Gemopedia
Video Games🇺🇸United States21st century

Subnautica

UNDERWATER OPEN-WORLD SURVIVAL VIDEO GAME (2018) by UNKNOWN WORLDS ENTERTAINMENT — crash-land on ALIEN OCEAN PLANET 4546B + must survive by scavenging, crafting subs (Seamoth, Prawn, Cyclops), exploring biomes, uncovering ancient mystery. Signature: ATMOSPHERIC UNDERWATER EXPLORATION with CREEPING DREAD as depths increase. Beautiful bioluminescent worlds; giant Leviathan-class creatures. Sequel SUBNAUTICA: BELOW ZERO (2021, Arctic setting). Multiplayer NEVER OFFICIAL but mod-supported (Nitrox). Beloved by survival + exploration fans.

⏱~2400 min🌤indoor

Quick facts

Category

Video Games

Type

Individual

Players

1–1

Duration

~2400 min

Where played

indoor

Country of origin

🇺🇸 United States

Estimated origin

Early Access 2014; Full 1.0 2018; Below Zero 2021; sequel Subnautica 2 planned 2025

Olympic

No

Popularity

regional

How it works

Objective

Survive + escape planet 4546B by uncovering ancient alien cure + building rocket.

Rules

Basic rules

  • CRASH LANDING on ALIEN OCEAN PLANET 4546B; must survive underwater

    Signature setting.

  • CRAFT tools, subs (Seamoth small, Prawn suit, Cyclops massive), habitats

    Signature crafting progression.

  • EXPLORE progressively deeper biomes (Safe Shallows → Lost River → Inactive Lava Zone)

    Signature depth progression.

  • OXYGEN + FOOD + WATER management + threats from Leviathans

    Standard survival mechanics.

  • STORY: uncover ancient alien race + cure for planet's disease + build escape rocket

    Signature storyline.

  • NO WEAPONS/GUNS — pacifist design; defense via stealth, decoys, sub speed

    Signature no-weapons philosophy.

Scoring

Story completion + escape planet.

Win condition · Complete main story + launch escape rocket (Neptune).

Equipment

  • PC (Steam, Epic) + PS4/5 + Xbox + Switch versions

    Multi-platform

  • Mouse + keyboard OR controller

    Flexible controls

Terminology

Aurora
Wrecked colony ship; central story location + explorable.
Seamoth
Small 1-person submarine — early game staple.
Cyclops
Massive personal submarine + mobile base.
Leviathan
Giant creatures — Reaper, Ghost, Sea Dragon — terrifying encounters.
PDA
Personal Digital Assistant — narrates + logs discoveries.
Alterra
In-game corporation that owned Aurora.

Where it is played

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-28.verified