When Does Subnautica Get Good?
Fans say it’ll take a new player of Subnautica somewhere between 5-10 hours to understand the gameplay loop, but are rewarded the longer they play as the exploration and crafting in this game are up there with the best in the genre.
What Fans Say
Fans of Subnautica praise its immersive underwater world, stunning visuals, and compelling sense of exploration. The game’s blend of survival mechanics and storytelling creates an engaging experience that feels fresh and original. Many applaud the developers for crafting a narrative that unfolds organically through exploration, rather than relying on exposition-heavy dialogue. The game’s emphasis on resource management and discovery encourages creativity, while its atmospheric sound design and dynamic environments enhance the sense of adventure and danger.
—
—
What Haters Say
Some critics of Subnautica cite the repetitive nature of resource gathering and crafting as a drawback, feeling that the grind can detract from the overall experience. Others express frustration with occasional technical issues, including glitches and performance drops, especially on older platforms. A minority of players also find the game’s lack of traditional hand-holding or objectives overwhelming, arguing that it might not appeal to those who prefer more structured gameplay.
Aggregated Critic Commentary
Subnautica has been widely praised by critics for its originality, atmosphere, and design. It holds high scores on platforms like Metacritic and Steam, often hailed as one of the best survival games of its era. Reviewers highlight its balance of tension and beauty, emphasizing how it builds a sense of isolation and wonder in equal measure. Critics also commend the game’s environmental storytelling and ecological depth, calling it a standout example of how video games can blend narrative and gameplay seamlessly.
Overview of the Game
Subnautica, developed by Unknown Worlds Entertainment, is an open-world survival game set on the alien ocean planet 4546B. Players assume the role of a crash survivor tasked with exploring the planet’s vast underwater biomes, scavenging for resources, and uncovering the mystery behind the planet’s ecosystem and their own survival.
The game begins with players escaping a crashing spaceship, only to find themselves stranded in an alien sea teeming with life, from small, harmless fish to massive, terrifying predators. With limited resources and no immediate rescue in sight, players must craft tools, build bases, and venture into deeper, more dangerous waters.
Subnautica offers a non-linear narrative that unfolds through discovered logs, wreckage, and environmental clues. The deeper players dive, the more complex and challenging the gameplay becomes, introducing new biomes, creatures, and hazards. From the shallow, sunlit reefs to the dark, treacherous depths, the game maintains a sense of awe and trepidation throughout.
Similar Games
- No Man’s Sky – Shares the theme of exploration and resource management, with a broader focus on space travel and planetary discovery.
- Raft – A survival game where players build and expand a floating raft while exploring an open sea.
- The Forest – Combines survival gameplay with a strong narrative, set in a dense and mysterious forest.
- Below Zero (Subnautica’s sequel) – A natural follow-up with a similar structure but set in an arctic environment.
- Abzu – A visually stunning underwater exploration game with a more relaxed, meditative tone.
If You Like These, You’ll Like Subnautica
- Minecraft – Offers open-world creativity and survival with a focus on resource gathering and building.
- The Long Dark – Features survival gameplay in a harsh, immersive environment, emphasizing exploration and storytelling.
- Outer Wilds – Combines non-linear exploration with a narrative-driven experience in a mysterious and beautiful universe.
- Astroneer – Provides a colorful, engaging survival and exploration experience on alien planets.