Game Review: Subnautica

Almost 40 hours into the game, and I finally beat it (before it beat me)!

This was one of the games I’d always wanted to play. Growing up, I didn’t have any gaming console or a PC that could really handle video games, so I lived vicariously through other people’s gameplays. And yes, Subnautica was one of those that stayed with me the longest. So when I finally got myself a PlayStation (at the prime age of 26 lol), it was literally the first game I bought. Even though it was seven years old. Even though I’d already watched the whole game through. And oh my god, it was so worth it.

For those who don’t know, Subnautica throws you onto an alien water planet after your spaceship crashes, leaving you completely alone with nothing but a survival pod and a whole lot of ocean. You collect scraps, build tools and bases, and slowly push deeper and deeper into the water, discovering strange creatures, ruins, and the mystery behind what happened to this planet, all while trying not to get eaten. It’s survival, exploration, and low-key existential dread wrapped into one very beautiful, very terrifying ocean.

And yes, the game is TERRIFYING. Almost everything on planet 4546B happens underwater. Scary monsters, murky waters, insane depths, alien flora and fauna, and sounds I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy make the ambience truly pant-shitting worthy. And somehow… it’s also absolutely gorgeous. The devs and world designers really gave it everything they had - I’ve rarely come across worldbuilding this well thought out, not just visually, but story-wise too.

One of my favourite things about the game (apart from the design) was how the story unravels through my best friend: the scanner. It becomes an extension of your arm. You learn about the planet’s history, ecosystems, and past inhabitants, and it feeds directly into your PDA (your personal digital assistant), which holds blueprints, data logs, and basically your entire brain for the game.

SPOILERS AHEAD

I found it so exciting figuring out what happened to the Degasi crew. That storyline was one of my favourites, along with the whole Architect situation. I also loved exploring the other lifepods and the Aurora, slowly piecing together what happened to the crew. One thing I kind of regret (and will probably go back to redeem for) is how hard I avoided Reaper Leviathans and the Void. To be fair, knowing about them beforehand, because I’d watched gameplay, definitely influenced that. If I’d gone in blind, I’m sure I would’ve accidentally stumbled into some… big surprises lol.

I’ll also admit there were a few moments where I got a little stuck and had to look things up. At one point, I needed more complex materials and genuinely could not find them (mostly because I was too scared to dive deeper - that one’s on me lol). At another point, the radio messages kinda stop coming, which left me completely lost story-wise. After consulting Reddit, the answer was simple and universal: go deeper.

Another little “cheat” I used was my partner. Him being more experienced with games (and significantly less jumpy) came in clutch when I was trying to get the Cyclops down into the Lost River and especially the Inactive Lava Zone and Lava Lakes. I’d been there before with the Seamoth, but when I tried taking the submarine down? It took me 3–5 business days, and ended with it getting obliterated by a Ghost Leviathan.

The Sea Emperor story was low-key heartbreaking...I loved it! It brought me so much joy to watch her little ones swim around (and me been cured and no longer hunted down by the Warpers and all lol).

One thing I didn’t remember was the Sea Dragon Leviathan… so that was a lovely surprise that made me take a break from the game for a day or two lol. That thing is so aggressive, like, please, I just want kyanite and nickel, LEAVE ME BE!!!

My favourite biomes were definitely the Tree Cove area and the Mushroom Forests. Bright, calm, and mostly herbivores, what more could a girl want? The Degasi island was also cute and quaint, though I only visited it a few times. After abandoning my dear Lifepod 5, I built my main base near Lifepod 17, which turned out to be one of my best decisions. Tons of early and mid-game materials nearby, easy access to Jellyshroom Cave, Blood Kelp Zone, and the Lost River, aaaand, as a late-game blessing, a Warp Gate hidden under the Mushroom Forest. Absolute godsend while building the Neptune Rocket and farming materials. My second base in the Lost River Tree Cove was also perfect for progression, especially when upgrading the Prawn Suit and Cyclops to reach the deeper zones.

Speaking of vehicles, the Seamoth was my absolute favourite. Fast, compact, easy to manoeuvre; perfect for sneaky exploration. The Prawn Suit was great too, once I got the hang of it, and the Drill Arm upgrade was insane for resource gathering. And then there’s the Cyclops… a massive moving base that I could not pilot through tight spaces to save my life. Also so slow. Bless my partner, because without him, it would’ve taken me 40 more hours to finish the game.

Ahhh, I think I’ve yapped enough. I could genuinely write about this game for hours.
10/10 across the board (MUSIC AND SOUND EFFECTS ESPECIALLY). Would absolutely recommend. Actually, stop reading, go buy it, and start playing now.

Thanks for hanging out with me :)