Stardiver

There's something uniquely gripping about survival games that's hard to describe. Maybe it's the feeling of isolation or how vulnerable you feel against the power of nature. Perhaps it's the thrill of collaborating with friends to build the ultimate base; or possibly, it's all of that combined. In the case of Stardiver, the fun comes from not being eaten by a massive underwater creature. Fun!

The game puts you in control of a deep-sea exploration on an alien planet. Naturally, you won't be looking at coral and sponges all day. As you unravel the mysteries of this unknown planet, giant "monsters" will try to introduce you to their planet's food chain. For those of you who haven't been thoroughly traumatized by Subnautica, Stardiver might do the trick.

Just don't play this game if you're planning a relaxing beach vacation.

Nautical Charts

Stardiver combines mechanics and settings from multiple popular survival games. While the setting is a nod to Subnautica, the game plays more like an underwater relative of No Man's Sky. There's the usual resource gathering, base building, and all we've come to expect from a survival game.

The mystery at the center of Stardiver's narrative focuses on an abandoned base. Much like the Degasi expedition in Subnautica, players will have to piece together the mystery of what happened to this abandoned vessel. And they have to do it as they avoid the planet's hostile inhabitants.

Underwater Warfare

Unlike Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero, Stardiver won't have you go in defenseless as a meek diver. In this game, players can build underwater vehicles that rival the best ships seen in Starfield or No Man's Sky. By that, I mean that, yes, your sub can shoot lasers.

Combat is an essential part of Stardiver's gameplay loop. While Subnautica had you in a defensive role against hostile species, in Stardiver, you can become the hunter instead. This brings an extra layer of fun to the experience, especially if you go on hunting parties with your mates. Trust me, you'll need the extra firepower.

Unexplored Waters

As much as I loved the concept and ideas in Stardiver, the presentation still hasn't shocked me in the same way Subnautica did. Everything from the biomes to the creatures feels a bit "sterile" compared to other survival games.

Even the massive creatures, terrifying as they might appear, lack that deep sense of threat that the leviathans from Subnautica evoke. I know it might be unfair to compare this game so much to Subnautica, but when the two share so much of their DNA, it's only fair to put it against its closest competitor.

With a bit more care put into the world and the characters that inhabit it, I have no doubt Stardiver can become something truly special. However, until that day comes, I might play this one only when I become frustrated with how useless a knife is against a Reaper Leviathan.

Pros

• Fun underwater combat
• Building bases is as rewarding as in every other survival game
• Genuinely terrifying for those with thalassophobia

Cons

• Uninspired creature and mechanical designs
• Controls can be finicky
• Some bugs and glitches still need addressing