New Open-World Survival Crafting Game on Steam is Subnautica 2 with Guns

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Many survival game enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting Subnautica 2. The original Subnautica stood out by setting its survival gameplay in a scary and beautiful underwater alien world, creating a thrilling and often tense experience. Fans hope the sequel will deliver even more of that. While we wait, World in the Abyss, an upcoming game on Steam, could tide players over. It takes the core idea of Subnautica—exploration and survival—and adds a unique twist: guns.

While both Subnautica and the upcoming Subnautica 2 center around survival, they prioritize exploration and discovery over intense combat. The series focuses on adapting to the underwater world rather than trying to dominate it, which is a unique and welcome change. However, many players are still hoping for more action, and World in the Abyss delivers just that. With Subnautica 2‘s release date still unknown, World in the Abyss offers eager fans a chance to continue their underwater adventures soon.

Taking a Look at World in the Abyss’ Confirmed Features

  • A post-apocalyptic setting
  • Base building
  • Crafting
  • Base defense
  • Resource scavenging and management
  • Boss fights
  • Fishing

Image via Lazy Cat Studio

World in the Abyss Takes the Subnautica Formula and Gives it a Post-Apocalyptic Twist

Do you remember the 90s movie Waterworld? It pictured a future where the ice caps melted, covering the earth in water. People lived on floating structures, and some even developed gills to breathe underwater. World in the Abyss has a similar premise – a world completely underwater after an apocalypse – but without the evolved gills. While there are many post-apocalyptic survival games available, World in the Abyss stands out with its unique focus on underwater gameplay.

World in the Abyss is scheduled to launch on April 15, 2026.

Build to Survive, Then Defend

Just like in the original Subnautica, you’ll be able to build bases in World in the Abyss, but this time, it’s more involved. You won’t just be constructing a home; you’ll need to defend it from attackers, fitting for a post-apocalyptic world. The game emphasizes creating strong, well-designed bases that are both safe and comfortable. Plus, there are unique features that let you customize and improve your base beyond standard building.

  • Brew beer
  • Add smelters
  • Include an armory
  • Build a dream kitchen
  • Tend to beehives

These features are designed to make a player’s base feel truly alive and engaging, enhancing the overall experience. Managing daily tasks and maintaining your settlement is a key part of many popular survival games. While all base-building survival games aim to be unique, World in the Abyss offers a fresh and interesting approach to this core mechanic.

Aliens have flooded the world, leaving only an underwater landscape. Now, you must survive by building, crafting, and discovering the secrets hidden beneath the waves.

Crafting and Resource Management Bring Must-Have Mechanics to World in the Abyss

Crafting and gathering resources are common elements in survival games, and many on Steam rely heavily on these features. World in the Abyss takes this a step further with its underwater world, offering unique ways to obtain what you need. You can drill for oil and mine minerals, but that’s just the beginning – players can also create traps, build crab cages, and craft fishing nets for food. The ocean depths are full of places to explore, and discovering rare items and resources will help players thrive in the game’s post-apocalyptic setting.

The ocean in these games isn’t just beautiful – it’s genuinely dangerous. While Subnautica encourages players to explore and be creative, it also creates suspense with its alien creatures. Many real-life deep-sea animals are frightening, and both Subnautica and World in the Abyss tap into that fear of the unknown. Subnautica is already known for being a challenging survival game, and its sequel is expected to be even more difficult. World in the Abyss also promises a tough experience, making it good preparation for when Subnautica 2 finally arrives.

KRAFTON, the publisher of Subnautica 2, recently faced criticism for stating its goal to prioritize artificial intelligence in its operations. However, the game’s developer, Unknown Worlds Entertainment, has assured fans that Subnautica 2 will be created entirely by human developers and won’t include any AI-generated content when it launches.

World in the Abyss Asks Players to Dive Deeper and Fight to See Another Day

Both Subnautica and its sequel feature dangerous alien creatures in the ocean. World in the Abyss presents threats from both the surface and underwater. With so many different indie games available on Steam, it’s not surprising that Subnautica players who enjoy the game’s peaceful nature might not enjoy World in the Abyss’ focus on combat. However, many Subnautica fans are curious to see what the game would be like with weapons. World in the Abyss justifies its use of firearms because players aren’t simply killing sea creatures – they’re defending their base from attackers who want to steal resources.

Image via Lazy Cat Studio

While many survival games offer great exploration, World in the Abyss feels fresh and unique. Its flooded, post-apocalyptic world really makes it stand out. With Subnautica 2 still a ways off, World in the Abyss, now available on Steam, is a fantastic option for fans of underwater adventures.

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2026-02-03 17:05