What makes Subnautica Different Compared to Other Horror Games?

     Subnautica took the world by storm with its presence as a breath of fresh air in the gaming industry. Introducing a new concept with its brand new plot of being stranded on an ocean planet. Because of it, some even consider it a horror game. But what makes it a horror game?

   the game was developed by Unknown Worlds Entertainment Throw, the game itself throws us into the world of 4546B, a category-3 ocean planet after our spaceship crash-landed on the crater of a massive volcano. Subnautica takes us into the depths of the ocean along with the unknown creatures in it.

One of the primary sources of fear in Subnautica is its setting, an alien ocean planet is far from the familiarity of Earth where sharks, octopuses, jellyfish, and tortoises roam, you will be thrown into a planet with creatures with all different shapes and sizes, from the harmless and edible peepers to the terrifying Reaper Leviathans all will take u by surprise. 

Once u reach the surface of the ocean, wherever you see, you will see that there is little to no land for you to step foot into, only the safe pods that you crashlanded with and the burning spaceship of the Aurora. This instills the fear of thalassophobia, the fear of deep bodies of water. It is a primal fear that everyone has whether they realize it or not. Being stuck in the middle of the ocean, with no land in sight. The dark and foreboding depth of the ocean filled with dangers and the unknown will amplify your fear.

in some horror games, you will have a companion, friends you go along with, and friends that you can share your fear and worry with. But in subnautica? none. you have no one that you can rely on, you will realize as you continue through the game that all the other life pods are torn, chewed open, and abandoned. who did it? or what did it?

Subnautica masterfully takes advantage of the psychological horror perfectly, taking advantage of the primal fear of talassophobia, combined with the shadow of the creatures that will play with your mind and the music that will make your heart race. this ebb and tension are what keeps the player on edge.