Comparisons
How does Subnautica 2 compare to the rest of the series?
Subnautica 2 is the third game in the franchise — but it's also a hard reset. New planet (Proteus, not 4546B), new vehicles (one modular Tadpole instead of three), new tone (4-player co-op vs Ryley's lone-survivor dread), and a different studio reality (Krafton-owned, mid-lawsuit, Early Access). These pages line them up directly.
Subnautica 2 vs Subnautica 1
Setting, vehicles, leviathans, base building, multiplayer, story tone — full side-by-side between the 2018 1.0 and the May 2026 Early Access.
Read the comparison →Subnautica 2 vs Subnautica: Below Zero
Open-ocean Proteus vs Below Zero's Sector Zero — scope, narrative model, vehicles, and which one to play first.
Read the comparison →Quick verdict
- Coming from Subnautica 1? Expect smaller map than SN1's finished state but wider/deeper than its EA launch; co-op replaces isolation; the Reaper does not return.
- Coming from Below Zero? Expect a return to open ocean (no land sections), new corporate cast, and a much larger creature roster planned across EA.
- Brand new? See the beginner guide, co-op hub, and story explained.