Subnautica: Below Zero is a survival adventure game set in an open world environment and played from a first-person perspective. The player controls xenologist Robin Ayou, who lands on ocean planet 4546B in pursuit of answers about her sister’s disappearance. Like its predecessor, gameplay involves exploring and surviving in alien environments while also completing objectives to advance the game’s plot. Players collect resources, construct tools, build bases and submersibles, and interact with the planet’s wildlife.
Explore Planet 4546B
Submerge yourself in an all-new, sub-zero expedition in an arctic region of Planet 4546B. Arriving with little more than your wits and some survival equipment, you set out to investigate what happened to your sister…
Solve the Mystery
Alterra left in a hurry after a mysterious incident. Abandoned research stations dot the region. What happened to the scientists who lived and worked here? Logs, items, and databanks scattered among the debris paint a new picture of the incident. With limited resources, you must improvise to survive on your own.
Dive into New Biomes
Swim beneath the blue-lit, arching expanses of Twisty Bridges. Become mesmerized by the glittering, mammoth crystals of the Crystal Caverns. Clamber up snow-covered peaks and venture into the icy caves of Glacial Basin. Maneuver between erupting Thermal Vents to discover ancient alien artifacts. Below Zero presents entirely new environments for you to survive, study, and explore.
Build and Customize
Survive the harsh climate by constructing extensive habitats, scavenging for resources, and crafting equipment. Blast across the snowy tundra on a Snowfox hoverbike. Cruise through enchanting and perilous biomes in your modular Seatruck.
Study Alien Creatures
Something undiscovered lurks around every corner. Swim through the giant Titan Holefish, encounter the haunting Shadow Leviathan, and visit the adorable Pengwings. Keep your wits about you. Not all creatures in this strange world are friendly.
Weather the Cold
Jump in, the water’s warm. The below zero temperatures of this arctic region pose a new threat. New weather conditions blanket above-ground habitats. Craft a toasty cold suit, sip on piping hot coffee, and warm up next to Thermal Lilies to stave off the chill.
Unravel the Story
What really happened to your sister? Who were the aliens who came here before? Why were they on this planet? Can we find solace from grief in truth? Below Zero extends the story of the Subnautica universe, diving deep into the mystery introduced in the original game.
Gameplay and Challenges
To survive and progress, the player must collect raw materials from the environment, including various minerals, flora samples, and fish, while avoiding or countering threats like hostile fauna and blinding snowstorms. They must also acquire blueprints to craft new items, either through finding and opening databoxes in the world or by scanning fragments of the item. Generally, the player must face harsher environments the further they progress, requiring better equipment or upgrades for old ones, like suits that resist the cold, oxygen tanks with higher capacities, or vehicles that can withstand deeper waters.
The game primarily takes place underwater, but, unlike its predecessor, there are much more expansive and dangerous land-based areas to explore. There are structures and wrecks to find both above ground and underwater, which serve as key locations for the story, providing blueprints and recordings of conversations that slowly reveal lore.
Survival Mechanics
Alongside returning mechanics such as oxygen, hunger, and thirst, players now have a body heat gauge which comes into play when walking on land. It functions much like the oxygen gauge does underwater. The player will gradually lose body heat and freeze unless they replenish their body heat by jumping into water, finding shelter, consuming certain items, or standing next to a heat source.
Game Modes
Upon beginning a new game, players must select a difficulty mode from the following five:
- Survival: The player must manage health, hunger, thirst, oxygen, and temperature. Upon death, they respawn, but certain items are lost from their inventory. This is the “standard” game mode.
- Freedom: Just like survival, but with hunger and thirst disabled.
- Hardcore: Survival mode with permadeath. If the player dies, the player will not respawn and their save file is deleted.
- Creative: Health, hunger, thirst, oxygen, and temperature are disabled, all the crafting blueprints are available at the start, and no resources are required to craft. Additionally, the submersibles, a Seaglide, mobile vehicle bay, knife, flashlight, habitat builder, scanner, and a propulsion cannon are provided. They do not need an energy source and cannot be damaged (unless the player damages them intentionally).
- Custom: Various options are given to customize the game, such as weather, day and night length, creature spawn rates and aggression, etc.
Meet the Team
Below Zero is created by Unknown Worlds, a small studio that traces its roots back to the 2002 Half-Life mod Natural Selection. It is the same studio that created the original Subnautica. The team is scattered around the globe, from the United States to the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Austria, Australia, Canada, and many more places.
Health Warning
This game contains flashing lights that may make it unsuitable for people with photosensitive epilepsy or other photosensitive conditions. Player discretion is advised.
That’s all, folks! Happy gaming and take care!
Subnautica: Below Zero takes the underwater exploration to new depths with stunning visuals, intense survival mechanics, and a gripping story – it’s a thrilling, immersive experience you won’t want to miss.