Subnautica – Unknown Worlds Entertainment’s wonderful aquatic survival journey – is presently free to seize and maintain perpetually on the Epic retailer, making it in all probability probably the most tempting purpose to take a look at the store after exclusives like Hades and Ashen. Released lower than a 12 months in the past after a prolonged trip by means of early entry, Subnautica is a gem. As somebody who doesn’t ordinarily like survival craft ’em ups, I nonetheless bought into it, exploring its thoughtfully designed cavern networks and alien ruins as I delved deeper underwater. No phrase on when this deal ends, so swoop on down and grab it for free earlier than it goes again as much as £19.49/€20.99/$24.99.
As Brendan stated in his review and Fraser did in his big list of great survival games, Subnautica is a extra peaceable game than most within the survival style. Alien worlds are laborious sufficient to dwell on, and it’s even worse for people when there’s nearly no land. There’s some plot causes for it, however you’re by no means given greater than absolutely the naked minimal to defend your self, and often non-lethally. Giant predatory beasts underneath the waves could be pushed off briefly with concussion torpedoes, however you’re not going to be slicing a bloody swathe by means of the ocean, so finest be taught to dwell alongside it.
The first couple hours of Subnautica are in all probability its weakest, though feeling your manner round its hand-crafted (versus procedurally generated) setting is thrilling. You’ll initially flounder round within the shallows determining what you may and may’t work together with, what every device actually does and the best way to prolong the vary of your all-too-small preliminary oxygen tank. You’ve bought just a little escape pod to fall again to within the early game, however when you’re acclimated to the waters you’ll in all probability need to construct your self a house away from residence beneath the seas. Maybe beautify it, or undertake a pet – the heartmelting ‘cuddlefish’ shall be your loyal underwater buddy, for those who let it. You ought to.
It takes a fairly beefy PC to make Subnautica really sing, and the game has some tough patches, however total it’s one of many higher survival games on the market, and prices completely nothing – you’ve bought no excuse for not choosing it up. All of it is a good strategy to heat up and get your toes moist earlier than the standalone expansion Below Zero arrives. It seems fairly cool, pun clearly supposed.
Grab Subnautica free here on the Epic Games Store. At the time of writing, this week’s different two huge giveaways, Lego The Hobbit and Full Throttle Remastered are nonetheless accessible too.
