Field report · Bearing East (Discovery) · Unknown Worlds, 2018
Subnautica
Crash-landed on an ocean planet. Build a base, build a submarine, and go deeper than feels comfortable.
The journey
You explore an alien ocean, gather materials, craft tools and build underwater bases. The story leads you deeper, into darker, stranger places with larger creatures.
Who should go
Explorers who like to build and are happy to be a little scared of what is down there.
Freedom mode
If hunger and thirst feel like chores, start in Freedom mode. You still get the full story and exploring.
Fear of deep water
Subnautica is famous for its unsettling depths. Big creatures are rare but memorable. Players with thalassophobia may want to watch some footage first.
Follow the radio
Radio messages in your escape pod point to the next places to visit. They are the gentle thread of the story.
Supplies
- Beautiful, alien ocean
- Great base building
- Freedom mode for relaxed players
Hazards
- Deep water may scare some
- Inventory management can drag
Survey
Final mark 4.6 out of 5, the average of the four survey lines.
In the logbook
The best ocean adventure in games, and one of the best exploration games full stop.
Played to the end and filed on 27 October 2026. Details can change with updates; check the official page before buying.