Subnautica vs Subnautica 2
Which one is worth buying now, with today's prices and each game's recommendation.
Subnautica wins 14 of 15 head-to-head metrics. Subnautica is $24.91 cheaper.
Metric by metric
The winner of each row gets a ✓. No row weighs more than another; the recommendation is calculated separately.
| Metric | Subnautica | Subnautica 2 |
|---|---|---|
| GameValio scoreRecommendation: Worth It × Maybe | 79 | 55 |
| Quality | 94 | 74 |
| Value | 79 | 40 |
| Popularity | 45 | 42 |
| Current Best Price (USD) | $5.08 | $29.99 |
| Steam Review Score | 97.2% positive | 91.3% positive |
| Average Concurrent Players (14 days) | 2.3K | 1.8K |
Where to buy
The 3 cheapest stores for each game
Side by side over time
SubnauticaSubnautica 2
Details and requirements
| Item | Subnautica | Subnautica 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | January 23, 2018 | May 14, 2026 |
| Developers | Unknown Worlds Entertainment | Unknown Worlds Entertainment |
| Publishers | Unknown Worlds Entertainment | Unknown Worlds Entertainment |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOs | Windows |
| OS (minimum) | Windows Vista SP2 or newer, 64-bit | Windows 11 |
| Processor (minimum) | Intel Haswell 4 cores / 4 threads @ 3.2Ghz or equivalent | Intel Core i7-13700 / AMD Ryzen 7 7700X |
| Memory (minimum) | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics (minimum) | Nvidia GTX 550 Ti or equivalent, 2GB VRAM | Geforce RTX 3070 8GB / RX 6700 XT 8GB |
| DirectX (minimum) | Version 11 | Version 12 |
| Storage (minimum) | 20 GB available space | 50 GB available space |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Subnautica or Subnautica 2?
Subnautica won the comparison against Subnautica 2 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 worth buying over Subnautica 2?
Based on the metrics, Subnautica 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. Subnautica currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
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Analysis updated: Oct 24, 2026, 12:08 PM UTC