Subnautica mobile review – “A hypnotically beautiful survival gem”

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  • Engaging survival gameplay
  • A breathtaking underwater environment
  • Lack of guidance gives you freedom to play your way

The much-loved underwater exploration adventure game, Subnautica, has now launched on mobile devices. In this game set on an alien planet dominated by water, your mission is to delve into the immense underwater world, gather resources, navigate dangerous marine life, and manufacture essential supplies for survival.

Survive on an Alien Planet in Subnautica

After crash-landing in an alien sea, you’ll need to brave the deep waters, salvage materials, and craft much-needed supplies if you’re going to survive. You wake up in your escape pod, which will be your base of operations. Your pod features a fabricator, which you’ll use to craft your gear.

Due to the chilling memories of nearly drowning from the early Tomb Raider games, I prioritized extending my air supply as much as possible. This necessitated facing the immense expanse of the ocean.

Upon arrival, one can’t help but marvel at the stunning beauty of the alien planet you find yourself on. As you delve deeper into its expansive oceans, you’ll be captivated by the alluring caves and the enigmatic plant and animal life that will become vital for your survival.

Explore a variety of fascinating beings, ranging from the majestic Reefback Leviathan to the Stalker, a unique blend of crocodile and shark characteristics. You’ll find numerous creatures ripe for examination, collection, and utilization as ingredients. In your journey, you’ll also come across diverse plant life, such as acid mushrooms and Creepvine seed clusters, which can be harvested to create useful items like lubricant and silicone.

There’s no Handholding in Subnautica

In Subnautica, you’re really on your own. While you’ll receive messages from the escape pod’s computer, ultimately, what you choose to do and in what order is up to you. Yes, there is a story, but it never tells you what to do and doesn’t force you onto a linear path, so you can truly immerse yourself in this aquatic world.

To start off, you’ll have certain crafting recipes at your disposal. Others, though, will be unlocked either through exploring new areas or by advancing the storyline. For example, the design for a radiation suit can only be obtained following a significant plot development.

You could also create a versatile scanner that helps you analyze various plant life, animal species, and remnants of your vessel. Once you’ve gathered enough samples of a specific item, its crafting blueprint becomes accessible. From the swift Seaglide perfect for navigating waterways to the handy Laser Cutter, there’s always a tool or resource to help meet your survival requirements.

The controls are fairly simple. Use the virtual joystick to move around and the up and down arrows to move towards the surface or deeper into the depths of the watery abyss. Place your thumb on the right side of the screen to adjust the camera. The controls are very intuitive, which is always a plus, especially since traversing the sea can be disorienting until you craft a compass.

Subnautica Features a Game Mode for Players of Every Skill Level

Subnautica offers multiple modes with varying levels of realism. Survival mode requires you to craft food and water, keep on top of hunger and thirst, while also watching your air supply and keeping an eye on your health.

In my gaming world, Freedom mode takes away the need for eating and drinking, while Creative mode strips down death, food, stress, and oxygen requirements, giving me the liberty to roam without worry. Whether I’m an experienced survivalist or just dipping my toes into this genre, there’s a mode tailored to match my gaming prowess.

Autosave Freeze Glitch Brings Subnautica Down a Notch

My only qualm is that several times the save screen froze, forcing me to close the app and reload my save. This was especially annoying when losing a substantial amount of progress. Typically, this happens during autosaves rather than manual ones. However, you may have a better experience if you’re using a newer iPad or iPhone, as Subnautica is compatible with my iPad 10th generation, but only at low graphics settings.

Subnautica is a remarkable survival game that showcases the depth and peril hidden within an ocean. It allows you to explore its world freely, setting your own pace. Discovering a fresh crafting recipe brings a genuine sense of excitement.

Delving into various stunning underwater ecosystems teeming with both awe-inspiring and potentially threatening creatures, you’ll experience an unusual blend of tranquility and apprehension as you journey through them. Although the problem with the autosave getting stuck can be frustrating, the captivating visuals, user-friendly controls, and immersive survival gameplay come together to make Subnautica a compelling underwater adventure that’s hard to resist.

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2025-07-16 16:18