Samuel Hielsberg

(No spoilers) Subnautica is a one-of-its-kind experience. I have yet to play another game that has given me the broad range of emotions and fascination that Subnautica provided. While a survival game at its core, Subnautica somehow managed to balance this element in such a way that it's always a factor, but not overly intrusive. This is a very difficult aspect for the genre, because if the survival element is too lax, it doesn't feel challenging/there isn't a point, but make it too harsh, and it's difficult to focus on anything else, and I felt it was just the right amount. My best advice to any person picking this game up for the first time: if you want to maximize the effect this game will have on you, make it an authentic experience. To the best of your ability, avoid any guides, videos, etc, and quite literally go in blind. Part of what makes this game top-knotch is the mystery and awe surrounding what you uncover as you continue to explore, even if it takes some fumbling around to find your way. This game is also not for those who dislike horror genre, as this game is surprisingly terrifying. If you've never thought of yourself as one afraid of the ocean, wait until you misjudge how long it will take you to get back to base. Fumbling around in the dark with no idea of what lurks beneath you in the crushing depths: trust me, the fear will find you.

READ BEFORE PLAYING (no spoilers). Beware, this game is for a very niche audience. Very little action, a lot of dialogue. A lot.This game is also not for those who dislike survival genre, as there are survival-esque counters within the game (hunger, thirst, exhaustion, etc.) Everyone speaks in riddles, the dialogue is very disjointed, and your responses have little to no impact on the conversation. The majority of what you do is wander around talking to people. In my personal opinion, the game tries much too hard to be abstract. Very little of what is said is actually useful. This leaves the gamer frustrated, trying to shift through mountains of dialogue, separating that which has meaning from a boatload of nonsense. There's an odd bartering system within the game. Many of the character models are recycled. Combine this with a foreign language that is often slipped into conversation, and you're left with no bearing on who is whom, what is what, or any kind of significance to references, if there is any to be had. The game warns you at the very beginning that you start in the middle of events, but I felt that there was just too much to lend to any sort of development or attachment to character. You need some commitment to make it through this thing, and it's extremely hard to find the motivation in the beginning.