New Open-World Survival Crafting Game on Steam is…

For a lot of survival fans, Subnautica 2 is one of the most anticipated games of the year. The first game offered a fresh take on survival gameplay by taking things to the terrifying depths of the ocean. An alien water-covered planet filled with surprising and horrifying creatures often makes Subnautica just as sweat-inducing as it is fun, and its sequel hopefully brings even more of that to the table. Steam is a great hub for similar survival games, and one game could satisfy the craving for more Subnautica before the sequel launches. World in the Abyss is an upcoming Steam game that asks the bold question, "What would Subnautica 2 be like if it had guns?"

Even though Subnautica and Subnautica 2 are all about survival, the game doesn't really embrace combat the way some other titles in the genre do. Developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment opted for a game that was focused more on exploration and curiosity than violence. Adapting over conquering is at the heart of the Subnautica series, and it's a refreshing approach. However, there is still the craving for some deep-sea-inspired fighting, and World in the Abyss makes that possible. Subnautica 2's release date is still being kept a secret, but gamers who are eager for more underwater exploration don't have to wait much longer for World in the Abyss.

Taking a Look at World in the Abyss' Confirmed Features

A post-apocalyptic setting
Base building
Crafting
Base defense
Resource scavenging and management
Boss fights
Fishing

World in the Abyss Takes the Subnautica Formula and Gives it a Post-Apocalyptic Twist

Remember Waterwold? For those who don't, it's a 90s movie starring Kevin Costner that imagines a post-apocalyptic world that's been completely submerged in water after the polar ice caps melt. The surviving humans live in above-water bases, and some humans, like Kevin Costner's character, have even evolved to have gills. World in the Abyss is much like Waterworld's concept, minus the gills. Post-apocalyptic survival games can be found all over Steam, but World in the Abyss' water-focused setting is an exciting way to approach the genre.

World in the Abyss is scheduled to launch on April 15, 2026.

Build to Survive, Then Defend

Base building is returning in Subnautica 2, and World in the Abyss uses the same mechanic, but turns it up a notch. Instead of simply building a base, World in the Abyss tasks players with defending it from raiders. This is a post-apocalyptic survival game after all. With World in the Abyss' base system, building a fortified stronghold that is also an ideal living situation is key. Beyond the run-of-the-mill structure building, there are some cool extra features that players can use to make their bases extra special.

Brew beer
Add smelters
Include an armory
Build a dream kitchen
Tend to beehives

These features are meant to fully bring a player's base to life, adding to the immersion. Daily tasks and caring for one's settlement are essential to some of the best survival titles around. Survival games with base building all try to have their own unique touches, and World in the Abyss' system is a promising take on the mechanic.

The aliens have caused the oceans to rise, plunging the world into the abyss. Survive, craft, and explore this mysterious underwater world.

Crafting and Resource Management Bring Must-Have Mechanics to World in the Abyss

Features like crafting and resource management are staples in the survival genre. Survival games on Steam often have strong crafting and resource management mechanics, and World in the Abyss' ocean setting opens the door to some unique options. Drilling for oil and collecting minerals are just the tip of the iceberg of what can be found. Players can also set up traps, build cages for crabs, and craft nets to fish for food. Beyond that, the depths of the ocean are filled with places to explore and discover rare items or resources that will make players even more powerful in World in the Abyss' post-apocalyptic reality.

There is plenty of danger in the water, too. Even though Subnautica promotes exploration and creativity, it can also get the heart racing because of the alien creatures swimming around. In real life, some varieties of deep-sea creatures can be downright terrifying, and both Subnautica and World in the Abyss play into that fear of the unknown. Subnautica has a reputation as a decently challenging open-world survival game, and its sequel is likely going to take that up a notch. World in the Abyss also claims to be a solid challenge, so it could be great practice ahead of Subnautica 2's eventual launch.

Subnautica 2's publisher, KRAFTON, has been embroiled in controversy over claiming it's working to be an "AI-first" company. Despite this, developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment has reassured fans that Subnautica 2 will be made fully by human developers and won't be featuring any generative AI at release.

World in the Abyss Asks Players to Dive Deeper and Fight to See Another Day

In Subnautica and its sequel, players have to worry about dangerous alien sea creatures. In World in the Abyss, danger comes from both above the surface and below it. Indie games on Steam come in a lot of different genres and appeal to unique tastes, so the Subnautica players who prefer the game's violence-free approach may not mesh with World in the Abyss' combat mechanics. However, there are still plenty of Subnautica fans who would like to see what this type of game would look like with guns added to the mix. World in the Abyss' use of firearms at least makes sense with its setting. Players aren't being asked to mindlessly kill sea creatures; they have to fight against waves of raiders looking to overtake the base and steal resources.

There are plenty of survival games with good exploration out there, and World in the Abyss' newness, combined with a compelling post-apocalyptic world overrun with water, helps it stand out in an increasingly crowded genre. Right now, there's no telling when Subnautica 2 will be ready for launch. Until then, World in the Abyss on Steam is waiting around the corner to help ocean-dwellers pass the time.

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