Subnautica

Collecting food and water, building an underwater habitat, and surviving the elements are all satisfying aspects of the experience, but that’s only because Subnautica’s palpable ambience, cerebral story, and powerful fear factor compliment that familiar routine with some of the most memorable moments I’ve played in a game of its kind. It’s very likely that you’ll never want to go near a beach again after playing Subnautica, but soak up its array of nautical sights and sounds, and I promise you won’t regret the dive.

So far Subnautica has been the outstanding title of 2018 for me. We're only a month in, but the time I've had with this game has been incredible, and I'm sure it will be a game I remember in December when the year is wrapping up. Even after completing it, I'm itching to go back and see what nooks and crannies I missed. There are whole biomes I barely had the chance to explore, even after almost 40 hours in the game. Despite how dangerous the oceans of Planet 4546B are, I am left impressed by their beauty, and the diverse and wonderful life I found during my journey.

Subnautica is not without its issues, but it successfully manages to combine a strong sense of exploration and discovery with an interesting story hook and an exceptional soundtrack to make it one of the very best examples of the genre.