Subnautica: Below Zero
Give it 3 hours
What the data shows
- In the first 2 hours 1 in 4 reviews are negative (25%); after 20h it's 1 in 10 (10%).
- 27% of players who start reach the ending.
- The biggest drop-off is between “Drop in the Ocean” (Locate your Drop Pod) and “Xenobiology” (Encounter a sapient alien lifeform): from 100% to 69% of starters.
- 88% of owners got the first achievement.
When it gets good
Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.
before it gets good opening up fully opened up
Based on all 109,274 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 296 reviews: 21.1h for positive, 14.3h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.
Where players quit
Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (88.4% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.
- Started playing 100%
- Drop in the Ocean Locate your Drop Pod. 100%
- Xenobiology Encounter a sapient alien lifeform. Most players quit here 69% −31
- Another Survivor Find Marguerit's home. 58% −11
- Pirate Radio Disable Alterra communications. 45% −14
- Necessary Repairs Repair the bridge. 43% −2
- Out of Mind Construct an alien vessel. 29% −14
- Into the Unknown Leave 4546B. 27% −1
story milestone ending biggest drop-off
Story milestones were labeled by AI from achievement names and descriptions; mistakes are possible.
All achievements (13)
story milestone ending side
- Drop in the Ocean Locate your Drop Pod. 100%
- Truckin' Construct a Seatruck 71%
- Xenobiology Encounter a sapient alien lifeform. 69%
- Another Survivor Find Marguerit's home. 58%
- Pirate Radio Disable Alterra communications. 45%
- Necessary Repairs Repair the bridge. 43%
- Spy Pengling Construct a spy pengling. 42%
- Jukebox Hero Install a jukebox. 38%
- Like Riding a Bike Ride a Snowfox. 35%
- Out of Mind Construct an alien vessel. 29%
- Dressed For The Weather Construct a cold suit. 28%
- Into the Unknown Leave 4546B. 27%
- Finding the Cure Use the antidote. 23%