Below Zero is described as a “new chapter” in the Subnautica universe, set two years after the events of the original game. The Steam page avoids using the word “sequel”, and I suppose it’s closest in form to that dreaded portmanteau, the “expandalone”. Expect a new icy region, new creatures including adorable penguinlikes, and a similar core loop of exploration and base expansion to the original game. John enjoyed his time with it back in January 2019, while being surprised at both its ambition and at how early in development it was. Meanwhile, the original Subnautica sits at the top of our list of the best survival games. Subnautica: Below Zero will leave early access on May 14th and is available via Steam and the Epic Games Store for £25/€30. It’s due to increase in price by 25% upon its full launch.
