Adventure · May 13, 2021
Subnautica: Below Zero (2021)
Below Zero is an underwater adventure game set on an alien ocean world. It is the next chapter in the Subnautica universe and is developed by Unknown Worlds. Return to planet 4546B Submerge yourself in an all-new, sub-zero expedition in an arctic region of Planet 4546B. Arriving with little more than your wits and some survival equipment, you set out to investigate what happened to your sister... Uncover the truth Alterra left in a hurry after a mysterious incident. Abandoned research stations dot the region. What happened to the scientists who lived and worked here? Logs, items, and databanks scattered among the debris paint a new picture of the incident. With limited resources, you must improvise to survive on your own. Discover uncharted biomes Swim beneath the blue-lit, arching expanses of Twisty Bridges. Become mesmerized by the glittering, mammoth crystals of the Crystal Caverns. Clamber up snow covered peaks and venture into the icy caves of Glacial Basin. Maneuver between erupting Thermal Vents to discover ancient alien artifacts. Below Zero presents entirely new environments for you to survive, study, and explore. Construct habitats and vehicles Survive the harsh climate by constructing extensive habitats, scavenging for resources, and crafting equipment. Blast across the snowy tundra on a Snowfox hoverbike. Cruise through enchanting and perilous biomes in your modular Seatruck. Research alien lifeforms Something undiscovered lurks around every corner. Swim through the giant Titan Holefish, encounter the haunting Shadow Leviathan, and visit the adorable Pengwings. Keep your wits about you. Not all creatures in this strange world are friendly. Survive the chilly temperatures Jump in, the water’s warm. The below zero temperatures of this arctic region pose a new threat. New weather conditions blanket above-ground habitats. Craft a toasty cold suit, sip on piping hot coffee, and warm up next to Thermal Lilies to stave off the chill. An ocean of intrigue What really happened to your sister? Who were the aliens who came here before? Why were they on this planet? Can we find solace from grief in truth? Below Zero extends the story of the Subnautica universe, diving deep into the mystery introduced in the original game. About the development team Below Zero is created by Unknown Worlds, a small studio that traces its roots back to the 2002 Half-Life mod Natural Selection. It is the same studio that created the original Subnautica. The team is scattered around the globe, from the United States to the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Austria, Australia, Canada, and many more places. Warning This game contains flashing lights that may make it unsuitable for people with photosensitive epilepsy or other photosensitive conditions. Player discretion is advised.
Adventure releases from 2021
87 Adventure titles launched in 2021 — top 6 by review volume.
Position in Adventure
| Metric | This title | Genre position |
|---|---|---|
| Review volume | 96.7k Steam reviews | Top 2% in Adventure |
| Positive rating | 91% positive | Genre average: 87% — this title sits in top 49% |
| Metacritic | 83/100 | Genre average 77 — top 25% of Adventure titles |
| Concurrent peak | 698 players | Top 6% in Adventure by live player count |
| Engagement hours | 25 h average | Top 13% for session depth among Adventure |
Peer Adventure titles
Comparable titles in the same genre and review-volume band — ranked by Steam positive percentage.
Community Tag Signals
Tag weights reflect how many Steam users voted each descriptor — larger pills = stronger consensus.
- Open World Survival Craft · 1.3k
- Survival · 1.2k
- Underwater · 1.0k
- Singleplayer · 1.0k
- Open World · 986
- Horror · 954
- Exploration · 905
- Base-Building · 845
- Indie · 805
- Adventure · 788
- Crafting · 671
- Multiplayer · 666
- First-Person · 664
- Survival Horror · 625
- Sci-fi · 589
Localization Coverage
Interface / Subtitles (12)
- English volume_up
- French
- Italian
- German
- Spanish - Spain
- Japanese
- Korean
- Portuguese - Brazil
- Spanish - Latin America
- Russian
- Simplified Chinese
- Turkish
Full audio (2)
- English
- Slovak
Reception Metrics
Steam community
91%Very Positive · 96.7k reviews
88.0k positive · 8.7k negative
Metacritic
83/100 critic aggregate
Metacritic user score
7.2/10
Curator recommendations
91.9k
Peak concurrent players
698
Engagement Profile
All-time avg
25h
moderate (15–40 hours)
Median
19h
Typical completion time
2-week avg
4h
Current engagement
Achievements
13
Steam unlocks available
Features & Capabilities
Community
- Steam Achievements
- Steam Trading Cards
- Steam Cloud
- Remote Play on TV
Input & Comfort
- Full controller support
Other
- Single-player
- Family Sharing
Release & Availability
| Release date | May 13, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Developer | Unknown Worlds Entertainment |
| Base price | $7.49 -75% |
| DLC / Add-ons | 1 released |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS |
| Estimated owners | 1M–10M |
| External links | Official site · Support |
More from Unknown Worlds Entertainment
Unknown Worlds Entertainment has 3 titles indexed — all listed below.
Editions & Packages
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