personally did not run into any bug.
    If you don't like sandbox games i'd stay clear, but if you like sci-fi, survival and not being handheld then i recommend this. Personally its a 10/10 for me considering all of the above.
  49. Arthainius
    May 9, 2018
    9
    The game runs even better then advertised. It came through on all of its promises during early access. A bunch of fun to play.
  50. Simtar123
    May 9, 2018
    9
    This is a brilliant game! The first thing I will point out and the first thing you will notice when playing: the sound design is superb, and it creates a very strong atmosphere that really engrosses you into the world! In addition to this the music and soundtrack is so well done, and it complements the sound design perfectly. The world is beautiful and wonderful with a lot of depth andThis is a brilliant game! The first thing I will point out and the first thing you will notice when playing: the sound design is superb, and it creates a very strong atmosphere that really engrosses you into the world! In addition to this the music and soundtrack is so well done, and it complements the sound design perfectly. The world is beautiful and wonderful with a lot of depth and variety to it. The story is very interesting, it is filled to the brim with mystery and it is told in a way that makes you really want to learn more about it. The gameplay is great, there are loads of things to do and interact with and explore.

    The only negative is some small technical stuff. This is stuff like pop in, and stuttering as well as fps not always staying at 60 at certain times, but for me it never really affected the experience in any significant way. It’s noticeable at times, but not that often.

    To sum up this is a superb game, easily worth buying and playing, I really cannot recommend this enough!    … Expand
  51. destinyfan1
    Apr 30, 2018
    9
    I honestly wanted this on my ps4,because I have just a weird reason:because a Tv has a bigger screen then a PC
    But it doesn't matter here,it is still amazing on my pretty mediocre pc !!!!!!!!
    The graphics are amazing,and the environment aswell,you really feal threatened if a big sea monster comes at you,it really is amazing The survival elements are top notch ,and an example for other    I honestly wanted this on my ps4,because I have just a weird reason:because a Tv has a bigger screen then a PC
    But it doesn't matter here,it is still amazing on my pretty mediocre pc !!!!!!!!
    The graphics are amazing,and the environment aswell,you really feal threatened if a big sea monster comes at you,it really is amazing
    The survival elements are top notch ,and an example for other survival games( yes i am talking to you ark survival evolved)
    There is also a story ,but isn't world shocking,it is just good
    I only noticed a few bugs ,that are pretty small and not game breaking
    The best survival game in years
    Do yourself a big favour and buy it    … Expand
  52. Violett
    Apr 28, 2018
    10
    One of the best games in recent years and probably the best builder game. I could not even expect such fuse of builder and shooter game. Story is awesome, long time I didn't have that feeling of a mystery - dangerous alien structure on seemingly peaceful land, amazing. At the end, it might be a bit boring to collect all those titanite crystals, but still its 10 of 10 game. Cant wait forOne of the best games in recent years and probably the best builder game. I could not even expect such fuse of builder and shooter game. Story is awesome, long time I didn't have that feeling of a mystery - dangerous alien structure on seemingly peaceful land, amazing. At the end, it might be a bit boring to collect all those titanite crystals, but still its 10 of 10 game. Cant wait for next game, and only can hope that cancer like EA wont devour this small but genius studio.… Expand
  53. MNCCritic
    Apr 24, 2018
    7
    In Summary: It's a rewarding first person game, but it isn't an 'A'.

    The Good: 1) Great exploration and survival play in a novel ocean world environment. 2) Pretty color palette and lighting effects. 3) Crafting and base building adds to this game significantly. 4) The product has an entrepreneurial feel. The Bad: 1) All that technology and no ability to create a map? This gets    In Summary: It's a rewarding first person game, but it isn't an 'A'.

    The Good:
    1) Great exploration and survival play in a novel ocean world environment.
    2) Pretty color palette and lighting effects.
    3) Crafting and base building adds to this game significantly.
    4) The product has an entrepreneurial feel.

    The Bad:
    1) All that technology and no ability to create a map? This gets really annoying.
    2) Most aliens weren't very alien ... just variations on common earth species, and not well thought out. Barracudas, sharks, kelp. Aquatic mushrooms? Not great.
    3) The ecology/biology of the map was not compelling at all. Reefs and kelp beds don't form in this way. An hour long talk with an oceanographer would have yielded a much superior biome layout..
    4) Radiation does not work like this.
    5) Crash fish? A basic understanding of biology would have helped here.
    6) It can turn into a grind after a while...more work than fun.

    The Ugly:
    1) Lacks spear guns ... not even a trident. This is a political statement that they are welcome to make in their own product, but it does impair the experience. They do have torpedoes though ... I find this strange.
    2) Fired a staff member for making his conservative opinions known. As I understand it, this was on his private time and account. I'll spare you the soap box, and just state that these types of incidents are very worrisome and I cannot support any organization that threatens freedom of expression. (That said, to respect the reader I left this point out of my rating considerations, and relied on the previous points to assign a value)    … Expand
  54. eafx
    Apr 24, 2018
    8
    It's a good open-world game. Has a good story, but still not the best. Definitely deserves the money you give. So many bugs. So many.
  55. Kamamura
    Apr 22, 2018
    9
    Subnautica is an unique game resembling the old science fiction classical authors like Clarke, Asímov or Aldis. The emphasis is not on mindless action tropes, but rather on exploration and discovery. The game lets player to ponder in awe over vast, mysterious alien structures, feel dread from the unexplored depth of the sea, feel the insignificance of a single human being in the vast spaceSubnautica is an unique game resembling the old science fiction classical authors like Clarke, Asímov or Aldis. The emphasis is not on mindless action tropes, but rather on exploration and discovery. The game lets player to ponder in awe over vast, mysterious alien structures, feel dread from the unexplored depth of the sea, feel the insignificance of a single human being in the vast space of the ocean or the cosmos, and the joy of overcoming the environment of an unknown planet by improvisation and persistence.

    I loudly applaud the developers' decision not to give the player any destructive weapons. The power-trip of a doom-style killing machine is a boring, over-played trope, and by making the player feel small and helpless against the powers of the Nature, Subnautica achieves that much needed unique flavor. It's basically a fusion of Odyssey 2000 and Robinson Crusoe, progress feels satisfying, exploration is rewarding, and in the end, when the moment to look back at your journey, the base you have built to sustain yourself and to send the messago through time to other players, the game hits with a powerful wave of sentimental nostalgia.

    That said, there is a fair share of technical difficulties. The worst thing is player and player-controlled vehicles getting stuck in the level geometry or buildings, the game allows you to get free by jumping, but it's annoying, glitchy, and ever-present. Big creatures clip through your base, fish swarms swim through air, sharks glitch through forcefield to roam water-less corridors, and so on. The implementation of structural integrity of your buildings will also make you scratch your head.

    However, since the game is not a performance-focused competitive multiplayer game, but a meditative, exploration-centered single player game, all is forgiven, and I can say that Subnautica is a true unique masterpiece, and one of the best games I have played in my life (and I have played almost everything ;-)    … Expand
  56. vandana
    Apr 18, 2018
    10
    Subnautica is immersive, beautiful and clever. It wows you every step of the way.

    It has world class storytelling, the last time a game's narrative impressed me so much was Portal 2, and I didn't think any game could ever match that, but here we go. At the same time the approach to story-telling is different, you connect the clues, recordings and journals found in the world, and the    Subnautica is immersive, beautiful and clever. It wows you every step of the way.

    It has world class storytelling, the last time a game's narrative impressed me so much was Portal 2, and I didn't think any game could ever match that, but here we go. At the same time the approach to story-telling is different, you connect the clues, recordings and journals found in the world, and the story comes together beautifully with a truly rewarding finale.

    Exploring the game's world is immensely fun. At times crafting can be a little tedious, but persevere, improve your technology to advance, and you will be rewarded with one jaw-dropping discovery after another. This is a game that constantly pushes you to not settle in one place for too long and to overcome your fear of the unknown (and with how atmospheric it is, it is fear in the literal, jumping-in-the-chair sense).

    Subnautica is worth every penny and every hour spent on it. It is one of the fullest game-experiences I've ever had and it is a modern classic that I think everyone should play.    … Expand
  57. Spiddermem
    Apr 17, 2018
    9
    Once you get into the game, it intrigues you, makes you want to explore, introduces you into an unknown world filled to the brim with flora and fauna. After a couple of hours of playing though, it gets a bit repetitive, specifically the constant need for food and water, but the developers implemented a mode without such annoyances, which i think is one thing they did right. I did enjoyOnce you get into the game, it intrigues you, makes you want to explore, introduces you into an unknown world filled to the brim with flora and fauna. After a couple of hours of playing though, it gets a bit repetitive, specifically the constant need for food and water, but the developers implemented a mode without such annoyances, which i think is one thing they did right. I did enjoy every bit of this game though, from building bases how i see fit, to exploring cave systems to find materials. The game's implementation of fragments was a bit weird, with them being placed in random places, or when there's a door that you have to open with the laser cutter, then find laser cutter fragments behind said door. Overall though i enjoyed the game, from beginning to end.… Expand
  58. Akadrud
    Apr 9, 2018
    8
    Really amazing survival. Probably one of the few really worth playing thanks to an immersive world, mechanics and story. Really makes you enjoy the thought of exploring, surving extreme conditions, and the importance of building everything, loving your base and the tools and vehicles you build. Still, in many technical aspects this game shows some limit: not excellent graphic optimizationReally amazing survival. Probably one of the few really worth playing thanks to an immersive world, mechanics and story. Really makes you enjoy the thought of exploring, surving extreme conditions, and the importance of building everything, loving your base and the tools and vehicles you build. Still, in many technical aspects this game shows some limit: not excellent graphic optimization (very low draw distance, objects compenetration everywhere, some bug in game graphic configuration9 and really slow loading times. I don't think a sequel will show something more, it's almost unique, but this team has great potential and creativity. Keep up!… Expand
  59. Amsheagar
    Apr 6, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Amazing game. Best survival game i have ever played. When i played with it, i forgot everything else. The atmosphere, the sounds, the music, the sea life are all amazing. This game is also exicting and relaxing. I could experince the lost on an unknown planet. I loved the crafting mechanism. My favourite vechile was prawn suit. I was excited and i feared when i sinked into the dark depth with prawn suit. I never knew i can escape somehow from the seadepth. I recomend for everyone, who wants to forget the grey daily routine.… Expand
  60. Von-Drako
    Apr 5, 2018
    10
    Im 30 y old. I played games a lot .... THIS IS THE BEST GAME EVER ! Im quiet hard to satisfy, but im in awe. I did not play game as this in a FCKIN LONG time .... It got bugs .... maybe someone will miss something from gameplay ,items...but play it yourself ! Beyond God like !
  61. JasonL
    Apr 4, 2018
    8
    Absolutely stunning environment with very few glitches and bugs (I started in 4/18, so early adopters may have a different experience.) Its a great game to fire up after work for a couple hours, especially since you can save at any time.

    It doesn't hold your hand, which is a nice departure from many top tier games nowadays. But it can also make the game drag. For example. I needed a    Absolutely stunning environment with very few glitches and bugs (I started in 4/18, so early adopters may have a different experience.) Its a great game to fire up after work for a couple hours, especially since you can save at any time.

    It doesn't hold your hand, which is a nice departure from many top tier games nowadays. But it can also make the game drag. For example. I needed a laser cutter to finish my exploration of a ship that's vital to moving forward. The cutter required 2 diamonds to build. I'd never seen a diamond before and had no idea where to find one. The game gave zero indication.

    All in all, a fantastic game with one nagging question. Within the first few hours of gameplay, you'll have a seabase bigger than your own real life house, unlimited power, your own submarine and food and water that can be plucked in moments, a few feet outside your front door.

    Is this really a survival game or are you a bored hermit, pushing his luck just because.    … Expand
  62. crucialSpore100
    Apr 1, 2018
    8
    good game but you will run out of things to do fairly fast and there are a lot of bugs.
  63. Styke
    Mar 29, 2018
    10
    This is a 25$ game that delivers more than most 60$ games do. The sense of true exploration and accomplishment surpases anything I've felt from video games in two decades - please do not read guides or watch videos for Subnautica if you truly want to experience the world they've sculpted.

    If you have a VR headset, it is a one in a lifetime experience for sure.
  64. Waaahggaming
    Mar 27, 2018
    9
    An amazingly beautiful game. Fun to play and explore. I haven't enjoyed a game so much in a very long time. The story is well written and the game environments are very well done. Some of the mechanics could use a tweak or two, but, otherwise superb game. I would recommend it to anyone.
  65. jcasbeer
    Mar 23, 2018
    9
    The last line of dialog is the best, lol, hope you get to hear it.

    Steam says I spent 98 hours, I'm surprised it isn't more. Every day I'd find myself mentally planning the things I wanted to investigate that evening. Sometimes I'd spend 2 or 3 hours building components, just to test a theory. Those sessions often ended in success, though sometimes with a plot twist. And just about    The last line of dialog is the best, lol, hope you get to hear it.

    Steam says I spent 98 hours, I'm surprised it isn't more. Every day I'd find myself mentally planning the things I wanted to investigate that evening. Sometimes I'd spend 2 or 3 hours building components, just to test a theory. Those sessions often ended in success, though sometimes with a plot twist. And just about the time that I thought that I finally had things figured out, I'd come across the next area of investigation.

    Building things expands your horizons. Discovery is rewarded. Plot twists, plot expansion. Tons of fun.

    I don't give out many 9's. This game fully deserves one; it doesn't get a 10 for one reason. One main plot point is way too subtle, and I ended up reluctantly Googling the solution. I had just finished the last big task of the game and... I'm left sitting there wondering why I didn't get the payoff. I had successfully discovered the "what", and I had finished the "how", but in that one instance the game left me hanging. Once you play the game I bet you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. I spent an hour or two struggling.

    But that is fairly only a 1 out of 10 downgrade. The playground is wide and varied. You have a lot of interesting decisions to make. You have a great deal of effort to apply, and many rewards to collect.

    These guys have created a fine game.    … Expand
  66. Billpoul
    Mar 22, 2018
    10
    One of the best survival games that you can play .Amazing open world,great atmosphere,tones of creativity to the player.Maybe one of the best games out there .Some problems with pop up issues but ok i can live with that.Best buy for me with a fantastic steam price .
  67. piotrekgotrek
    Mar 18, 2018
    10
    Fantastic !!! I`ve been waiting for game like this for more than 10, maybe even 15 years.
    For me it was a week out of life, spending 50 hours in game. WOW !!!
  68. Emeralds
    Mar 12, 2018
    10
    Been a long time since I've been so engrossed in a game. There's not much to say, if you're looking at this, you already know what the game is about. Get it, you won't regret it!
  69. greenman22
    Mar 10, 2018
    9
    I spent so much time in this game. Every little advancement felt like an accomplishment. Then when it finally ends, you can breath again. It's so much fun. It would have been a perfect 10 but there are some glitches and bugs that made me have to revert to my last save, which got pretty annoying. This game is a must for anyone who loves survival-horror games.
  70. ybnrml86
    Mar 8, 2018
    0
    Buggy and wouldn't even load. Messaging with the dev team was not of much help either.
  71. ZaPaAl
    Mar 7, 2018
    9
    An amazing and lengthy experience. Atmospherically very well done fauna, flora and geological layout. And it even has some nice story moments sprinkled in.

    Right until the end there is always something new to be found and to be built. Several times this means rebuilding your current situation and adapting to new possibilities. Often it's not really about exploring, but about building up    An amazing and lengthy experience. Atmospherically very well done fauna, flora and geological layout. And it even has some nice story moments sprinkled in.

    Right until the end there is always something new to be found and to be built. Several times this means rebuilding your current situation and adapting to new possibilities. Often it's not really about exploring, but about building up logistics that make your life easier and enable further exploration.

    On the negative side, it can be extremely unclear how to proceed, until you finally per persistence (or external help) find the required blueprint, log, resource or location. Some areas can be bland, especially the ones regarding higher technology. I probably wouldn't have finished the game without a map, and regarding that, there are quite a few mods that can make your experience much better now.

    Altogether I feel a bit sad leaving this place behind. It has been like a second home for many, many hours.    … Expand
  72. Robobob
    Mar 4, 2018
    9
    This game has a lot of those "firsts" that will stick with you as a gamer for as long as you live. The first time you jump in the water. The first time you finally find dry land. Your first run in with a leviathan. When you finally build and step on your first Cyclops and realize it's not just another sub but a mobile base. This game fills you with so much more emotion than thanThis game has a lot of those "firsts" that will stick with you as a gamer for as long as you live. The first time you jump in the water. The first time you finally find dry land. Your first run in with a leviathan. When you finally build and step on your first Cyclops and realize it's not just another sub but a mobile base. This game fills you with so much more emotion than than typical games that take you through the typical paces. You feel dread as you dive deeper and deeper and are surrounded by darkness. Running from creatures while barely clinging to your last few points of health. Rushing back to your base to eat before you starve or run out of drinkable water. This game brings out of the emotions so well because you just have that one save and the atmosphere in this game is so thick with the creepy sounds echoing in the deep and the equally creepy sparingly-played soundtrack to really drive it home. It's a pretty game too. Each new biome gives you new beautiful and intriguing things to look at. For people who have never played: this is not a new generated map every time. It's the same map for everyone making it feel more like an adventure game. Building bases, structures and furniture is a nice plus but really not needed at all to play the base game. You can build to your hearts content and are only limited by the amount of resources you gather. The resources are finite too and don't respawn after collection so you can easily mine the starting area dry of debris, metals and even fish... forcing you to go further out to sea (and your comfort zone) to get the resources you need. This is one of the most fun and original games I have ever played. A couple minor quips: when you want to reload your one saved game you need to exit and reload the game which can take a full minute. I didn't reload often at first, but when traveling deep underwater and with the chances of running into different types of one-hit-kills creatures... you will save often until you are maxed on equipment. The biggest negative I've found is there is really no way to kill the enemies lurking around so they will ALWAYS be there to threaten you and slow you down. If there is a way to kill creatures aside from the fish you eat, I haven't found it. I've electrocuted, torpedoed and stabbed different creatures multiple times only to see them scared off for a moment at worst or stunned for a while at best. It would be nice if these leviathans were like boss fights and each needed a certain method to kill them or scare them off for good so you can clear out an area to be mined safely. Other than those issues the game is nearly flawless.… Expand
  73. Indeh
    Mar 4, 2018
    10
    Fantastic game in a beautiful open world setting and great concept design. But what I really like the most is the storyline that uncovers as you play and that you will need to piece it together yourself. I would have wished for a more generous epilogue to create more of a closure.
  74. 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 (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 leftA 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.… Expand
  75. Ihitkids
    Feb 28, 2018
    9
    It is a masterpiece. This game surprised me from the very beginning and didnt stop. The devs put great care and effort into this game and it shows! Besides being a totally unique and original concept, the game revels in its ambiguity. Is it a survival horror game? Is it an open world exploration game? Is it a creative game where you can build and craft to your heart's content? IT'S ALL OFIt is a masterpiece. This game surprised me from the very beginning and didnt stop. The devs put great care and effort into this game and it shows! Besides being a totally unique and original concept, the game revels in its ambiguity. Is it a survival horror game? Is it an open world exploration game? Is it a creative game where you can build and craft to your heart's content? IT'S ALL OF THOSE and maybe more. I'm not saying Subnautica is the single best game I've ever played, but the fact that I can even begin to argue that it may be, with a 20 dollar price tag, makes it stand alone in terms of value for your dollar. If you're on a budget and looking to get 50+ hours of riveting gameplay for your money, then look no further. If the devs are reading this I want them to know that I am so proud of what you accomplished, and have been following the title since it was first up for sale on Steam Early Access all those years ago. I knew the game you guys were building had great potential from the start, but lots of games do and sputter into roaring disappointment, you guys didn't let that happen and the world is just a little bit brighter and more fun for it. From all of us fans, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU! Thank you for all the effort and love you poured into this title. Thank you for listening to the players feedback and implementing constant changes for the better. Thank you for all the sleepless nights and skipped lunches Im sure your team endured during development. YOU GUYS KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK!… Expand
  76. jadenbughead
    Feb 26, 2018
    8
    Read this if you are thinking to buy the game. Subnautica was a massively hyped game for me after whatching countless hours on you tubers play it. What i got was a confusing, crashing and deliorus expierence. These are the bad points, constant crashing, annoying grinding of resources,constant lag and the game not loading in, and pointless quests that lead to knowhere untill late game.Read this if you are thinking to buy the game. Subnautica was a massively hyped game for me after whatching countless hours on you tubers play it. What i got was a confusing, crashing and deliorus expierence. These are the bad points, constant crashing, annoying grinding of resources,constant lag and the game not loading in, and pointless quests that lead to knowhere untill late game. However the game does have some decent attributes. A great atmosphere, you fell lost in a world surrounded by ocean in an almost cast away feel to it. The creature design is amazing, and that comes from expierencing what they are, if there friendly and what can they do. Building is satisfying but so etimes awkward, and when story rolls around eventually it is good but cant be told without looking at pdfs which can get annoying. Its a decent game but i personly would wait for a few patches, or dive right in but its up to you.… Expand
  77. Plutarco
    Feb 26, 2018
    10
    I never liked survival games, however, Subnautica changed my mind. This is a WONDERFUL game. The story is excellent as well as the graphics, the sounds, the gameplay, EVERYTHING. It worths every single penny. If you are a person who wants to enjoy something different, beautiful and original BUY THIS GAME.
  78. Trigger23
    Feb 25, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's probably one of the best open world games I saw in the last 10 years. It's about survival on strange planet using PDA clues, finding resources, building constructions and vehicles. The story is great and it's kinda scary. Once you find blueprints and resources you could be seduced by many construction options and forget that you can actually leave the planet. Building feature is something that brings extra points for Subnautica. This game gave me the best 72h of game play. You can continue growing your aquariums and never leave the planet ;) Congratulations and thumbs up to the Unknown Worlds Entertainment. Great job!… Expand
  79. Guilvaruex
    Feb 21, 2018
    10
    Truly a fantastic game and well looked after by the devs. If you like suspense, feeling spooked out and an underwater theme you will love this game. The only fault if there is in fact one to name, is that a large portion of the game is fetching things but honestly that only became burdensome after multiple playthroughs
  80. Generic_
    Feb 20, 2018
    8
    A refreshing take on the survival genre. So long 4546B and thanks for all the fish!
  81. jbj479
    Feb 19, 2018
    9
    I thoroughly enjoyed this game. It's a game of priorities. What do I need to do to save myself in this situation? The world is spectacular. I'm having a ton of fun playing it. Highly recommend it.
  82. aamerqasem
    Feb 17, 2018
    10
    no words can describe this .. just WOW
    the graphics, sounds, and gameplay are the greatest things in this game
    the story is amazing
    the whole world, creatures, and every tiny thing just a masterpiece
    the best open world game I had ever play
    WELL DONE DEVELOPER WELL DONE
  83. Bsargeant08
    Feb 17, 2018
    8
    Fantastic game, I would give it a 9 if it wasn't for the draw distance issues. Lots of crafting, awesome base building system. Terrifying enemies. just a little glitchy
  84. Toastclaimer
    Feb 17, 2018
    7
    Suffers from a very slow start and lacks decent in game-tutorials players can often find themselves lost and confused. However the payoff can be quite rewarding if the player is willing to plow through
  85. Sabotower
    Feb 16, 2018
    9
    The years of waiting for a true release were worth it. An expanse of ocean with hundreds of mysteries to uncover is highly entertaining. The variety of beautiful landscapes mean that you have to actively try to get bored in this environment. As well, the sheer variety of creatures is insane, all with well-rendered designs and some of the best creature sound design in a video game to date.The years of waiting for a true release were worth it. An expanse of ocean with hundreds of mysteries to uncover is highly entertaining. The variety of beautiful landscapes mean that you have to actively try to get bored in this environment. As well, the sheer variety of creatures is insane, all with well-rendered designs and some of the best creature sound design in a video game to date. It also has a rather subtle horror style to it by means of the Reaper Leviathan. All in all, it is a great game to lose track of time in.… Expand
  86. XiandreX
    Feb 16, 2018
    10
    One of the most incredible games I have played in a very long time and I have been playing games for more than 30 years.
    The sense of being alone and out of your element is very real and often very unnerving.
    You can go from being very relaxed whilst gathering resources to oh crap... I need to get back to my base, night is coming. I cannot even fathom running the game on Filmic mode    One of the most incredible games I have played in a very long time and I have been playing games for more than 30 years.
    The sense of being alone and out of your element is very real and often very unnerving.
    You can go from being very relaxed whilst gathering resources to oh crap... I need to get back to my base, night is coming.
    I cannot even fathom running the game on Filmic mode during the night time.
    Game developers need to pay close attention to what is possible on a release game and use this as a baseline.
    This is a game that needs to be on every single gamers bucket list.    … Expand
  87. noobmsu93
    Feb 13, 2018
    9
    I have only about 26 hours into my first play through but, so far, I'm very impressed! The lighting is spot on! I'm a recreational scuba diver and I've been in several different lighting and visibility conditions (from near zero visibilty to twilight with 100 feet of vis) so I've got to say the devs did an amazing job capturing the underwater environment. The marine life in this gameI have only about 26 hours into my first play through but, so far, I'm very impressed! The lighting is spot on! I'm a recreational scuba diver and I've been in several different lighting and visibility conditions (from near zero visibilty to twilight with 100 feet of vis) so I've got to say the devs did an amazing job capturing the underwater environment. The marine life in this game ranges from very similar to Earth life to strikingly, horrifingly alien! Voice acting and the story (thus far) is very well done. I'm in awe that the devs made such a great quality product being that Unknown Worlds Entertainment is a small indie studio. A few minor bugs but I would highly recommend this game!… Expand
  88. ninjalemur
    Feb 10, 2018
    9
    This is an example of what a survival game should be. It is very good. You will never get bored like other survival games because there is always something to do in subnautica, the visuals are amazing. Sometimes it is very peacefull and pleasent but other times you are so scared of something you are not sure is even there. I highly recommend.
  89. kiki78
    Feb 8, 2018
    9
    Lovely indie game. We need more of these. Glitches and bugs are forgivable.
    Sweet great graphics, great sound. Sad story about sound designer, who got fired complete rightfuly. Kudos to devs, getting rid of so toxic hateful person. Please let there be less of such people around. Its really sad.
  90. Much
    Feb 8, 2018
    0
    Stuttering popping mess ruined otherwise solid game. And it will never be fixed. I guarantee it.
  91. kingofdara
    Feb 7, 2018
    10
    Awesome game. Haven't seen a survival game this immersive in years. Separately, thanks for sticking to your values. Looking forward to your future games.
  92. JPL1936
    Feb 7, 2018
    10
    An excellent new survival game with a really nice feature, being mostly underwater. The graphics are beautiful, the voice acting is stellar, and the different biomes are bursting with creativity. I am still fining new things which aren't ceasing to amaze me. If you want a solid resource managing/base building survival game, with some extra flare and story, this is probably the game for you.
  93. explodinghippo
    Feb 7, 2018
    10
    Amazing blend of SciFI open world and survival horror. 10/10 The atmosphere was disturbing, yet intriguing, This game is like an abusive ex. it hurts you each time, but you keep coming back. (in a good way)
  94. gmrgod777
    Feb 6, 2018
    9
    I believe that this game is a very good game. It's story is deep and attention grabbing but it does not force you to get involved in the story except for a couple of times. Also, the ending of the story is quite heart breaking. It is a survival horror game without trying. It does, however hove slow chunk loading. But other than that, it is a extremely good game.
  95. Thedrip
    Feb 6, 2018
    1
    Simply not a very good game at all. Maybe get it on sale for a dollar or two, but a s a full-priced game it's pretty awful.
  96. Benjamin_Idel
    Feb 6, 2018
    9
    The game is visually stunning, the audio is so great and immersive, it makes you feel that a huge, terrifying creature is trying to kill you, and makes it feel real. it has surprisingly little grinding in it (if you know what to do) and is generally a great survival horror game. it gets a 9 just because it is a little buggy at some areas (it is way better than it was in 2015, but still, itThe game is visually stunning, the audio is so great and immersive, it makes you feel that a huge, terrifying creature is trying to kill you, and makes it feel real. it has surprisingly little grinding in it (if you know what to do) and is generally a great survival horror game. it gets a 9 just because it is a little buggy at some areas (it is way better than it was in 2015, but still, it is a finished product, so points get deducted for every mistake).… Expand
  97. hteonlyonecholo
    Feb 6, 2018
    10
    One of the best survival games I have ever played. Subnautica have got very good storytelling and story is awesome. Subnautica will amaze you on every corner of its map.
  98. theNILE
    Feb 5, 2018
    0
    Initially I was really enjoying Subnautica, but I found myself quickly losing interest. And I know why. There have been millions of games like this before. This game doesn't differ itself from other survival games. This game is just another bland, mediocre, survival collect 'n build game in the 'explore the deep' theme. It fails to provide anything new or exciting. It's just slowInitially I was really enjoying Subnautica, but I found myself quickly losing interest. And I know why. There have been millions of games like this before. This game doesn't differ itself from other survival games. This game is just another bland, mediocre, survival collect 'n build game in the 'explore the deep' theme. It fails to provide anything new or exciting. It's just slow progression and chores. In regards to story, there's relatively little story, if you could consider it story. In short, not enough to motivate you.

    Subnautica is an example of how not to make a game.    … Expand
  99. SHrulez
    Feb 5, 2018
    10
    Amazing game, beautiful graphics and is a great game in an over saturated market, with a great dev team. Only negative is a few graphical glitches, which aren't too bad on my computer.
  100. darkmaterial
    Feb 4, 2018
    10
    It's crack. I haven't played a game this addictive in a decade. Go in cold because the discovery is the experience. I want a sequel now. Like right now. Really, I need it.
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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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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. AusGamers
    Dec 7, 2018
    92
    It isn’t without performance hiccups, especially the deeper you go. But the breadth of content here and the open-world nature both in terms of playspace and just pure choice in how you go about it is something rarely seen in games.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    May 16, 2018
    95
    Subnautica is hands down the best survival game I have ever experienced. I completely lost track of time while playing it and for the first time in ages I rescheduled my appointments and neglected my responsibilities to spend more time with a game. If I could I would hand out free copies in the streets so as many people as possible can see how ridiculously good Subnautica is. [04/2018, p.62]
  3. GameGrin
    May 10, 2018
    90
    A great game that took five years to make. Subnautica is an open sandbox sci-fi fantasy that can inch it's way into horror as you explore the depths of the ocean world. Just be ready to farm!
    Read full review
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