Subnautica underwater base scene. Shows a ship, glowing jellyfish, and the game's title.

Screenshot from Subnautica showing an underwater habitat and a player holding a weapon. A sea monster swims past.

Subnautica underwater scene. View through a porthole with flora and fauna, including a blue sea creature and kelp.

Subnautica is a video game about underwater exploration in an open world. It's an adventure game that's being developed by the independent developer that also made Natural Selection 2. The game throws you into an alien ocean world. You crashed, and you can only go down, deeper into the mysterious waters of this strange planet. Subnautica has many different ocean environments, from sun-drenched coral reefs to dangerous deep-sea trenches. You will need to keep an eye on your oxygen supply as there's lots of exploring to be done. Kelp Forests, plateaus, reefs, and complex cave systems are all available for exploration, just make sure you know how to approach the creatures that you find there, as some may be more hostile than others. In Subnautica you need to find water and food to survive, but you must also develop your equipment so you can explore. The ocean around you can be hostile, but it is also a vast place full of useful resources. Craft various items such as knives, diving gear, lights, and even make your very own watercraft. Crafting more advanced items is only possible if you go deeper down to find rarer resources, which are needed for these items. Subnautica also allows you to build a base on the sea floor. The player is given full control over the layouts and components used, but managing hull integrity as depth and the preassure increase will also be important. Your base can be used as a storage for resources, vehicles, and it's the place where you will resupply yourself with oxygen. Come face to face with deadly underwater predators which will show you how it feels to be on the bottom of the food chain. These sea beasts can be distracted with a fresh fish if you get tired of running away from them. When you decide to explore extreme depths, you will need to build yourself a Pressure Re-Active Waterproof Nanosuit, or PRAWN Suit. The suit can then be equipped with mining drills, torpedo launchers, propulsion cannons, and even grappling hooks. Just be careful when night comes, as the predators come with it. The ocean definitely looks mesmerizing at night, but it also becomes full of really nasty, big fish. Cave systems will allow you to explore the world below the ocean floor, but keep track of your oxygen levels, you wouldn't want to start losing your breath in a dark, claustrophobic passage now, would you?

Top retailers

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

: How does the 'Creature Interactability' system, particularly the taming and domestication of alien fauna, shape late-game survival and exploration strategies?
The ability to tame and domesticate certain alien creatures in Subnautica significantly alters late-game gameplay. Tamed creatures can act as mobile, living bases, providing light, defense against aggressive fauna, and even carrying resources. This shifts the focus from solely relying on static bases and vehicles to a more dynamic, mobile survival approach, allowing for deeper exploration into hazardous biomes with built-in protection and utility.; What is the significance of the 'Degasi Storyline' and how does its fragmented narrative guide players through the lore and environmental storytelling of the planet?
The Degasi Storyline is a crucial element of Subnautica's environmental storytelling. By discovering audio logs, PDAs, and wreckage left by the ill-fated Degasi crew, players piece together a narrative that reveals the history of the planet, the dangers it holds, and the tragic consequences of failing to understand its ecosystem. This lore not only enriches the player's understanding of the world but also provides subtle hints and directions for progression, often leading to key resources or safe havens.; How does the 'Biome Diversity and Hazard System' necessitate adaptive exploration tactics and base placement, beyond simple resource acquisition?
Subnautica's biomes are not just visually distinct; they are defined by unique environmental hazards such as extreme temperatures, high pressure, dangerous flora and fauna, and limited visibility. Players must adapt their equipment, base locations, and exploration routes to mitigate these risks. For instance, building a base in a high-pressure biome requires advanced depth modules for vehicles and habitats, while exploring a biome filled with aggressive predators necessitates defensive measures or stealthy approaches.; Explain the 'Geothermal Vent and Energy Management' mechanics and their role in establishing sustainable, advanced bases in deeper or more hazardous areas.
Advanced base construction in deeper or more hazardous regions of Subnautica heavily relies on understanding geothermal vents and energy management. Geothermal vents can be harnessed as a consistent, renewable power source via thermal plants, offering a powerful alternative to solar or bioreactor power in environments where sunlight is scarce or alien life is too dangerous to farm. Efficiently managing power consumption and production is vital for operating life support, interior modules, and defensive systems in these challenging locations.; How does the 'Leviathan Class Fauna' presence directly influence player pathing, psychological tension, and the development of specific avoidance or confrontation strategies?
Leviathan-class creatures are colossal predators that serve as apex threats in Subnautica. Their presence is not merely an obstacle but a fundamental driver of gameplay. Players must learn their patrol patterns, behavioral cues, and weaknesses to navigate their territories safely. This often leads to psychological tension as players carefully plan excursions, utilize stealth, or develop specialized vehicles and tools to either avoid or, in rare cases, confront these behemoths. Their existence dictates safe routes, limits access to certain areas, and heavily influences the player's sense of vulnerability.

Patch Notes

04/10/25 (Subnautica Security Hotfix)
12/08/25 (Subnautica 2025 Patch)
14/12/22 (Subnautica Living Large Update)
08/12/21 (Minor Update B89 Released)
30/04/21 (Subnautica Original Soundtrack Released)
06/08/20 (Subnautica Micro Update Released)
05/11/19 (Subnautica Big Little Update)
08/03/18 (Update 84 Released)
25/01/18 (Launch Trailer)
07/12/17 (Eye Candy Update)
14/09/17 (Cuddlefish Update)
21/08/17 (Ghost Update Released!)
21/06/17 (Voice of the Deep Update)
28/04/17 (Silent Running Update)
02/03/17 (Infected Update)
26/01/17 (Castles & Coffee Update)
15/12/16 (Precursor Update)
27/10/16 (Bones Update)
22/09/16 (Dangerous Creatures Update)
23/08/16 (PRAWN Update Released!)
06/07/16 ((Micro) Update 67)
01/06/16 (Power Nap Update)
06/05/16 (Machinery Update)
05/04/16 (Oculus Update Released)
16/03/16 (Crash Sequence Update)
25/02/16 (Farming Update Released!)
28/01/16 (A Flood of Dead Bugs)
14/01/16 (H2.O Update Released!)
15/12/15 (Get Wrecked)
05/11/15 (Shocking Update Released)
10/09/15 (Seamoth Update Released!)
06/08/15 (Habitat Update Released)
19/06/15 (OSX Update Released)
28/05/15 (Alterra Science Update)
30/04/15 (Crash Site Released!)
13/03/15 (Seabases Released!)
27/02/15 (Coming Next: Seabases)
05/02/15 (Cyclops Sub Released!)
16/01/15 (Dev Update 8)
23/12/14 (Dev Update 7)

View previous patches

Comments on Subnautica

Slimowski

17-May-2026, 12:42 pm on dlcompare.pl

This game is not great, she is beyond great.

View original

fortuna730

29-Nov-2021, 10:27 am on dlcompare.it

The very first hour spent in this game, firmly and uncompromisingly passed the verdict - I love her. Not an intrusive plot, a huge open world consisting of many beautiful and creepy biomes, a perfectly built gameplay basis. I recommend this game, although it is for an amateur. Not many will love this pacifist genre and passive creative gameplay.

View original

Antoine Dumont

21-Dec-2018, 9:02 pm on dlcompare.fr

This game is fire, it is top :)

View original

Supported languages

	Interface	Audio	Subtitles
English
Italian
Korean
Danish
French
German
Polish
Turkish
Russian
Chinese (Simplified)
Finnish
Portuguese (Brazil)
Hungarian
Japanese
Czech
Spanish (Spain)
Ukrainian
Chinese (Traditional)
Swedish
Portuguese (Portugal)
Dutch
Vietnamese
Spanish (Mexico)