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. ComandanteCobra
    Sep 11, 2023
    8
    It's my first survivial game and i Liked It, i tried it on gamepass for pc.
    Addictive, solitary, exploration game.
    Gater resources, build a base, discover and upgrade equipments, explore an unknown word, manage thirst and hunger, deal with wildlife and discover a secret (no time limit) It is unusual in his underwater setting. It's suffer for some repetitiveness and grinding in late    It's my first survivial game and i Liked It, i tried it on gamepass for pc.
    Addictive, solitary, exploration game.
    Gater resources, build a base, discover and upgrade equipments, explore an unknown word, manage thirst and hunger, deal with wildlife and discover a secret (no time limit)
    It is unusual in his underwater setting.
    It's suffer for some repetitiveness and grinding in late game...and some visual bugs.... but nothing too troublesome    … Expand
  2. DavidJS
    Sep 9, 2023
    8
    Overall: 83/100

    Subnautica is a survival and exploration game focused on deep sea diving. Selling the feel of diving into an unknown area where you have a sense of anxiety, adrenalin, and excitement is what Subnautica does best, but there are also many other enjoyable aspects to the game. The game falls short in some graphical areas and some parts of the mid game are a bit slow/stale,    Overall: 83/100

    Subnautica is a survival and exploration game focused on deep sea diving. Selling the feel of diving into an unknown area where you have a sense of anxiety, adrenalin, and excitement is what Subnautica does best, but there are also many other enjoyable aspects to the game. The game falls short in some graphical areas and some parts of the mid game are a bit slow/stale, where the story progression slows down.

    Gameplay: 8/10
    Graphics: 7/10
    Music/Sound: 9/10
    Uniqueness: 9/10
    Monetization: 9/10

    Gameplay - The diving aspect is executed very well. You really feel like you're diving. Learning new recipes for items you can create, along with building your base, is also very fun. There is always something new you're looking forward to creating. While looking for those materials, you often find another blueprint. It keeps you engaged and always saying "I'll just do this before logging off...". The story is good, but not amazing. The only bad thing I can really say about the gameplay is that it gets a bit repetitive in the mid game, where there is a bit of a slow down in the story progression. I feel that the developers could have added a bit more here to keep the gameplay flowing.

    Graphics - Certain graphical aspects are really good! These I would rate 8 or 9 out of 10. The best of these are the water effects, and the biomes. The water looks great, especially when underneath and there are sunrays bursting through the water. It's brilliant and really sells the feeling that you are diving. The biomes are beautiful, and each feels very distinct. The colors are gorgeous, and the graphics of the different plants and fish you see in different biomes are lovely. Where the graphics are let down most is pop-ins. It's really immersion breaking and very frequent. Whenever you are travelling you will see it everywhere. There is no option to increase draw distance. There are a few other areas where the graphics could be better, such as the planet in the distance, which looks almost like a cardboard pop-in and at times doesn't even seem like it's in the distance.

    Music/Sound - Brilliant. It really sells the feeling that you are diving into an unknown area. Each biome has different music, matching the vibe of that biome. There are some biomes where the music really gets your adrenalin pumping. The sound effects are great too, even the little things such as guggling down some water. Excellent job by the sound team, and I think sound is a very underrated aspect of a game.

    Uniqueness - There is no other game like it. If you want to feel like a diver and want to explore and underwater world then pick this game up right now. It would get a 10, however it does re-use many survival game aspects, so I can't call it a completely unique game. If you have played many survival games, you will probably find the survival aspect boring. But the underwater exploration is just simply fantastic and you will not find it anywhere else.

    Monetization - Excellent. You pay for the game once. You own the game forever. There are no macroscamsactions, lootboxes, or any of that garbage. It didn't get a 10 because to get a 10 you have to be incredibly good value, and the game is still in that £20-£30 bracket. While absolutely worth it, I have seen on occasion some simialr quality level games at under £10. And these are the ones that I would give a 10 to. The devs have also offered some DLC, but they have put effort into it, and it is standalone to Subnautica, so you don't need the DLC. Think of that as a different game! Overall, Subnautica is absolutely worth the money. Developers who don't try to scam their players should be rewarded. It is currently £25 which is good value.

    Overall, if you have an inclination to explore an underwater world and like the idea of diving, and improving your equipment to explore more and more areas, then seriously consider buying this game. This is what it excels at. The story and the graphics are good, but not exceptional. Survival game lovers might find the survival aspects a bit boring as they are pretty standard.    … Expand
  3. M1ssingCow
    Sep 5, 2023
    10
    designs of the creatures are amazing, survival mechanics are good, and the whole atmosphere is just so good, but we don't talk about the bugs.
  4. Quazder
    Aug 22, 2023
    8
    Obviously playing it was an unique experience. Every gamer should play this.
  5. apokalipto
    Aug 13, 2023
    9
    Very good game. I enjoyed playing this game a lot. I strongly recommend this.
  6. Lessaless
    Aug 10, 2023
    10
    + histoire de zinzin
    + concepte de zinzin
    + exploration de zinzin
    + build de base de zinzin
    + véhicule de zinzin

    - RIEN

    L'une des meilleurs expériences de jeu vidéo auquel j'ai pu jouer.
    Si vous ne l'avez pas fait, faite le.
    10/10
  7. Liquid_Cold
    Aug 1, 2023
    10
    Эта игра - незабываемое приключение!
    Отличный крафт и выживание, одна только подводная лодка чего стоит!
    Разрабы постарались и вложили душу в проект!
  8. Aidelweiss
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    Im not too big a fan of open world game, but this game really change my mind about it.

    Every area have a unique distinguished feature, with atmosphere and sound that is very fleshed out The sound design is definitely the main feature here, you can tell where you are from the enemy sound or if you being chased by something terrible There is no map in the game so you have to either    Im not too big a fan of open world game, but this game really change my mind about it.

    Every area have a unique distinguished feature, with atmosphere and sound that is very fleshed out

    The sound design is definitely the main feature here, you can tell where you are from the enemy sound or if you being chased by something terrible

    There is no map in the game so you have to either memorize the place or just use beacon, however memorizing the map is not that hard after putting few beacon for landmark because of the unique flora and fauna in every area.

    10/10
    not recommended if you have a fear of the ocean    … Expand
  9. Malak7
    Jul 21, 2023
    9
    One of the best games I played recently.

    +Beautifull designs and original survival sandbox
    +Tension and fear of the unknown deep ocean
    +Good OST
    -Lack of NPC
    -Character with unknown personality
  10. LambdaLocator
    Jul 21, 2023
    10
    Subnautica has the best open-world out of any video game ever. Great gameplay.
  11. rezo_21
    Jul 20, 2023
    9
    ====================IIIIIIIIII GAME SCORE : 89 IIIIIIIIII====================
  12. DarkBark
    Jul 19, 2023
    7
    Survival game with the twist that there are no good means of killing most of the dangerous creatures, so they just have to be looked out for and outmaneuvered throughout the biomes. While exploring, there is also an intriguing story found which form interesting developments. The story points to a general direction of where to go next, and what structures to explore. Unfortunately,Survival game with the twist that there are no good means of killing most of the dangerous creatures, so they just have to be looked out for and outmaneuvered throughout the biomes. While exploring, there is also an intriguing story found which form interesting developments. The story points to a general direction of where to go next, and what structures to explore. Unfortunately, attempting to build outposts in new areas is limited to boring circles and cylinders overshadowed by the worldgen(static). Although the endgame was uneventful and tedious, Subnautica was overall fun as a whole.… Expand
  13. MrMelis
    Jul 16, 2023
    9
    Subnautica is one of the best examples of what makes videogames fun. Its mainly immersion. Unlike modern videogames Subnautica doesn't assist the player throughout the play-through. No tutorial, no handholding, no cutscenes, no map, no real indication of what you have to do, nothing. Only the freedom to decide what you want to do yourself. This base already fades away the sense that youSubnautica is one of the best examples of what makes videogames fun. Its mainly immersion. Unlike modern videogames Subnautica doesn't assist the player throughout the play-through. No tutorial, no handholding, no cutscenes, no map, no real indication of what you have to do, nothing. Only the freedom to decide what you want to do yourself. This base already fades away the sense that you are playing a videogame. On top of this, your character never talks, which really makes you feel like you are that character. Not that you control a character with its own conscience. After playing for a while, you start to realize that you really have to figure out everything yourself. And because the underwater world and its mystery is so captivating, you can easily put up with long hours of exploration to seek out every place and piece of information there is to find. To top it all off Subnautica is incredibly scary. I can say with certainty that Subnautica is going to introduce you to multiple fears you didn't know you had. They play right into those fears by adding fog, big wrecks, big bodies of water, darkness, disturbing looking biomes and worst of all alien sea monsters. Not to forget the incredible sound design by Simon Chylinski which builds up the tension from 0 to 100 real quick. After a certain point, Subnautica becomes a battle between your curiosity and your fear of the unknown. Overcoming that fear time after time was a great experience. There is honestly so much more to say about this game, but you really just have to experience it yourself.… Expand
  14. MisamoAlex
    Jul 14, 2023
    7
    Es entretenido, para ser una primera entrega está muy bien, ojalá saliera una secuela que mejore todo lo que le faltó a este
  15. Dub_
    Jul 6, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Bought the game in 2018, it’s been an emotional roller coaster, there’s always that feeling when you see the sea emperors kids go and venture, also the combination between horror game and adventure open world game is so good, no feeling beats the one you felt when you beat the game for the first time, it’s a one in a lifetime experience, enjoy it.… Expand
  16. Young_Fawn
    Jun 21, 2023
    7
    A Great World

    I had slept on Subnautica for the longest time, it had been in my library more or less since release and until now I only had around an hours play-time in it. I viewed it as just a weird underwater survival sandbox but it really is so much more than that. Firstly the game looks great, it's very colourful and the different biomes take on a whole new colour palette    A Great World

    I had slept on Subnautica for the longest time, it had been in my library more or less since release and until now I only had around an hours play-time in it. I viewed it as just a weird underwater survival sandbox but it really is so much more than that.

    Firstly the game looks great, it's very colourful and the different biomes take on a whole new colour palette whenever you enter them and leave them which makes the world feel more enjoyable to explore.

    The different fauna and fish; the amount of detail and lore they've put into these things just from scanning them is absurd, but in a good way. There's always something to read and learn and eventually you begin to feel one with the surrounding marine life.

    The resources you get are interesting, or at least the way you get them is interesting and fun to me. A bit of mining, a bit of cutting and combining them to make new items so that you can fabricate even more advanced materials and items. It's no different really from most survival crafting games but there's something a lot more satisfying about getting items in this game than it is others. Maybe it's just the sound of the fabricator.

    There is an overarching story, but I won't delve too deep into it, basically you've crashed on an alien planet and need to get off the planet; and some other stuff happens here, there and in-between, but I won't spoil it here.

    My only real criticism is that some resources can be rather difficult to find, Kyranite especially. You can be wandering around for quite a long time in the completely wrong area and have absolutely no idea that you're wasting your time. So you end up basically scanning the entire map to find out where to go, only to need to get an upgrade to go there. Which isn't a problem, getting the upgrades is part of the fun, but it can be rough after searching for a while, finding where you need to go, only to back-track to get the resources to go there. Feels like time wasted.

    Furthermore in order to complete certain tasks, you need certain items which are hidden in deep sea bases, without some of them, it's near impossible to complete the game.

    Sometimes you get a weird frame-stutter bug when entering and exiting a vehicle, it's noticeable but it's not game breaking by any means.

    I enjoyed my time in Subnautica, it's one of those games where you'll be asking. "Where did the time go?" And next thing you know, it's 5am.

    Don't do what I did and sleep on this, it's a phenomenal game. For a first run, just have your goal to be to complete the game and you'll find the magic that's laced throughout this amazing world.

    7/10 - Will likely do another playthrough at some point.    … Expand
  17. Yannig
    Jun 18, 2023
    8
    The first couple of hours into the game I really loved it, I would have given the game 10/10. Later on when the radio messages stop you may lose a sense of direction. At that point the game becomes about grinding for resources to upgrade your equipment. In the end it stays a wonderful world to explore.

    + Good + + Beautiful world + Excellent atmosphere + Great sound + No guidance in    The first couple of hours into the game I really loved it, I would have given the game 10/10. Later on when the radio messages stop you may lose a sense of direction. At that point the game becomes about grinding for resources to upgrade your equipment. In the end it stays a wonderful world to explore.

    + Good +
    + Beautiful world
    + Excellent atmosphere
    + Great sound
    + No guidance in what to do, this makes the game a little bit more believable and adventurous.

    - Not so good -
    - Inventory management. Too small inventories make grinding for resources exhaustive.
    - Pop-in of the environment, at one point I got stuck in the game because I couldn't find a certain location.
    - No in-game map. Finding back certain locations becomes hard.
    - No hint system or guidance to progress.    … Expand
  18. BARAO555
    Jun 16, 2023
    8
    Very fun and climatic half survival half horror experience. the thalasopfobia fellows will defiantly have fun
  19. mdk567
    Jun 11, 2023
    8
    재료를 수집해 건물과 아이템을 만드는 빌더게임을 좋아하지 않는 편이지만 서브노티카의 해저탐험은 그런 호불호를 떠나 새로운 세상을 탐험하는 흥미로운 경험을 제공해준다.
  20. HydrophobikFish
    Jun 9, 2023
    9
    Incredible open world undersea game. Really sells the undersea environments with many believable yet alien animals and environments. Ambience is stunning, the game is overall gorgeous, and its only big flaw is some technical issues around pop-in
  21. Radrin
    Jun 5, 2023
    7
    Great exploration game, especially if you enjoy the sea. It has a beautiful art style and a pleasant mystery story that you have to discover by yourself like a marine detective :D

    Unfortunately the game could have used a lot more polish, as the controls for certain transportation options were very clunky, frequently getting stuck on edges. Fish and other more dangerous creatures    Great exploration game, especially if you enjoy the sea. It has a beautiful art style and a pleasant mystery story that you have to discover by yourself like a marine detective :D

    Unfortunately the game could have used a lot more polish, as the controls for certain transportation options were very clunky, frequently getting stuck on edges.

    Fish and other more dangerous creatures would oftenly clip through solid objects, which also hurt the overall experience.

    The enemies were also quite derpy and once you get used to them it becomes trivial to avoid them.

    In the second half of the game, especially the end, it did really get excruciatingly dull when it came to gathering materials for the "final ingredients" and components in order to finish.

    Overall this is a fairly enjoyable game if you're a fan of diving and exploring the natural world, with a few caveats.    … Expand
  22. Poti
    Jun 4, 2023
    10
    My favorite survival, the exploration is very well built and discovering the planet is very cool
  23. Potet69
    Jun 1, 2023
    9
    Best survival game out there right now.‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎
  24. jakaclank
    May 29, 2023
    9
    Playing this game truly was a great experience. You get dropped into an open world and left to your own devices, which is both exhilarating and scary, though the game gives you hints where to go through immersive story telling. Since you are on an unknown planet somewhere in the future, you have no clue about the dangers of the waters or the capabilities of the tech you discover along thePlaying this game truly was a great experience. You get dropped into an open world and left to your own devices, which is both exhilarating and scary, though the game gives you hints where to go through immersive story telling. Since you are on an unknown planet somewhere in the future, you have no clue about the dangers of the waters or the capabilities of the tech you discover along the way, which makes playing refreshing and rewarding. The game has a lot of horror-y aspects to it that are well thought of. They play on known fears and phobias that constantly challenge you. The game can also be really gorgeous, especially for an indie game.

    The only reason why I did not give a 10 is because at some times grinding can become somewhat tedious (especially if you're prone to not like such things) and I have experienced some minor bugs.    … Expand
  25. sansbattle1111
    May 23, 2023
    8
    Subnautica, developed by Unknown Worlds Entertainment, is an immersive underwater survival game that plunges players into a vast and mysterious alien ocean. With its stunning visuals, deep exploration, and nerve-wracking encounters, this game offers a unique and captivating experience that keeps players on the edge of their seats.

    The first thing that strikes players in Subnautica is    Subnautica, developed by Unknown Worlds Entertainment, is an immersive underwater survival game that plunges players into a vast and mysterious alien ocean. With its stunning visuals, deep exploration, and nerve-wracking encounters, this game offers a unique and captivating experience that keeps players on the edge of their seats.

    The first thing that strikes players in Subnautica is its breathtaking beauty. The underwater world is teeming with vibrant marine life, stunning coral reefs, and awe-inspiring biomes. The attention to detail in the environment is exceptional, creating a sense of wonder and immersion. The game's day-night cycle and dynamic weather effects further enhance the atmospheric experience, making exploration both visually stunning and rewarding.

    Survival is the core focus of Subnautica, and the game excels in creating a sense of vulnerability and tension. As players navigate the depths, they must manage resources, oxygen levels, and hunger, all while avoiding or confronting hostile creatures. The fear of the unknown and the constant threat of danger create a palpable sense of dread, heightening the sense of immersion and making each decision and discovery meaningful.

    The exploration in Subnautica is vast and rewarding. The game world is filled with secrets, wrecks, and hidden resources to discover. The progression system is well-designed, gradually unlocking new tools and equipment that allow players to explore deeper and face greater challenges. Unraveling the mysteries of the alien world through logs and story fragments adds an additional layer of intrigue, motivating players to delve deeper into the unknown.

    Subnautica's sound design is superb, contributing to the game's immersive atmosphere. The ambient sounds of the ocean, the eerie cries of underwater creatures, and the unsettling music create a haunting and immersive experience. The audio cues play a crucial role in building tension and alerting players to potential dangers, enhancing the overall sense of immersion and unease.

    The crafting system in Subnautica is robust and rewarding. Players can gather resources from the environment to create tools, equipment, and bases that aid in survival and exploration. The variety of blueprints and upgrades available provide a sense of progression and allow for customization to suit individual playstyles. The base-building aspect adds a layer of creativity and personalization, giving players a sense of ownership and security in the harsh underwater world.

    Despite its strengths, Subnautica does have a few minor flaws. The performance on certain platforms may suffer from occasional frame rate drops and technical issues. Additionally, some players may find the survival mechanics, such as the need to constantly manage resources, hunger, and oxygen, to be overly challenging or repetitive.

    Subnautica is an immersive and thrilling underwater survival adventure that pushes the boundaries of exploration and fear. Its stunning visuals, deep and mysterious world, and nerve-wracking encounters create an unforgettable experience. The game's emphasis on survival and exploration, coupled with its atmospheric sound design and robust crafting system, make it a standout title in the genre. Despite a few technical shortcomings and potentially repetitive mechanics, Subnautica is a must-play for those seeking a captivating and immersive underwater survival experience. It earns a solid 8/10 rating for its ability to immerse players in a haunting and awe-inspiring alien world.    … Expand
  26. DargoKarr
    May 22, 2023
    10
    The atmosphere, music, and story are incredible. You like exploration? Subnautica has you covered. You like crafting and base building? Covered. You like survival? Covered. You like a great story well told? Got you there too. I cannot recommend this game enough.
  27. Hyperfailure
    May 20, 2023
    8
    Thoroughly enjoyed the experience of meeting underwater monstrosities and getting traumatised for life.
  28. slimeman321
    May 15, 2023
    9
    a really good game that has a good story and a lot of things to explore and creepy, weird and interesting creatures.
  29. Zyetwy
    Apr 24, 2023
    8
    Very enjoyable and good game. It has good story as well. I definetly suggest it. Only thing that I didn't like about the game is difficulty of exploring. It is kinda hard to explore and to find your way. It is 8 out of 10.
  30. PrincessRose
    Apr 15, 2023
    4
    This game is interesting and exciting at first but it doesn't take long before it all starts looking the same and then it feels boring and aimless as there is no direction in what to do and ends up feeling so repetitive as you are just continually trying to find resources which is tedious and boring. This game is too much of a chore. Even though the setting is unique it's not veryThis game is interesting and exciting at first but it doesn't take long before it all starts looking the same and then it feels boring and aimless as there is no direction in what to do and ends up feeling so repetitive as you are just continually trying to find resources which is tedious and boring. This game is too much of a chore. Even though the setting is unique it's not very interesting game play wise. Searching the seabed for materials isn't fun for me. It's ironic that a game with a vast ocean has no depth and is actually very shallow with not much to it, not my kind of game it's too boring.… Expand
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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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