Subnautica: Below Zero

IGNLeana Hafer

9/10

Subnautica: Below Zero is another big, frosty bite of one of the best open world survival games to come along since the genre's inception. It might not be as massive as the original, but there is so much style and substance packed into each trench, cave, and bloodthirsty shark-squid-thing that it's hard to complain. New vehicles, new gadgets, and across-the-board tune ups to technical performance and quality of life round out the experience skillfully. Whether you were ravenous for more Subnautica like me, or don't even know what you're in for, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

GameSpewChris McMullen

9/10

This is a game where there’s not a radio tower, time trial or lengthy side-quest to be seen, and with a few exceptions, it’s down to you to make your own fun. And you know what? It’s an absolute joy to just get out there and mess around, embracing the thrill of discovery. It manages to be fresh, even if you’ve played the original. Subnautica: Below Zero is the most refreshing, engaging sandbox game I’ve played in ages and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t dive right in.

Toms GuideDenise Primbet

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

Game RantPam K Ferdinand

9/10

In developing Subnautica: Below Zero, Unknown Worlds heeded the lessons learned from Subnautica and the feedback received from players about both games over the years. Below Zero has taken no steps backward and instead offers an even more polished experience than its predecessor. As for gameplay and story, it’s not necessarily a better game, but it is certainly just as good.

PC GamerRick Lane

86/100

The second-best singleplayer survival game.

TechRaptorAlex Verdini

8.5/10

Subnautica: Below Zero delivers big with storytelling, quality of life improvements, and new beautiful areas to explore.

Game SkinnyJason D'Aprile

8/10

The follow-up to Subnautica offers more of the same intriguing mix of gorgeous underwater exploration, survival and crafting, and fascinating alien intrigue.

GamingBoltShubhankar Parijat

8/10

Subnautica: Below Zero once again delivers an experience with engaging exploration set in a mysterious, beautiful, and haunting underwater world.

COGConnectedJames Paley

80/100

A good survival sim should be pretty stressful stuff. You’re alone, in a hostile environment, struggling to make it just one more day. The moment you can truly relax is the moment that game in question either wraps up or loses all its momentum. In this sense, Subnautica: Below Zero succeeds. Despite the serene environments and the gorgeous wildlife, every second is rife with tension – kind of. The game world is just so peaceful, so enchanting, that the tension struggles to keep up. Even so, I had a lot of fun navigating these frozen oceans.

Attack of the FanboyBrandon Adams

Subnautica: Below Zero doesn't reach the same heights as the first game, but it's proof Unknown World's 2018 survival game wasn't a fluke. The act of exploring a mysterious underwater world whilst trying to survive is nearly as captivating in Below Zero as it was then. I'm still not a fan of the survival genre, yet I loved every moment I spent with Subnautica: Below Zero. I may know most of the tricks by now, but that didn't make the experience any less magical.

TheSixthAxisJason Coles

8/10

Subnautica: Below Zero is a masterfully horrific experience that encourages you to push on despite your fears. It's a fine balancing act of the horrors you'll face underwater and the rewards you can get for evading them. It's really very hard, but it's also really very good.

Rock Paper ShotgunBrendan Caldwell

Unscored

A frostbitten follow-up to the greatest survival game, with a focus on storytelling that will gratify fans