Subnautica: Below Zero

 Xbox Series X
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 61 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 61
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 61
  3. Negative: 4 out of 61
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  1. Nerevarinho
    Sep 16, 2021
    5
    I loved Subnautica original, it blowed my mind. But Below Zero feels like an unoptimized standalone addon of the original Subnautica. Framerate drops (Played on Series S) around my base below 30 fps, even in fps mode. Quality mode had big input lag. The entire game does not feel creepy as in original Subnautica. The snow area was a chore, the land movement is still bugged, it still letsI loved Subnautica original, it blowed my mind. But Below Zero feels like an unoptimized standalone addon of the original Subnautica. Framerate drops (Played on Series S) around my base below 30 fps, even in fps mode. Quality mode had big input lag. The entire game does not feel creepy as in original Subnautica. The snow area was a chore, the land movement is still bugged, it still lets the player flickering around when touching some edges. Most stuff are recycled, and there are only a few new features. I am dissapointed.… Expand
  2. Tuishnet
    Jul 7, 2021
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Сюжет отвратителен. Игра изменилась только графически. Баланс изменили но гемплей. Нет!!!… Expand
  3. MrTusks
    Nov 29, 2022
    7
    Feels like a DLC to Subnautica, which is not bad. Not as scary because it's hard to recapture that feeling of not knowing what it is in the deeps, but new and interesting vehicles and QOL improvements make it a fresh experience.
  4. raffinetti
    Nov 1, 2021
    7
    Some great UI/quality of life improvements and interesting fauna/flora/vehicle additions, however the "level design", story progression and lowered difficulty made it a lot less fun than the first game.
  5. Torgall
    Jun 20, 2022
    6
    Summary: Expansion that is sold as a squel. The rewrites are very clear because there is a plot hole galore. Way easier, dumbed-down version of Subnautica that rather poorly focuses on plot rather than mystery and the eerie exploration.

    The map is surprisingly small, no wonder many people call it DLC instead of a sequel. I really don't like the overland exploration because it's annoying    Summary: Expansion that is sold as a squel. The rewrites are very clear because there is a plot hole galore. Way easier, dumbed-down version of Subnautica that rather poorly focuses on plot rather than mystery and the eerie exploration.

    The map is surprisingly small, no wonder many people call it DLC instead of a sequel. I really don't like the overland exploration because it's annoying and lacks the verticality of sea-based gameplay that is a keyfeature of Subnautica.

    I miss the vehicles from the original. Snowfox is useless, it handles like a cargo container not a hover bike, and there is almost no reason to use it. Prawn controls way better than in the previous game, but it's not really necessary because the game is easy and there is no need for mining. Seatruck is ok considering the small map size making the Cyclops overkill.

    I really like the few quality of life additions to base, and the new decorations and large room are nice.

    The story is all over the place. I liked the architect part but you can accidentally finish the game without even finding out about your sister, you know the reason you are there in the first place. You don't even get clear hints like in the previous game, that why you have no idea what to do regarding sister subplot, the main one is way easier with automatic beacons.    … Expand
  6. Davodski
    Aug 3, 2021
    6
    Subnautica: below zero can't be viewed as a sequel, it's more like an expansion with a new story and the same building mechanics (with some new stuff to build and craft).

    The story really gets interesting in the beginning, but gets more stale and unfulfilling in the middle of the game. This is because the story is set to a halt, and you have to either search on google or explore a lot    Subnautica: below zero can't be viewed as a sequel, it's more like an expansion with a new story and the same building mechanics (with some new stuff to build and craft).

    The story really gets interesting in the beginning, but gets more stale and unfulfilling in the middle of the game. This is because the story is set to a halt, and you have to either search on google or explore a lot to find out how the story continues. The ending was a bit anti climactic but it had some fascinating elements to it.

    One of the biggest problems in this game, is the fact that the leviathans/enemies aren't really a challenge like they were in the original game. I did get jumpscared a lot, but that's just a cheesy way of trying to scare someone. The problem with the "enemies" is that it lacks dynamics. You have 0 tools to prevent getting caught by an enemy, unlike in the original game where you had for example: Decoy missiles in the cyclops. In the seatruck for example, you only get a perimiter defense but you rarely get to use it succesfully because the enemies get to you anyway, so there's no way of avoiding them. They don't deal a lot of damage so it's not a problem anyway, but that really showcases how different and repetitive the leviathans/enemies have become from the original game. Combine that with the small map and you don't have the huge sandbox you had in the original.

    One positive thing is the quality of life changes. This game has few bugs, especially compared to the original, which is good of course. The prawn suit has become so much better to controll and was a lot more fun to use thanks to that. Sound design in this game has also improved, but that's a bit down to preference. The graphics have improved by a LOT, so if you have a good computer, this game will defenitely look good.

    To summarise: this game is a minimal 6 (maybe 7) for me and leaves a lot to be desired (especially in the story and leviathan/enemy category). It has a decent progression but has a lot of wasted potential. The quality of life changes are good, but isn't the reason why you should buy a game. Again, this game shouldn't be seen as a sequel, but more like a 1.5 or an expansion of the original.    … Expand
  7. Avey123Avey
    Mar 19, 2023
    7
    Subnautica: Below Zero is an excellent little survival/adventure game. The survival elements hit a perfect balance for me that avoided feeling too tedious, and the underwater environments are gorgeous and well realized. The story on the other hand is weirdly disjointed and progression is not always as straightforward as it should be.

Awards & Rankings

17
#17 Best Xbox Series X Game of 2021
41
#41 Most Discussed Xbox Series X Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. MondoXbox
    Jul 25, 2021
    78
    Subnautica: Below Zero offers a more immediate, accessible and complete gaming experience compared to the first chapter of the saga, providing a more impactful and suitable title for those who do not like too dispersive survival games. To succeed in this, however, many aspects of the original title have been simplified, resulting in a less meaty and varied game. A different experience then, but worth the effort.
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  2. ZTGD
    May 25, 2021
    80
    Subnautica: Below Zero is a great follow-up to one of the best in the genre. It dishes out the survival aspects in more digestible chunks than some of the more extreme cases. This makes it much more approachable for players like me who are intimidated by the restrictions of the genre. Do not let the nature of the game scare you away. This is a beautiful experience that I recommend if for nothing else, but to experience the ridiculously beautiful world Unknown Worlds has created.
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  3. GameOver.gr
    May 21, 2021
    90
    Subnautica: Below Zero retains all the key gameplay elements that gave its predecessor its success, and furthermore adds various improvements -although its significantly smaller map area and its design deprive it of the feelings of loneliness, fear and awe as you enter a new biome.
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