Recs.
Updated
Subnautica is a first-person, adventure survival game. After crashing into the ocean on your spaceship, you must explore and survive the dangers of a vast ocean on Planet 4546B.
SpecsUpdate
Pros
Pro Great theme and looks
The game takes place underwater, and with that it looks quite good for an underwater game. Looking up at the sun through the ocean looks pleasant and real. Coral reefs have multiple colors and look real as well. Graphics wise this game looks great and pulls off its theme of an underwater survival quite well.
Pro The sound effects really set up the overall atmosphere
The sound design in Subnautica is amazing. Even though the soundtrack can be bland at times, the sound effects for the ocean noises are incredibly atmospheric and really help to get the player in the mood for exploring a vast, alien ocean.
Pro Incredibly satisfying tool-building mechanics
The whole process of creating new tools is mostly done using a sophisticated 3D-printer available from the start of the game. You gather various resources and transform them to create tools that you will need for your survival.
For example, organic matter gets printed into raw carbon, combine carbon with some zinc and you get a battery; combine that battery with some glass and you get a flashlight that helps you see in the dark. It's very straightforward but incredibly satisfying when you build your tools, especially since you are doing all of this while swimming in an ocean filled with predators.
Pro Has a mode for people who just want to explore
Subnautica has three game modes: survival, freedom, and creative. The first one pits the player against the elements and forces them to think about food and water through its thirst and hunger mechanics.
The second game mode basically removes every mechanic that is related to surviving, such as the aforementioned hunger and thirst mechanics. It also leaves all the items in your inventory after you die. In other words, it's a game mode for people who want to explore without having to bother with surviving. Which is nice, since Subnautica has a lot of stuff to explore.
The third one will let you build a base of your dreams without worrying about food, oxygen, or thirst. It is the best mode for people who want to build and don't want to gather resources.
Pro Constant updates and improvements to game play
The devs are very reliable when it comes to constantly fixing bugs and improving the game.
Pro No pointless multiplayer
Not every damn thing needs multiplayer, and multiplayer can often ruin an otherwise incredible experience. There's none to be found here, and that intensifies the lonely atmosphere. Also, the creators didn't waste resources on something that would fundamentally undermine the experience so they could focus on making the game the wonderful thing that it is.
Pro Very interesting for both new and long-time players
But it goes faster when you learn the game. Because everything is done manually.
Cons
Con Lacks Co-Op
This game was meant to be a survival game (and a bit of horror), most survival games are difficult, may get boring to play alone after time and this game has both. Having a second survivor would mean the developers would have to rewrite the story, but having a friend in an alien world would be more interesting. This feature is available through modding, but it should be base game
Con No Insanity Meter
This game isolates you from all human life. You're stranded with an artificial intelligence. If that were you, you'd go insane within a few days. Without a friend or a pet (fish), the insanity meter should slowly rise and insanity should make you see things that aren't there, start talking to yourself underwater (thus using up oxygen) and stuff like that.
Recommendations
Comments
Flagged Pros + Cons
Con No co-op
The developers promised co-op and with the full release of the game and there is still no co-op.
Con Lacks co-op
This game was meant to be a survival game (and a bit of horror), most survival games are difficult, may get boring to play alone after time and this game has both. Having a second survivor in the story would mean to rewrite it again, but having a friend in an alien world would be better.
Out of Date Pros + Cons
Con No real story
A bit of an underdeveloped story. Most story elements are contained to in-game notes and some short CGI animations.
Con Early access
The game is still in early access, so that means there may be bugs and unfinished areas or features of the game.