Subnautica walkthrough covers early survival, crafting tools, building bases, exploring biomes, unlocking vehicles, avoiding dangers, and progressing the story.
Subnautica is a survival adventure game set on an alien ocean planet. You crash-land with almost nothing. Your goal is simple. Stay alive, explore the deep ocean, upgrade your gear, and uncover the planet’s secrets.
This guide explains everything in one page. Perfect for beginners who want a smooth start.
What Is Subnautica?
Subnautica is an open-world survival game. You explore underwater biomes, craft tools, build a base, and deal with dangerous creatures. The world is huge and full of hidden areas.
The game rewards curiosity. Every dive brings new resources and new risks.
First Steps After the Crash
You begin inside a damaged Lifepod. This is your safe zone.
Do these steps first:
1. Use the Fabricator
It is your crafting machine. It makes water, food, tools, and gear.
2. Repair the Lifepod systems
Make the Repair Tool. Fix the radio and damaged panels.
This unlocks story signals.
3. Gather basic resources
Collect these near the starting area:
- Titanium
- Copper
- Quartz
- Acid mushrooms
- Creepvine seed clusters
These are used in early tools and upgrades.
Essential Early Tools
Craft these tools first. They keep you alive:
Survival Knife
Used for collecting materials and defending yourself.
Scanner
Most important tool. It unlocks blueprints.
Fins
Makes swimming faster.
Oxygen Tank
Gives more breath underwater. Upgrade as soon as possible.
Repair Tool
Repairs the Lifepod and damaged items.
Flashlight
Essential for night dives and caves.
How to Explore Safely
Exploration is the heart of Subnautica. But the ocean is not friendly.
Use these tips:
Stay near the surface early
Low oxygen makes deep dives risky.
Scan everything
Scanning unlocks new gear, vehicles, and base parts.
Listen to sounds
Dangerous creatures are loud. If you hear anything strange, swim up or leave the area.
Always carry food and water
Make filtered water from Bladderfish. Cook fish for food.
How to Build Your First Base
You should build your first base near safe shallows.
Follow these steps:
1. Make the Habitat Builder
This unlocks base construction.
2. Start with simple rooms
Use a Multipurpose Room and a Hatch.
Then add Solar Panels for power.
3. Add storage
Use lockers to store resources.
4. Add a fabricator and radio
This makes your base functional for everyday tasks.
5. Keep the base near a kelp forest
You get easy access to titanium, quartz, and Creepvine.
Best Places to Explore Early
Here are the safest and most useful early-game biomes:
Safe Shallows
Your starting area. Good for basic resources.
Kelp Forest
Great for Creepvine and Stalker teeth.
Grassy Plateaus
Scan fragments for vehicles like the Seamoth.
Avoid dangerous biomes early, such as the Dunes or Mountains.
Vehicles You Must Unlock
Vehicles help you explore deeper areas.
Seamoth
Fast personal submarine. Easy to craft and upgrade.
Seaglide
Small handheld glider. Great for early movement.
Cyclops
Huge submarine. Acts as a mobile base.
Prawn Suit
Deep exploration mech. Useful for mining large resources.
Scan fragments to unlock their blueprints.
How to Progress the Story
Subnautica has a deep mystery. You discover clues through:
- Radio messages
- Wreckage sites
- Alien ruins
- Logs and terminals
Follow signals from the radio. They guide you through the main storyline.
Surviving Dangerous Creatures
Many creatures are harmless. Some are not.
To stay safe:
Avoid dark regions without a light
Predators hide in deep areas.
Use your Seaglide lights
It scares smaller threats.
If a creature grabs you, swim away fast
Most attacks stop if you gain distance.
Carry a knife
Useful for small defense.
Tips for Long-Term Survival
These tips make mid-game easier:
- Upgrade oxygen tank whenever possible
- Add reinforcement to bases to prevent flooding
- Store extra batteries
- Use beacons to mark caves and wrecks
- Make a water filtration machine later
- Build a moonpool for vehicle upgrades
Slowly, you gain better tools and explore deeper biomes.
Final Thoughts
Subnautica is not about rushing. It is about discovery.
Take time to scan objects, collect resources, and explore new areas at your speed.
Once you learn the map and upgrade your gear, the game becomes easier and more enjoyable.