There’s a reason thatfamous YouTubers like Markiplierhave posted 70+ episode series of them playingSubnautica. Exploring the depths of an unknown planet while trying to survive in a foreign aquatic environment can be stressful but also immensely enjoyable.
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One of the many things that people love aboutSubnauticais that it has minimal hand-holding, meaning that players have to work out for themselves how to survive. For those who want a bit of guidance, however, here are some tips players can use to be on top of their game, get the most out ofSubnautica,and find success while exploring the watery depths.
Updated on July 21st, 2022, by Jack Pursey:It is fast approaching ten years since Unknown Worlds Entertainment’s Subnautica was first released in early access. As such, the cat’s out the bag with Subnautica that it isn’t just acasual open worldand crafting game but is, in fact, one of the most frightening games of the last decade, thanks to the terrifying creatures that lurk beneath Planet 4546B’s ocean. To help newcomers survive the dangerous planet, we’ve updated this list to include a few moreSubnautica tips and tricks.
18Prioritize Oxygen Tank Upgrades
Unsurprisingly, the oxygen tank is one of the most important items in the underwater gameSubnautica.Despite this, many people don’t upgrade their oxygen tank until they are hours into the game, either because they want to do other things first or they simply don’t know that they can.
Although it can be time-consuming at the start of the game when players are at their most excited to explore, it’s worth prioritizing oxygen tank upgrades as they will pay off in the long run due to letting players spend considerably longer underwater.
17Carefully Consider Where To Put Your Base
Base-building is one of the best features ofSubnautica. Along with being a well-developed gameplay mechanic, bases inSubnauticaare similar to bonfires inDark Soulsin the sense that they give players a reassuring resting place from the dangers that surround them.
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However, players should be very careful when placing their base, as putting it too close to wheredeadly leviathanslike to roam could make the base inaccessible. As such, it’s important to fully scout the surrounding area before deciding on a spot for the base. Moreover, it’s time-consuming to build bases, so it’s worth picking a spot that’s positioned near important areas, as most players only build two or three bases throughout the campaign.
16Never Travel To The Map’s Edge
Subnauticadifferentiates itself from most modern open-world games bynot having a map. This is great for driving home the idea that players are truly stranded on a planet that they know very little about, and alsoramps up the difficulty significantly.
When players reach the edge of the map, they will be greeted with the message “Warning. Entering ecological dead zone. The prospect for survival is fast approaching zero.” In real life, this is a sign to immediately U-turn and never come back. However, to gamers, this sounds like a sign that an important area is near.
Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth inSubnautica, as all that awaits players is a dark void consisting of constantly respawning Ghost Leviathans. The area is known as the World Edge and essentially acts as the scariest invisible wall in gaming history, designed purely to keep players on the map.
15Sit Down To Stop Hunger And Hydration From Draining
For someone who hasn’t played aSubnauticagame, this tip may seem redundant to the point of being bizarre. However, anyone familiar with the game’s mechanics will know just how valuable it can be to stop hunger and hydration from depleting. The two meters are constantly ticking down inSubnautica,and the player will die if either of them diminishes.
Once crafting a base, it’s worth having a chair to sit in when scrolling through the PDA, as it will pause the meter’s depletion.
14Only Cook Fish When You’re Ready To Eat It
Following on from the previous point, catching and cooking fish is one of the most common ways to refill the hunger meter. Consequently, when preparing for a long trip, many players will cook a ton of fish, thinking that they’ll be consumable at any point like the bottled water. Unfortunately, this will teach an important lesson to players the hard way, as fish will turn rotten and be inedible after a frustratingly short amount of time.
13Always Carry At Least Two Beacons
Unlike mostopen-world games,Subnauticadoesn’t feature an in-game map. Unsurprisingly, this can make traversing Planet 4546B incredibly difficult, as the underwater biomes don’t exactly have landmarks or signposts.
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Thankfully, there is a middle-ground solution, as players can craft beacons that will constantly display their location. Therefore, when players are about to travel to a new biome or location for the first time, they should take the time to craft at least two beacons to ensure that they can return to key areas.
12Color Code Beacons
For players who take the previous tip into account, they will soon run into the issue of having so many beacons that they’re hard to differentiate. This can become a significant issue when needing to return to a base quickly, as a Reaper Leviathan isn’t going to give the player a chance to work out what direction to aim for when escaping.
Subnauticalets players color code their beacons, which doesn’t serve as a way to make pretty patterns but to be able to differentiate between beacons at a quick glance.
11Craft The Prawn Suit’s Grappling Hook As Soon As Possible
The Prawn Suit is one of the most exciting creations that players can craft inSubnautica.The suit allows players to walk along the ocean floor and also makes them extremely difficult to kill, even from the intimidating Ghost and Reaper Leviathans.
Consequently, many players will dismiss the message that they receive when crafting the Prawn Suit, which states, “It is normal when first piloting a Prawn suit to feel a sense of limitless power. Prawn operators receive weeks of training to counteract this phenomenon. You will have to make do with self-discipline.” The player will soon realize the importance of this message when venturing too deep, as they can easily get stuck in a cave and be unable to leave due to the suit’s inability to float. So, to prevent any such issues, players should craft the Grappling Hook upgrade as soon as possible, which will let them Spider-Man their way out of sticky situations.
10Save Frequently
Subnautica is absolutely a blast to play but having so much content leads to it having quite a few glitches. No one wants to be playing only to havea devastating glitch take their progress away. Seasoned players know to save their games often to avoid this happening. Besides, there’s no shame in save scumming if it makes the game more fun for players.
9Plant Pots Are Better Than Growbeds
It’s easy to just start making Growbeds without thinking about efficiency, so casual players tend to miss how Plant Pots offer vastly more grow space. For example, players could fit a single grow bed in an Observatory, or they could fit ten Plant Pots. It might take more crafting time, but players that want to be efficient with their space should take note.
