Games Like Subnautica: 8 Survival and Exploration Picks

The best game like Subnautica is its sequel, Subnautica: Below Zero. After that, Raft and Grounded keep the survival crafting, The Forest and Green Hell crank up the tension, and Outer Wilds or No Man's Sky bring back the thrill of exploring a world you don't understand yet. Here's how to choose based on what hooked you in those alien depths.

Why Subnautica sticks with you

You crash on an ocean planet with nothing. You manage oxygen, hunger and thirst, craft your first tools, then a submarine, then a base. But Subnautica isn't just a crafting game. It's about fear of the unknown. The deeper you go, the darker the water gets, and the more you hear things you'd rather not meet.

The game never holds your hand. You push forward because you're curious, and the story unfolds through what you find. Expect about 26 hours for the story according to players on IGDB, and a lot more if you want to poke into every corner.

What to look for in your next game

If it's the survival and crafting loop you love, grab Raft, Grounded or Green Hell. If it's the fear of the deep, The Forest and The Long Dark give you that same knot in your stomach. And if it's pure curiosity, the joy of figuring out a strange world, Outer Wilds is in a class of its own, which we cover in games like Outer Wilds.

1. 

   1. Subnautica: Below Zero

   2021 · Main story 20 h

   The direct sequel, on the same planet but in a frozen region. You get the same oxygen, crafting and underwater base loop, with a bigger focus on story and characters who actually talk. It's a bit shorter and a bit less terrifying, but if you finished the original, it's the obvious next step.

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2. 

   2. Outer Wilds

   2019 · Main story 12 h

   No crafting or survival here, just the same rush of discovery. You fly a tiny rocket around a solar system stuck in a time loop, and everything hinges on your curiosity. Like Subnautica, you progress because you understand the world, not because you level up.

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3. 

   3. Raft

   2022 · Main story 26.5 h

   You drift on a raft in the middle of the ocean while a shark circles you. You hook floating debris, expand your raft and explore islands. It's lighter and funnier than Subnautica, especially with friends in co-op. We dig into it in games like Raft.

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4. 

   4. Grounded

   2022 · Main story 25 h

   Shrunk to the size of an ant in a backyard, you have to survive among giant bugs. The crafting and base-building logic is very close to Subnautica, and the spiders hit the same way the deep-sea creatures do. It's a blast in co-op with friends.

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5. 

   5. The Forest

   2018

   Your plane goes down in a forest, and you soon realize you're not alone. You build a shelter, hunt and explore deeply unsettling caves. If the deep zones of Subnautica freaked you out, this one pushes the horror further, with co-op to help you breathe.

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6. 

   6. No Man's Sky

   2016 · Main story 31 h

   A whole universe to explore, endless planets, bases to build and even oceans to search. It's less dense and less scripted than Subnautica, but if you love feeling like a lone explorer facing the unknown, you can lose an absurd amount of time here.

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7. 

   7. The Long Dark

   2017

   Pure survival in the Canadian north after a mysterious disaster. Cold, hunger, wolves, every choice matters. There are no sea monsters, but the same loneliness and tension as Subnautica's dark waters. For players who want a tougher, more realistic survival game.

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8. 

   8. Green Hell

   2019

   Alone in the Amazon jungle, you deal with food, wounds, parasites and even your sanity. It's harsher and more realistic than Subnautica, but just as gripping. There's a story to follow, and a co-op mode if you'd rather suffer with company.

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FAQ

What game is most like Subnautica?

Subnautica: Below Zero, the sequel, is obviously the closest. Outside the series, Raft and Grounded share the survival crafting loop, while Outer Wilds captures the joy of discovering an unknown world driven by nothing but your own curiosity.

Is there a co-op game like Subnautica?

Subnautica is single-player, but Raft, Grounded, The Forest and Green Hell all offer co-op. Raft is the closest for the ocean vibe, and Grounded for base building and creatures that genuinely scare you.

How long does it take to beat Subnautica?

According to players on IGDB, finishing Subnautica's story takes about 26 hours. If you take your time to explore every biome, build a big base and scan everything, you can easily double that.