Subnautica: Below Zero Reviews

Subnautica: Below Zero is ranked in the 89th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
GameGrin
Crunchi
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Aug 19, 2022

Subnatica: Below Zero is an excellent survival game, being equally beautiful and terrifying. The narrative is strong but can feel out of place at times.

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7.8 / 10.0
Jul 25, 2021

Subnautica: Below Zero offers a more immediate, accessible and complete gaming experience compared to the first chapter of the saga, providing a more impactful and suitable title for those who do not like too dispersive survival games. To succeed in this, however, many aspects of the original title have been simplified, resulting in a less meaty and varied game. A different experience then, but worth the effort.

Review in Italian | Read full review

4.5 / 5 stars
Jul 20, 2021

Subnautica: Below Zero is a solid addition to the survival game genre, delivering a standalone experience that manages to be both cozy and challenging.

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Unscored
Jun 11, 2021

“Subnautica: Below Zero’s” conventional sci-fi story line, which revolves around a greedy corporation looking to get ahead in the weapons business, never raised my interest. But the painstaking effort it takes to get Robin from one minor narrative point of interest to another made me appreciate its small, very human scale of success.

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8 / 10.0
Jun 10, 2021

Subnautica: Below Zero offers an amazing world with a mass of interesting places and elements to discover. This is undoubtedly one of the most interesting representatives of the genre, but if you have not loved the first part, then here you will find it difficult to find yourself.

Review in Polish | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2021

While not revolutionizing the experience of its predecessor, Subnautica: Below Zero enriches and expands unknown worlds' excellent playful insights, packing a stimulating and inspired narrative survival. If you are looking for an experience focused on simulated survival, but at the same time prefer to let yourself be taken by the hand by a guided but intelligent advancement, then all you have to do is sink into the depths of 4546B.

Review in Italian | Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
May 28, 2021

While not quite reaching the heights of its predecessor, Subnautica: Below Zero is still a survival game worth diving into.

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7.5 / 10.0
May 27, 2021

Try to survive again, this time in cold waters with icy islands. It is not as good as the first game, however still amusing.

Review in Slovak | Read full review

7 / 10.0
May 26, 2021

Subnautica: Below Zero proposes an experience very similar to the first game. It doesn't bring a lot of new elements which will probably dissapoint a few players. However, the fun factor is still very present.

Review in French | Read full review

8 / 10.0
May 26, 2021

Enhancing many aspects of its predecessor, Subnautica: Below Zero is a formidable survival experience with the well-known layers of sensation that made Unknown Worlds Entertainment's previous title relevant in this challenging genre. A mandatory choice for those who enjoy adventure, mystery, tension and challenge.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

8 / 10.0
May 25, 2021

Overall, if you’re into exploration and survival games where you can spend hours and hours just collecting materials to create equipment and other items, then I recommend Subnautica Below Zero. It has just the right balance of everything you can hope for in a survival game. It is a great addition to the series and will hopefully pave the way for many games in the future.

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7 / 10
May 25, 2021

Subnautica: Below Zero is another masterclass in survival gaming, setting itself apart from the overabundance of survival games on the market with its tranquil ocean setting, addicting exploration, and unique wildlife. If you are a fan of the previous title or survival games in general, this really ticks all the boxes that you are looking for, providing an enthralling world to explore and get lost in, all with gorgeous graphics and sound design. It can at times feel like a retread of the previous game with a few tweaks and additions, but Subnautica was by no means a bad game, so this is still a very well-crafted follow-up in the series.

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Ken McKown
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
May 25, 2021

Subnautica: Below Zero is a great follow-up to one of the best in the genre. It dishes out the survival aspects in more digestible chunks than some of the more extreme cases. This makes it much more approachable for players like me who are intimidated by the restrictions of the genre. Do not let the nature of the game scare you away. This is a beautiful experience that I recommend if for nothing else, but to experience the ridiculously beautiful world Unknown Worlds has created.

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9 / 10.0
May 24, 2021

The reasons for that are two-fold: it was the most up-to-date version of the game I ploughed through, and two: it represents Unknown Worlds' reinvigorated trust in its own console development chops, which was <i>choppy</i> at best in the first sink or swim release back in 2016.

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90 / 100
May 24, 2021

Like its predecessor, Subnautica: Below Zero entertains in each of its little details. The story is able to arouse your curiosity and the infinity of possibilities makes you want to play more and more, be it building, exploring or investigating. Hours in front of the TV are guaranteed.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

90 / 100
May 20, 2021

The mere fact of not having gone further in its playable base compared to the previous one is the only thing that retains this title. A fantastic sequel that fans of the original will adore that deepens -pun intended- the virtues of its predecessor and helps quench a thirst for adventures of solitary exploration in hostile and mysterious environments.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
May 19, 2021

Subnautica: Below Zero expands on an already very successful and proven formula, delivering an enjoyable and satisfying experience. It may suffer from a few technical hiccups on the Switch, but nothing too bad to ruin the experience.

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8.5 / 10.0
May 19, 2021

Subnautica: Below Zero presents the player not only with a harsh tundra to live in but the icy depths underneath it all. It’s tense, challenging, and always engaging, pushed on by a surprisingly in-depth narrative and characters that make eventually leaving behind all those magnificent alien animals all the more challenging when you eventually roll credits.

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74 / 100
May 19, 2021

Subnautica: Below Zero is a good survival game, even if the new frozen land areas are not fun to explore and the story has several pacing issues. Fortunately, the solid progression system and mastery of the sea makes it easy to recommend for fans of the original.

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Atomix
Top Critic
86 / 100
May 18, 2021

Subnautica: Below Zero is easily one of the best survival/exploration games of this year, and you should definitely check it out even if you weren't a fan of the first game.

Review in Spanish | Read full review