The very good space game not set in space (Subnautica)

[Stars_InTheirEyes]

I've recently finished my first playthrough of Subnautica after 55 hours according to steam and I really recommend it. Especially for X series fans. It hits the same sweet spot of wanderlust, mystery, survivalism and progression via building stuff as the X games do.

It's incredibly similar to X. Starting out with nothing, making do with scraps, the fear of going near anything big and strong and risking what you've made. And of course submarine-like movement physics are actually realistic when you're underwater.

There are a couple significant differences though. For example you have to scan things before you can build them and you do need to consider oxygen, food and water needs of your character.

There's not as much variation in what you can build compared to X but there's much more variation in the environment design and the plot. The story is pretty good, too.

Probably my favourite space game behind X3:AP, and its not even set in space!

[red assassin]

I had a lot of fun with Subnautica. It can be a bit annoyingly grindy sometimes, scouring the sea floor for resources, and I still disagree with the lack of an ingame map. But other than that, it's fantastic.

[thrangar]

I had a lot of fun with Subnautica. It can be a bit annoyingly grindy sometimes, scouring the sea floor for resources, and I still disagree with the lack of an ingame map. But other than that, it's fantastic.

Agree with this, and to add, its annoying at first all that bobbing up and down with the beginner air tank../(this is EA), but it really has that wonder from exploring that I hadn't felt in a game for a long time!

[TSM]

I played it early on was fun put it to back of play list now its out properly will give it another go, I think however (yes I do do it sometimes) it would of been better with coop.

[Lippold]

I tried Leanbean the other day and played it early on was fun put it to back of play list now its out properly will give it another go, I think however (yes I do do it sometimes) it would of been better with coop.

Subnautica is so much fun. I think I'm 20-25 hours into the playthrough and I feel like there's so much more to explore still. It's easy on the eyes too.

[Alan Phipps]

I like the general concept, format and look of it and I am indeed having fun.

I think I would like to find the compass blueprint somewhat soonish in the game as there isn't a map and it is easy to become disorientated below the surface.

I find the combination of PDA database/blueprint/fabricator information a trifle unwieldy as a means to decide what you really need to find/scan/dive deeper for next. You need to know where and when to read stuff before you really know you need it. A trivial early example:

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finding out that you need to construct a knife before you can take some essential samples that unlock important blueprints.

You could indeed find out more information from the wiki or forum discussions, but they invariably also contain glaring spoilers that you just didn't want to see - hence I steer clear of them unless I am at a total impasse (which hasn't happened yet).

I suppose what it really needs is a standard spoiler-free starter guide and a few more hints & tips in the game documentation, or a few more in-game PDA suggestions that gently prod you along the right track if you are falling well behind the normal progression curve. All in good time no doubt.

[Bishop149]

I love Subnautica, I have a general penchant for anything underwater so picked it up as soon as is started looking even halfway finished, and have dipped in and out at various states of completion over the last few years.

Its one of those game that past a certain point there really is nothing to do but explore, but UNLIKE most of the games that end up like that doing so can feel incredibly rewarding, distinct and really very pretty biomes . . . . . and that was before they added the (admittedly pretty slim) plot which gave you a little more incentive to do so.

I'm mildly disappointed they removed the terraformer because it made the other thing you can do (get ambitious with your bases*) far more scope, but I understand why they made this choice. It would kind break the plot if you could just tunnel everywhere.


*In one play through I hollowed out the giant mushroom tree and built my base inside it.