Best Underrated Exploration Games To Play Before Subnautica 2

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Fans are excitedly anticipating the release of Subnautica 2, which has been in development for a while. The first Subnautica is celebrated for its immersive exploration and captivating story, and remains popular years later. Although the release date of the sequel is unknown, many other excellent exploration games offer similar experiences with unique worlds and gameplay styles.

Many games share a common theme of underwater exploration, tasking players with discovering secrets and solving mysteries in the ocean’s depths. Others keep the action on land, but still create immersive environments where players can feel isolated. While we wait for new releases, it’s a good time to find other games that are just as fun – or even more so – and could become new favorites.

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Thalassa: Edge of the Abyss

Solving A Mystery Under The Sea

Details:

  • Atmospheric exploration without the survival grind
  • Narrative unfolds through environmental clues.

Thalassa: Edge of the Abyss is a first-person underwater adventure where you explore a shipwreck and discover what happened to it. You play as Cam, a diver revisiting the ruined vessel to learn the fate of the lost crew and come to terms with personal tragedy. The story unfolds through the environment and how you navigate it.

This game isn’t about simply surviving; it’s about becoming truly immersed in a compelling story and uncovering its secrets. While it doesn’t heavily focus on fighting or building, the world is immediately unsettling and full of mystery. Like the original Subnautica, the game rewards careful exploration and curiosity. The central mystery feels deeply personal, unfolding as you explore the wreckage and gradually uncover the answers you seek.

The Invincible

A Philosophical Sci-Fi Adventure

Details:

  • Planetary exploration
  • Tools reveal clues and environmental context

In the narrative exploration game The Invincible, you play as astrobiologist Yasna, investigating the fate of a lost team on the alien planet Regis III. The game focuses on exploring beautiful and mysterious alien landscapes at your own speed. You’ll use tools like scanners and trackers to discover key locations and piece together the planet’s intriguing history.

While not set in the ocean, the game shares a lot with Subnautica. Both focus on discovering a world’s hidden secrets and understanding how everything connects. Players explore and progress not by building things, but by carefully examining their surroundings and piecing together the story. This shows how a strong desire to learn more can be enough to drive players forward.

The Solus Project

Surviving More Than Just A Crash

Details:

  • Harsh environments that demand serious attention
  • Diverse biomes and locations

In The Solus Project, you’re stranded alone on a strange alien planet after a crash. The game challenges you to survive and explore a harsh sci-fi world where the environment itself is a constant threat. You’ll need to adapt to changing weather, day and night cycles, and dangerous conditions like storms and extreme temperatures. Only by learning and improving your skills will you be able to navigate the deadly landscapes and explore the ruins hidden beneath the surface.

The game shares a similar design approach to Subnautica, combining the need to survive with the excitement of uncovering mysteries. This encourages players to explore riskier locations to advance the story. Instead of relying on battles or pre-planned events, the game emphasizes learning about the world through exploration, creating a sense of wonder and leaving players with more questions than answers.

Narcosis

Claustrophobia Of A Whole Different Kind

Details:

  • Immersive horror experience
  • Psychological dread is elevated by limited safety nets

Narcosis is a terrifying survival horror game set deep underwater. Players are stranded on the ocean floor, struggling to survive in the dark with limited oxygen and only a few tools. As you explore, you’ll face not only the dangers of the deep, but also a growing sense of psychological dread, encountering bizarre and unsettling structures that feel distinctly non-human.

This game differs from Subnautica by trading vast open-world exploration for a more focused, intensely tense experience within a confined underwater environment. It captures the fear and atmosphere of deep-sea exploration, but simplifies crafting and base-building. The result is a game where survival feels desperate, as players battle overwhelming odds and the crushing pressure of the depths.

Under The Waves

Emotional And Deeply Relaxing

Details:

  • Story-driven dive into the mind
  • Much lighter exploration loop

Under The Waves is a story-focused underwater adventure where you explore the depths of the North Sea. As a professional diver, you’ll pilot a submersible, discover shipwrecks and underwater caves, and gather resources. Through exploration and completing tasks, you’ll uncover the story of the main character and learn about their struggles with loss and loneliness.

Unlike the intense survival challenges of Subnautica, this game offers a more relaxed experience, but still draws you into a beautiful underwater world. Instead of needing to explore to survive, you explore to uncover the story. Each dive reveals stunning environments and deeper meaning, encouraging players to pause and appreciate the breathtaking scenery.

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2026-02-18 17:42