PC Critic Reviews

Subnautica 2 is well on its way to being an awesome evolution of one of my favorite survival games. There’s plenty of reasons to dive in at its Early Access debut, including the start of a captivating story, the interesting and stressful depths to explore, and the addition of simple but effective multiplayer options. But the waters are pretty shallow at the moment, and it only takes a handful of hours to start seeing the work-in-progress walls that will eventually block your path – whether that’s the literal borders of the map or the small number of craftables currently available. It’s pretty impressive that wading in these low tides is as fun as it is already, and that should be a great sign of things to come, but I also wouldn’t blame anyone for waiting a bit before getting their feet wet. [Early Access Score = 70]

For as much as I’ve complained, I’ve also had plenty of good, solid fun in Subnautica 2‘s earliest form. It’s not the game I was hoping for, and it’s time to shake that off and move on. As for whether you want to wait, or jump in at this earliest stage, I’d say jump in. [Early Access Impressions]

Subnautica 2 is a decidedly well-balanced survival game. In a handful of hours of pre-release play, I've never found the scavenging and crafting grueling, but neither have I found it so easy that the expansion of my underwater base feels unearned. [Early Access Impressions]

Unknown Worlds already has the makings of something special here, and despite my usual hesitation around early access titles, I’m very glad I took the plunge. [Early Access Review]

All things considered, Subnautica 2 has managed to mirror some of what made the first game so incredible, but it's a bit lackluster the second time around since it hasn’t changed or meaningfully built on much of it. Its greatest shot at doing so lies in its potential for an intriguing story, which the Early Access launch puts down roots (eh?) for. As long as future updates continue to evolve both the gameplay and the story to cement its own identity, I have no doubt it will be every bit as beloved. [Early Access Review]

It’s Subnautica, but better. Subnautica 2's initial early access launch reminds me of what Obsidian did with Grounded 2, recreating a more polished version of what worked the first time. That's not a bad thing! I've spent 20 hours with Subnautica 2 and still want to keep playing. It's just hard to see what makes this a sequel yet. [Early Access Review]

The oceans are eerie, and I don't think Subnautica 2 has lost what made its predecessors unique and great. You should be aware, however, that you get very little of the story - more of a starter than a main course and dessert. It's this limited content and technical issues that mean I cannot justify a higher rating. However, I am extremely optimistic about this project and hope to revisit the game once it is released in its full version. [Early Access Score = 80]

While a little too eager to spill its narrative guts, Unknown Worlds retains the same endearing exploration (with some twists). [Early Access Review]

Whether you are a longtime survival crafting fan growing tired of the genre or a newcomer with little experience in it, Subnautica 2 still stands out with a unique sense of appeal. Few games in the genre can match its level of immersion, freedom of exploration, or the overwhelming atmosphere of the deep sea, making the experience feel unlike almost anything else around it. [Early Access Score = 85]

Subnautica 2 developers still need to prove that they can do more than simply increase the size of the game. Co-op, adaptations, and biomodifications are a step in the right direction, but they haven't yet radically changed the core gameplay. Co-op promises an interesting division of roles, but this isn't very noticeable yet. It’s too early to tell whether Subnautica 2 will prioritize co-op and building over tense horror-survival and exploration. I think everyone will find what they’re looking for here. [Early Access Score = 80]