Subnautica: Below Zero vs Under The Waves
Which one is worth buying now, with today's prices and each game's recommendation.
Under The Waves wins 7 of 13 head-to-head metrics. Under The Waves is $11.85 cheaper.
Metric by metric
The winner of each row gets a ✓. No row weighs more than another; the recommendation is calculated separately.
| Metric | Subnautica: Below Zero | Under The Waves |
|---|---|---|
| GameValio scoreRecommendation: Maybe × Maybe | 67 | 66 |
| Quality | 73 | 64 |
| Value | 69 | 100 |
| Popularity | 40 | 26 |
| Current Best Price (USD) | $12.72 | $0.87 |
| Steam Review Score | 90.1% positive | 77.1% positive |
| Average Concurrent Players (14 days) | 496 | 18 |
Where to buy
The 3 cheapest stores for each game
Side by side over time
Subnautica: Below ZeroUnder The Waves
Details and requirements
| Item | Subnautica: Below Zero | Under The Waves |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | May 13, 2021 | August 28, 2023 |
| Developers | Unknown Worlds Entertainment | Parallel Studio |
| Publishers | Unknown Worlds Entertainment | Spotlight by Quantic Dream |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOs | Windows |
| OS (minimum) | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10 or higher |
| Processor (minimum) | Intel Core i5 4XXX series/ AMD Ryzen 5 @ 3Ghz + | Intel Core i7 7thGen / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core 3.6GHz |
| Memory (minimum) | 8 GB RAM | 16 MB RAM |
| Graphics (minimum) | Nvidia 1050 Ti / AMD Radeon 570, 4GB VRAM | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 6GB/ AMD Radeon RX Vega56 8GB |
| DirectX (minimum) | Version 11 | Version 12 |
| Storage (minimum) | 15 GB available space | 10 GB available space |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Subnautica: Below Zero or Under The Waves?
Under The Waves won the comparison against Subnautica: Below Zero based on the head-to-head metric breakdown. Check the metrics table above for a full side-by-side analysis.
How is the comparison calculated?
The comparison winner is determined objectively by counting which game wins more individual metrics in the head-to-head table. No weighting is applied. The GameValio Recommendation shown separately is our own suggestion for each game, based on a weighted score that combines quality (reviews), popularity (player counts), and affordability (price vs value) into a score out of 100. These are two different things: the comparison is objective, the recommendation is GameValio's opinion.
Is Subnautica: Below Zero worth buying over Under The Waves?
Based on the metrics, Under The Waves won the direct comparison. However, also check the GameValio Recommendation for each game and the price comparison table to make the most informed purchase decision.
Which game has better player reviews?
Review score trends and volume over time are shown in the charts section above. The game with consistently higher positive ratios has stronger community reception.
Which game offers better value for money?
The affordability score and price comparison table above highlight the best deals. Under The Waves currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
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Analysis updated: Oct 24, 2026, 05:57 PM UTC