Subnautica

The player starts in the functional escape pod, equipped with a material synthesizer and a distress beacon. Progress is made by venturing underwater, finding useful minerals, and returning with them to the synthesizer to make new tools. Once the Habitat Builder is created, the player can build a more permanent underwater home, designing every room and amenity as they wish. Building underwater vehicles expands their operations, including a submarine that can be walked inside.

The player starts with a small number of schematics but learns how to build most items and equipment upgrades by scanning intact or broken examples found in the Aurora's wreckage. As they journey deeper into the planet, new regions are discovered with unique flora and fauna, and they encounter increasingly dangerous and bizarre predators. The distress beacon occasionally picks up messages directing the player to find other escape pods' fates.

The game has four modes: Hardcore (Hunger & Thirst, Power drain, and Permadeath), Survival (Hunger & Thirst, Power drain), Peaceful (Power drain), and Creative (No limits).