Subnautica

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 290 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 217 out of 290
  2. Mixed: 42 out of 290
  3. Negative: 31 out of 290
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  1. vintage_rose
    Jun 23, 2020
    10
    One of the best games I've ever played. A few technical issues on console but overall it's a great experience. If you like survinal base building games, this game is one of the best in the market.
  2. botox
    May 20, 2021
    10
    One of the best survival games I've ever played, discovered by mere accident, as it was free to download as part of Sony's 'Stay at home' initiative.

    Story is incredibly immersive, developing and full of twists. As it develops, more and more things start to make sense. And in order to develop it -- you have to put in more time/resources, get better equipment, get to the deepest and    One of the best survival games I've ever played, discovered by mere accident, as it was free to download as part of Sony's 'Stay at home' initiative.

    Story is incredibly immersive, developing and full of twists. As it develops, more and more things start to make sense. And in order to develop it -- you have to put in more time/resources, get better equipment, get to the deepest and scariest biomes and find out by yourself.

    Unlike it's sequel (more of an expansion pack) Below Zero, this game doesn't take you by your hand. Tutorial consists of few sentences and an arrow. Everything else you have to figure out by yourself. And this is what hooked me on to this game even further. I had to Google everything out, do the research as I play. Watch tutorials for each big step in order to make it. And thats why I've had 7+ days of pure game time fun.    … Expand
  3. Adamantium01
    Jan 28, 2020
    9
    Amazing game. Easily my all time top10. Yes, it could be better optimised for PS4 but honestly I didn't mind because of how hard it was for me to put it down.
  4. HeartOnly
    Feb 8, 2020
    10
    Subnautica is a game that challenged my fears of the unknown, as well as the deepest parts of the ocean. Merge the unknown and deepest parts of the ocean and you are given a whole tank of fresh nightmare fuel.

    But it is what had me enjoy this game the most. It's intense and almost terrifying, having to scavenge for resources in order to survive in the vast ocean of another planet thrown    Subnautica is a game that challenged my fears of the unknown, as well as the deepest parts of the ocean. Merge the unknown and deepest parts of the ocean and you are given a whole tank of fresh nightmare fuel.

    But it is what had me enjoy this game the most. It's intense and almost terrifying, having to scavenge for resources in order to survive in the vast ocean of another planet thrown under quarantine now that a deadly infection has broken out. The graphics are beautiful, shimmering oceans and various creatures lurking. While a part of me was reluctant to face such terrifying creatures, the gameplay, story and visuals had me pushing through my own boundaries.    … Expand
  5. DarthAkhalon
    May 11, 2020
    8
    Very engrossing game filled with exploration, suspense and at times, sheer horror.

    The narrative of the game is spot on, explains the backstory with numerous collectibles, a short cutscene at the beginning and hands you this beautiful world to explore at your own pace. While there isn't much dialogue in the game, the narrative is clear. This is a feat not many games have achieved.    Very engrossing game filled with exploration, suspense and at times, sheer horror.

    The narrative of the game is spot on, explains the backstory with numerous collectibles, a short cutscene at the beginning and hands you this beautiful world to explore at your own pace. While there isn't much dialogue in the game, the narrative is clear. This is a feat not many games have achieved.

    The gameplay itself is good, though there are a few hiccups here and there. The controls can be quite clunky in places, especially with the mech suit. The player character has access to a PDA which acts as the interface for the game. This is quite handy because it gives you access to everything without removing you from the immersion of the game. Also, the base building aspect is one of my favourites of any game of the survival genre. It's simple, easy to use, and the customization is fantastic. I really hope it is expanded upon in future games.

    The soundtrack of this game is absolutely stunning too. It perfectly captures the atmosphere I'd expect from a game set in the depths of the ocean. Combined with the visuals, it truly gives you a sense of loneliness on an alien world. The sound effects however have a few flaws in them, with some sound effects missing entirely and detract from the atmosphere slightly. The main example being the Prawn mech-suit which is missing some booster sounds when using the thrusters and when using the drill.

    Moving on to the visuals. This is another thing the game truly excels in. The water effects are without a doubt the greatest I've ever seen on a video game. The way it reacts to your movements like surfacing for oxygen or when using the oxygen tank underwater, it truly gives you the feeling of being underwater which many AAA titles fail to capture. It is also worth noting that the biomes each have their own lighting effects which sets the mood depending on where you are.

    To conclude, I highly recommend this game to anyone. The exploration aspect is phenomenal and the level of polish is outstanding. The only reason I have not given this game a 10/10 is due to the lack of autosave, which is a problem that hasn't been addressed and I've lost several hours of progress numerous times. Also, the movement can be quite clunky and unresponsive in places, but nothing game-breaking.    … Expand
  6. zellyfreak
    Jun 20, 2020
    10
    Really great game. I'm not the kind of gamer who likes survival games, but it really blow my mind. I play the game for the second time and it still gives me goosebumps
  7. Zdygard
    May 13, 2021
    10
    Easy 10 for price akone. It's subnautica in steroids, better graphics snimations sounds textured levels amazing story ends just much.

    There is just so much more detail. It's what a 60 game costs even though it's worth 50 and so are those games. These people are the new CD project red. Releasing GOOD games that are original and cheap but great quality. And their sequel blew it out of the    Easy 10 for price akone. It's subnautica in steroids, better graphics snimations sounds textured levels amazing story ends just much.

    There is just so much more detail. It's what a 60 game costs even though it's worth 50 and so are those games. These people are the new CD project red. Releasing GOOD games that are original and cheap but great quality. And their sequel blew it out of the park. This is a mist buy. Best preorder for 26 ever had. But it at full price and support the dev because they are giving us a deal on premium is far bug free experience. They are like a unicorn in the industry. "You guys want cheap bomb ass games?" "Hell yeah!" "Well here ya go! Oh and they don't crash or need dlc! Maybe we will add in free stuff but it's definitely a complete game. You can preorder it for $27!".

    Dudes are legends in the gaming industry. We should buy their stock now After resident evil right making another solid 100 from me, thst and Disco Elysium have made spring gsming great. Next week sunless skies comes out console another must buy from me. Recently we have been spoiled with good games. Biomutant is good i preordered it ,shame shame i know. It could be a buggy crashing mess. Side note, check out steep you like snowboarding to chill electro music. Also try Stellaris if you like big sim space empire warfare. My last recommendation is Blasphemous it's my goty before next year's dokm enteral which was a blessing from the literal gods. Don't miss Lara Croft 30woth dlc dungeons it's dope. Finally ion fury if you like duke nukem    … Expand
  8. Trevwin
    Mar 1, 2019
    9
    totally engrossing. I've not been that taken with base building games before but this has a combination of accessibility and difficulty that makes it really easy to get in to.
    Great story and superb sound design, managed to make be genuinely creeped out with little but darkness and sound effects. Superb.
  9. apodixis
    Feb 23, 2019
    10
    Great. Probably the best exploration game I've ever played. It was constantly interesting and surprising. The moderate survival/horror elements were perfect for me. One of my favorite games of all time in spite of a few minor bugs.
  10. inopinatus
    Dec 2, 2021
    8
    One of the best underwater games ever made and one of the best survival games ever made. A masterpiece of world-building, storytelling, game progression, and balance.

    The visuals are often stunningly rich and beautiful textured and lit. Also fantastic audio - both the soundtrack, and the environmental sounds, made for the best sonic experience of any game I have ever played and this    One of the best underwater games ever made and one of the best survival games ever made. A masterpiece of world-building, storytelling, game progression, and balance.

    The visuals are often stunningly rich and beautiful textured and lit. Also fantastic audio - both the soundtrack, and the environmental sounds, made for the best sonic experience of any game I have ever played and this made a big difference to the emotional impact and sense of being alone in hostile waters. Use a home theatre system if you possibly can and crank up the subwoofer.

    It would be a 10/10 but read on.

    Subnautica on PS4 is let down by immersion-breaking graphical glitches (clipping, framerate, and pop-in are all problematic). And there are couple of horribly game-breaking bugs. Those issues might be okay on PC where workarounds can be found, but not on console where there's no workaround or remedy. Don't even bother playing on Hardcore mode, and backup your saves once an hour. The PS4 release needed a lot more polish so 8/10 is the best I can do.    … Expand
  11. Lula_Bean
    Jan 14, 2019
    10
    I really can't rate this game highly enough. I'm typically a casual gamer that usually only plays the odd weekend or so, but despite it somewhat slower nature, something about this title had me glued to the screen for 6 an entire weekend. I'm already thinking about how I can sneak extra time in during the week without neglecting my household. It's been 15 years since a game has captured meI really can't rate this game highly enough. I'm typically a casual gamer that usually only plays the odd weekend or so, but despite it somewhat slower nature, something about this title had me glued to the screen for 6 an entire weekend. I'm already thinking about how I can sneak extra time in during the week without neglecting my household. It's been 15 years since a game has captured me like this (Morrowind). So much so that I felt the need to write a review, which I've never done before.

    The environment is beautiful and at times, deeply unsettling as you discover hints of just how diverse, vast, and terrifying the environment can be. More often than not, it's what you can't see that gets the heart racing. An incredible music score goes with each of the individual environments and adds to the sense of awe as you discover new locations. Legitimate challenges are balanced nicely with the rewards received for exploring - the pace of the game is as slow or as fast as you'd like it to be.

    I've been tempted to read guides online but I think that discovering on your own is one of the greatest delights of this game and frankly, when it comes to certain areas, ignorance might be bliss.

    I've seen some folks write about bugs and issues with graphics - while I've definitely encountered some slow environment loading when moving quickly, I haven't experienced any bugs that I know of.

    This game is an absolute pleasure to play.    … Expand
  12. RobinOfTheWood
    Dec 6, 2018
    10
    Very polished. Lots of fun. Picked it up last night, was still playing at 4am. Feels like what I expected No Man's Sky to offer when it was released, but didn't. I hesitated at paying full price, just before the sales, but don't fear, it's entirely worth it.
  13. GhostGamerPS
    Dec 11, 2018
    8
    Was intrigued with this game from the beginning. My fear of heights also translate to deep water, like the Ocean. What is down there below me ? How far down can i go ? What is lurking in the shadows ? So this could a horror survival for peeps like me.
    If your into the survival crafting genre then you will love this title. Unique alien ocean setting is very cool. Im only about 8 hours in    Was intrigued with this game from the beginning. My fear of heights also translate to deep water, like the Ocean. What is down there below me ? How far down can i go ? What is lurking in the shadows ? So this could a horror survival for peeps like me.
    If your into the survival crafting genre then you will love this title. Unique alien ocean setting is very cool. Im only about 8 hours in but having a blast. So many different machines for travel and shelter to build for survival.
    Many interesting creatures so far and not even able to dive below 200 meters yet ? Story is good so far, seeking out other survivors of the your huge, crashed spacecraft. Help is on the way early but something has to give. Is that a island out there ? Who's there.
    Lots of mystery. Reminds me of the updated version of No Mans Sky but I like this game much better so far.    … Expand
  14. Pleisteition
    Jan 29, 2019
    8
    This game deserves a at lest 9.5 IF the devs put in a bit more effort to optimize for consoles. I finished the game and I love it. No games ever make me feel so immersive as Subnautica. I do not know how to describe but ill tell you that, the night after i finished the game and went to bed, i had a very sweet, satisfying dream where i was diving and exploring in a deep, blue and clearThis game deserves a at lest 9.5 IF the devs put in a bit more effort to optimize for consoles. I finished the game and I love it. No games ever make me feel so immersive as Subnautica. I do not know how to describe but ill tell you that, the night after i finished the game and went to bed, i had a very sweet, satisfying dream where i was diving and exploring in a deep, blue and clear ocean. I woke up feeling a bit upset because i knew it was a dream and a game that had ended.… Expand
  15. drewski57
    Jan 23, 2019
    9
    This is one of the best games on the market, truly original. You can ignore the low score reviews, the game has been patched right after release and runs fine, no crashes after 20+ hours of play. If you like survival type games this is a must get. Very suspenseful and a intriguing story/setting. The controls are very intuitive and easy to pick up. The real fun part of this game isThis is one of the best games on the market, truly original. You can ignore the low score reviews, the game has been patched right after release and runs fine, no crashes after 20+ hours of play. If you like survival type games this is a must get. Very suspenseful and a intriguing story/setting. The controls are very intuitive and easy to pick up. The real fun part of this game is exploring and crafting. The world is huge and you must figure it out. Very rewarding process. If you like games that make you think and plan, you will love this game!… Expand
  16. drlowdon
    Apr 9, 2021
    9
    Taking place in the late 22nd century, Subnautica opens with the deep-space vessel Aurora crash lands on planet 4546B. Having been able to make it into a life-pod, the player finds themselves alone and having to fight against all odds in order to survive.

    As with many games in the ‘survival genre’ collecting and crafting goods can be a little repetitive, especially in the early going,    Taking place in the late 22nd century, Subnautica opens with the deep-space vessel Aurora crash lands on planet 4546B. Having been able to make it into a life-pod, the player finds themselves alone and having to fight against all odds in order to survive.

    As with many games in the ‘survival genre’ collecting and crafting goods can be a little repetitive, especially in the early going, and this may put some people off. The underwater world of Subnautica is however both exhilarating and terrifying to explore, and the crafting system is incredibly satisfying. Add to this an intriguing story, and you have an absolutely fantastic game.    … Expand
  17. cylentstorm
    Feb 21, 2019
    8
    How long can you hold your breath? Subnautica is a unique take on the whole survival/crafting adventure. There's a story, goals to be achieved, and an ending. There is also a decided lack of weapons. That's right--you crash on an alien ocean planet full of creatures trying to eat you armed only with your wits...and eventually a knife. The remainder of the gadgets at your disposal areHow long can you hold your breath? Subnautica is a unique take on the whole survival/crafting adventure. There's a story, goals to be achieved, and an ending. There is also a decided lack of weapons. That's right--you crash on an alien ocean planet full of creatures trying to eat you armed only with your wits...and eventually a knife. The remainder of the gadgets at your disposal are almost strictly defensive or supportive, and you will need them to survive long enough to discover the fates of the rest of the crew (and other, less mundane mysteries.)

    You'll build subs, bases, and eventually a means of escape--after you explore the murky depths and recover the blueprints/materials to construct them. Just watch out for the leviathans...and your all-important oxygen supply.

    The sublime tension involved in traversing this aquatic world is only marred by technical issues readily apparent on PC, but compounded by the limited power of consoles and the team's utilization of the Unity engine (which isn't known for its efficiency or speed.) Objects pop in, frame rates stutter and hitch,, and bugs/crashes are more frequent than expected for a game with three years of early access and a full year as a final release (on PC.) The console visuals are a mixed bag of muddy textures, poor lighting, and short view distance.

    The essence of Subnautica survives the port, but the technical execution and quality-of-life aspects need some serious attention. Still, the game manages to draw you into the deep with good sound design, intriguing plot, and rewarding exploration. Come on in--the water's fine.    … Expand
  18. 2Netz
    Dec 4, 2018
    9
    What should i say? Subnautica changed my attitude on survival games.
    This is a diamond in an ocean of typical unfinished start ups. And a breath of fresh air after all those franchise based "ball of booty 9" and "aladeen creed 10" games... =)
    Atmosphere, graphics, plot and MUSIC!
    This is a true masterpiece.
    So far i'm enjoying playing it with my wife on a big screen. Peace!
    Must buy.
  19. Vanpire73
    May 24, 2019
    9
    This review score is based on the creepy, very fun, underwater crafting/survival adventure game I just could not put down and not the soul-crushing, game-breaking bug-filled mess that warrants a review score of 1. No game has pissed me off more. I absolutely loved it, but paying money for it (which would normally be a great deal) in the state it is in makes me feel like my nuts areThis review score is based on the creepy, very fun, underwater crafting/survival adventure game I just could not put down and not the soul-crushing, game-breaking bug-filled mess that warrants a review score of 1. No game has pissed me off more. I absolutely loved it, but paying money for it (which would normally be a great deal) in the state it is in makes me feel like my nuts are nothing but a kicking bag.… Expand
  20. krayzie
    May 11, 2021
    9
    Absolutely phenomenal game. Been a while since a game got me hooked in as much as Subnautica.
    Exploring the different biomes and uncovering new blueprints/lore is incredibly satisfying.
    Story was top notch and engaging throughout as well. Would have been an easy 10/10 for me if not for the numerous bugs (one of which almost bricked my 70 hour playthrough). Fact that this game still    Absolutely phenomenal game. Been a while since a game got me hooked in as much as Subnautica.
    Exploring the different biomes and uncovering new blueprints/lore is incredibly satisfying.

    Story was top notch and engaging throughout as well. Would have been an easy 10/10 for me if not for the numerous bugs (one of which almost bricked my 70 hour playthrough). Fact that this game still gets a 9/10 despite the bugs shows its truly a one a kind and unforgettable experience.

    Upon finishing the game, I could not stop thinking about it for almost a week later.    … Expand
  21. Wardrobechaos
    Jan 23, 2020
    9
    apart from the MAJOR performance issues, clipping, textures not loading etc this is a masterpiece. loved every minute of it! cannot believe i did not play this sooner! :)
  22. lamothe
    Jul 17, 2021
    10
    It is the first survival game I have played and it did not dissapoint. After this game I believe the bar will be set really high for the next one to beat it.
    The atmosphere is fantastic and I was always amazed at how far I was able to push the game's performance. Everything is seamlessly connected without any loading screens. Indeed there are some pop ins but nothing gamebreaking. The    It is the first survival game I have played and it did not dissapoint. After this game I believe the bar will be set really high for the next one to beat it.
    The atmosphere is fantastic and I was always amazed at how far I was able to push the game's performance. Everything is seamlessly connected without any loading screens. Indeed there are some pop ins but nothing gamebreaking. The story is excellent and lastly at the end, you feel you leave your own mark on this incredible alien world. I can't wait to star playing below zero.    … Expand
  23. XxMayhemxX37
    Dec 15, 2018
    9
    EDIT: [Crashes seem to be fixed from latest update 1.05. They also added a feedback button. I know I rated the game as it came out... but now that its fixed, it deserves its better score of a... 9!!!] Original review --> Sigh...Great game but has some severe issues. The devs are aware of the issues and are working on them according to their web page. I have updated to 1.04 andEDIT: [Crashes seem to be fixed from latest update 1.05. They also added a feedback button. I know I rated the game as it came out... but now that its fixed, it deserves its better score of a... 9!!!] Original review --> Sigh...Great game but has some severe issues. The devs are aware of the issues and are working on them according to their web page. I have updated to 1.04 and started a new game after the update. Seems the game crashes more now then before. Crashes alot during saving as well. It's a shame because if there was no crashes, the game would be an 8 or 9. (Maybe add auto save every 5 minutes?) Fix the framerate issues and occasional missing textures in the world and it would be a 10. The reason I say that is because the game itself is AMAZING. The fear of the deep, the progression, the blueprints, the soundtrack, the story.. omg.. there's so much to love about this game.. it is a masterpiece. BUT.. not when the framerate is slowing down and definitely not when it constantly crashes.. I've had a 3 day weekend to really get into the game, and I've had at least 6-8 crashes per day. Unacceptable!!! The game is just a 4 right now and I'm being VERY generous. Like I said before, after they fix the crashes and help with the framerate, the score will rise on an otherwise great game.… Expand
  24. torq314
    Jun 2, 2021
    10
    This one is among the best games I've played in my life and I play for 35 years. It's just immersive. For anyone loving free open-world adventures, where it's the player to decide what to do and where to go - it's probably a life-time adventure.

    What makes it so unique is the constant sense of "unknown". Sure, Witcher or Skyrim are great too, it's a similar vibe of freedom but wherever    This one is among the best games I've played in my life and I play for 35 years. It's just immersive. For anyone loving free open-world adventures, where it's the player to decide what to do and where to go - it's probably a life-time adventure.

    What makes it so unique is the constant sense of "unknown". Sure, Witcher or Skyrim are great too, it's a similar vibe of freedom but wherever you go, there are other people there. In subnautica, you can't really expect anything and it's a constant I-didn't-expected-that feeling.

    The only minor complaint is a slow start that could potentially repell some players from the exploration - you first need to gather resources, build a base and vehicles and only then the player can plan their trips around the vast world that awaits to be visited.

    I really like the story, it's not that obvious at the beginning but later in the game the plot plays an important role. Clever, as it's then not just exploring around without a point but rather, you explore to unravel the story behind the game.

    Brilliant, great. Definitely recommend.    … Expand
  25. JJBean
    Apr 30, 2021
    10
    One of the best games I've ever played. A truly new and unique gaming experience that makes you feel all kinds of things other videogames have never made you feel before. PS4 experience is not that great compared to PC but with dev tools on and the vsync turned off the frame rate is quite good. Any technical shortcomings are completely overshadowed by just how good the gaming experienceOne of the best games I've ever played. A truly new and unique gaming experience that makes you feel all kinds of things other videogames have never made you feel before. PS4 experience is not that great compared to PC but with dev tools on and the vsync turned off the frame rate is quite good. Any technical shortcomings are completely overshadowed by just how good the gaming experience is. I could say a lot more about this game but I can't be bothered right now.… Expand
  26. BITESCREEN
    Dec 18, 2018
    8
    Subnautica gibt es bereits länger für den PC, jetzt erscheint das ambitionierte Indiespiel auch auf Konsolen – und wer sich über die Feiertage völlig verlieren will, taucht tief ein ins vielleicht beste Unterwasserabenteuer seit Bioshock. Der Start verläuft ähnlich wie beim Genrekollegen The Solus Project: Ihr stürzt auf einem einsamen Alienplaneten ab, sucht nach einem Weg nach Hause undSubnautica gibt es bereits länger für den PC, jetzt erscheint das ambitionierte Indiespiel auch auf Konsolen – und wer sich über die Feiertage völlig verlieren will, taucht tief ein ins vielleicht beste Unterwasserabenteuer seit Bioshock. Der Start verläuft ähnlich wie beim Genrekollegen The Solus Project: Ihr stürzt auf einem einsamen Alienplaneten ab, sucht nach einem Weg nach Hause und optional nach Nahrung und Wasser. Das derweil gibt es zuhauf – denn die Spielwelt besteht zu 99 Prozent daraus. Während Ihr anfangs noch nervig oft auftaucht, craftet Ihr Euch mithilfe natürlicher Ressourcen bald bessere Schwimmflossen und Sauerstoffflaschen, dann ein schnelles U-Boot, später ganze Basen. Bis dahin aber ist es ein langer Weg, der durch etwas späte Storytrigger auch noch steinig ist. Dennoch ist Subnautica nie langweilig – denn die virtuelle Tiefsee ist gleichsam wunderschön wie furchterregend. So taucht Ihr im einen Moment auf der Suche nach Erz in einen sonnendurchfluteten Algenwald, im anderen mit letzter Luft durch ein klaustrophobisches Schiffswrack – und längst nicht jeder Bewohner ist ein putziges Fischchen. Obendrein punktet Subnautica mit komplexen, aber intuitiven Spielmechaniken und einer spannenden, nur über Audiologs und Textkästchen erzählten Story nebst Twist.… Expand
  27. inakachick
    Jan 20, 2019
    8
    I picked this up because 2 colleagues at work can't stop talking about it. Very engaging and i haven't had any real problems when playing though I do have a PS4 pro. There have been a couple of glitches with scenery but mostly it's a gorgeous world to explore. Later on there are clues but unlike the PC game there is no compass or co-ordinates which makes some of the navigation even moreI picked this up because 2 colleagues at work can't stop talking about it. Very engaging and i haven't had any real problems when playing though I do have a PS4 pro. There have been a couple of glitches with scenery but mostly it's a gorgeous world to explore. Later on there are clues but unlike the PC game there is no compass or co-ordinates which makes some of the navigation even more challenging. I've played almost 6 hours straight and my weekend has disappeared already.… Expand
  28. Drummerboy51088
    Feb 20, 2019
    8
    Suuuuch a good game. I've been a playstation player my whole life and I remember seeing videos of this game in it's early life on PC and thinking it looked amazing. Well... Now we have it and the good news is it's really quite fascinating. This and The Forest are the two survival games on PS4 that actually seem to function as well as they should since we all know most survival games,Suuuuch a good game. I've been a playstation player my whole life and I remember seeing videos of this game in it's early life on PC and thinking it looked amazing. Well... Now we have it and the good news is it's really quite fascinating. This and The Forest are the two survival games on PS4 that actually seem to function as well as they should since we all know most survival games, whether on PC or console, are buggy pieces of garbage haha. You've crash-landed on an alien planet and your goal is to escape the planet, but to do so you'll have to explore, develop technologies and brave the deepest depths of this foreign world in the pursuit of the materials needed to get home.

    Graphics:

    The graphics in this game are super charming right from the get-go, almost looking like a Pixar movie with it's exaggerated proportions on certain items and your character and the bright colors found on all the lifeforms and plants! The water in particular looks absolutely amazing! Despite looking really good one of the few things that bug me about the game is the fact that there's some very noticeable pop-in with assets like vines, and also on occasion I had chunks of the terrain underwater that wouldn't load right away and I'd see this big square patch on the sea floor where I'd see through the map. They never caused me any actual gameplay problems but it was pretty ugly to look at at times, despite it being a rare occurance, at least for me. The different technologies, lifeforms and plants are all exquisitely designed in my opinion. Every new Biome is exciting to explore and research.

    Sound:

    This is really really REALLY well done. The muffled sounds of being underwater feel realistic, as well as the directional audio. The sound of your rubbery suit running around inside your base feels simultaneously depressing and comforting as your feeling of loneliness sets in slowly but surely. The music in this game is also very noteworthy. It always seems to kick in at just the right moment like when you see some monstrous creature for the first time, or when entering a new biome. Some very space techno sounding beats and melodies that fit very well with the theme of space explorer crash landed on an alien planet. Really good stuff.

    Gameplay:

    So gameplay consists of mostly farming. That's something to be aware of when entering this game. You won't spend much time in any kind of combat. It really isn't the point of the game. This is a game of exploration, discovery and survival. You'll spend alot of time scanning the environment which is littered with wreckage from your giant crashed space ship to discover new technologies and blueprints to help make your base better and your chances of survival higher. You can scan and read up on all plants and lifeforms on the planet to learn if they themselves can be used in crafting. There's even differences in the types of fish you'll find and their respective calorie counts. One fish might barely feed you and only be worth taking if you're desperate and dont have immediate access to anything else while another will feed far more than others, giving you a reason to figure out which biomes or caves specific types of fauna tend to hang out. In terms of gameplay I would say the biggest flaw is that the game is really not very challenging, which isn't to say you'll never die because you most certainly will, but maybe not as much as you would like in a survival game. My suggestion is to play on Hardcore mode which is a permadeath mode. Combine that with the 'Filmic' filter in the options and you'll have a game that feels significantly scarier as one dumb mistake like forgetting to keep an eye on your oxygen levels (which can easily happen while exploring wreckage or caves where you will sometimes get completely lost when not using something like the pathfinder tool) or getting a little too friendly with a particularly deadly creature of the deep. I also suggest the Filmic filter in the settings because it makes the game more realistically dark. With the normal filter on it often feels a little too bright while swimming around in the dead of night in deeper waters which really breaks the immersion in my opinion. This also forces you to use tools like flashlights more frequently which means managing batteries becomes a more prominent aspect in the game. I would also suggest looking at as few tutorial videos on youtube as possible as one of the game's biggest strengths is the really palpable sense of discovery. Figuring out that the plant you've been swimming by a hundred times turns out to have a really important part in some higher level crafting material is often really rewarding and gives you these ''AHA!'' moments that feel amazing.

    Verdict: I would say this game is, despite some flaws, a really amazing and fascinating game. The feeling of discovery is unlike anything I've experienced before in a video game in all honesty. Well worth a buy!    … Expand
  29. inmh
    Oct 19, 2021
    8
    Solid survival game. They really did a great job creating unique and different biomes to keep you interested. And boy, do those Reaper Leviathans keep you on your toes.

    I had only two complaints: One, the load times could get a bit lengthy (upwards of four minutes, a few times). This is notable because second, the Prawn Suit that you can construct in-game has a very bad habit of    Solid survival game. They really did a great job creating unique and different biomes to keep you interested. And boy, do those Reaper Leviathans keep you on your toes.

    I had only two complaints:

    One, the load times could get a bit lengthy (upwards of four minutes, a few times). This is notable because second, the Prawn Suit that you can construct in-game has a very bad habit of getting stuck in the Alien Facilities you enter. In my case, the only way I could unstick them was by rebooting the game and loading my last save. I became intimately familiar with the loading screen for a while there.

    In the grand scheme of things, though, these were relatively minor complaints. I still highly recommend the game.    … Expand
  30. Reyn_Sedai
    Apr 18, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. omg this game, omg. i was in love from beginning to end! the visuals are stunning and the audio is mesmerizing, you will loose all track of time in a very good way. its a MUST PLAY!!!!!! theres admittedly a few bugs but the response time from bug submitting to bug fixing update is insanely fast! it shows that they're actively listening and that they care about us, their players. please support the devs, they truly deserve sales and support.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

57
#57 Best PS4 Game of 2018
38
#38 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. CD-Action
    Mar 25, 2019
    80
    The PS4 edition of the brilliant survival game has some performance problems (framerate dropping, environment popping up really badly if you travel fast) and navigating in three dimensions is much less intuitive with a controller than with a mouse, which did cost me my life sometimes. These flaws do not disqualify the console port though, so if you can’t enjoy Subnautica on PC, consider giving it a shot on PS4, as there are very few such games nowadays. [02/2019, p.35]
  2. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Jan 27, 2019
    80
    Few games are this consistently surprising, let alone this well designed. [Issue#158, p.88]
  3. GameCritics
    Jan 15, 2019
    65
    I have rarely seen a game go from being absolutely sublime to absolutely awful, but Subnautica manages to pull it off. The first 25-30 hours are a superb sci-fi survival experience that I would happily recommend to anyone, and I’ll cherish that time under the waves for years to come. But the endgame? It really does ruin a good thing. If the first chunk of the adventure were scored on its own, it would rate much higher. But as a complete experience? The issues are too large to ignore.
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