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Play OverviewPlay Overview

Subnautica (2016) is an open-world adventure where you explore the ocean on an alien planet after crashlanding. You collect resources and fight creatures to survive. This enables you to establish an underwater base, gain new craft and equipment and explore deeper into the sea. As you do, things get eerie and the game reveals itself to have thrilling horror elements.

Your main objective is to explore the ocean and survive its dangers, while also completing tasks to advance the plot. You collect resources, craft tools, bases, and even submersibles. The largest part of the game is underwater although there are two islands to explore.

You can play in different modes. Survival means you have to deal with depleting health, hunger, thirst and oxygen. You can respawn if you die but lose items. Freedom mode means hunger and thirst are disabled but otherwise like Survival. Hardcore mode means if you die you have to restart from the beginning. Creative mode means that health and thirst are disabled and you also have access to all crafting without the need for resources.

It creates an experience that invites you to dive into an underwater ocean. There’s an open and immersive watery world to discover. Construction is predictably challenging, with air pressure and resources, it's a battle to keep balanced. These housekeeping concerns are as occupying as the daunting, enigmatic and mysterious depths of Subnautica’s world. Although set in the future, Subnautica draws back a curtain on the real underwater worlds we know but can’t explore in a prolonged way.

Our examiner, Rich Adams, first checked Subnautica 4 years ago. It was re-examined by Oli Hawkins and updated 7 days ago.
Too complex for your family? There are lots of games similar to Subnautica. Here are some easier younger-rated games:

Play StylePlay Style

This is an Adventure and Traversal game with Action, Collecting, Creative, Role-Play, Simulation, Stealth and Strategy elements. This is a single-player game.

 
You can play this game in the following styles:

DurationDuration

Play Time: This game will take between 27 hours and 37 hours to complete.

Age RatingsAge Ratings

Content Rating

Rated PEGI 7 for frequent mild violence and scenes that younger children may find disturbing. Violence is very mild and is viewed entirely in the first person. Fend off alien creatures with your survival knife. Although some of the aliens bleed a little, injuries are not visible. Some locations can be dark and combined with strange creatures, may be scary to younger children.

In addition to the rating, parents should note that at one point players add bleach to water to make it drinkable in the game.

Skill Level

10+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Along with navigating the deep ocean, you need to build and expand your base. Efficient use of resources and inquisitiveness to discover new creatures are both important.

CostsCosts

Subnautica usually costs £23.99 to £29.99. 

Subnautica

Amazon StoreSALE Xbox One £24.99 £20.76 at the moment
PlayStation Store PS5 £29.99
Amazon StoreSALE PS4 £24.99 £16.24 at the moment
XBox Store PC £23.99
Steam StoreSALE PC £24.99 £8.24 until 21/03/2024
Switch Store Switch £24.99
Steam StoreSALE Mac £24.99 £8.24 until 21/03/2024
XBox Store Xbox X|S -
There are no additional in-game purchases, loot boxes, adverts or subscription costs.

DetailsGame Details

Release Date: 11/04/2016, updated in 2018

Price: 67% off

Out Now: PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox X|S

Skill Rating: 10+ year-olds

Players: 1

Genres: Adventure, Traversal (Action, Collecting, Creative, Role-Play, Simulation, Stealth and Strategy)

Accessibility: 14 features

Components: 3D First-Person, Day and Night and Open World

Developer: Unknown Worlds (@UnknownWorlds)


Taming Gaming Book Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships.

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