Easily one of the most innovative and groundbreaking survival horror co-op titles in recent years, Barotrauma sees players forming a crew and taking on a role aboard one of the title's submarines as they attempt to navigate Europa and not die in the process. It's a simple concept, but easier said than done.
Just which submarine players end up using forms a massive part of their experience with the game. This isn't a decision that players should take lightly. Barotrauma has a wide range of subs to choose from, which can make choosing one feel like something of a daunting task. These are some of Barotrauma's best submarines, which can make survival a little easier.
10 Winterhalter
One of Barotrauma's Scout Class submarines, Winterhalter is unique in that it actually features a research station onboard. Being the only submarine in the game to do so, this makes it a great option for co-op crews or solo players wanting to make the most of research station facilities This can help players investigate and use genetic matter in the game.
Plus, Winterhalter is a powerful beast of a sub. This makes it a good choice for players looking for subs that pack more engine power (though this can make it tricky to steer effectively).
9 Dugong
Dugong is a beginner-friendly, highly accessible sub. In fact, despite its relatively cheap purchase price, many players consider Dugong to be one of Barotrauma's best vanilla submarines in general (a handy tip that beginners should keep in mind).
Due to being on the smaller side, the Dugong is fairly light and easy to maneuver. What's more, the sub has a straightforward layout that's easy to navigate, which is just another reason that beginner players in particular should choose the Dugong. However, one of its major downsides is that it features a sizable blind spot. Some gamers find this too problematic to work around.
8 Remora
The Remora is one of the strongest subs in Barotrauma thanks to the handy, clever features that it boasts. Some of these features include a drone with a coilgun, and both a Medical Fabricator and Toxin Cabinet in its Medical Bay.
What's more, the Remora is surprisingly nippy, boasting a respectable max speed of 23. This makes the sub a great choice for players looking for a versatile, maneuverable option that is still sizable and balanced. However, some players dislike the layout of the sub, so this is worth keeping in mind.
7 Orca
Players looking for a sub with elite maneuverability and helpful combat features need look no further than the Orca. With its Electrical Discharge Coil and specialized coilguns, a competent crew can become formidable piloting the Orca.
It's also one of the most maneuverable subs in the game. This makes the Orca a great choice for a variety of playstyles. Still, it is worth noting that the Orca's reactor consumes fuel at a rate 50% faster than other subs in the game, so it's not the most efficient option.
6 Herja
Herja is one of Barotrauma's more versatile, dependable subs, making it well-suited to aggressive playstyles. Many players will want something tough, as getting attacked back is up there with some of the most gut-wrenching moments in horror games. With minimal blind spots and one of the strongest gunnery compartments for any of the submarines in Barotrauma, choosing Herja should be a no-brainer for players wanting an emphasis on attacking power from their vanilla sub.
One thing to keep in mind is that Herja doesn't have any batteries onboard. As a result, recharging has to take place using a special dock near the reactor, which might be a deterrent for some players.
5 Typhon
One of Barotrauma's attack class submarines, Typhon is a great choice for players looking for the greatest amount of heavy firepower from a vanilla sub. Typhon is home to two separate, large turrets, a Double Coilgun and a Railgun. This makes it a formidable choice for going into combat with Barotrauma's many beasts and monsters.
Typhon can accommodate crews of 4-9 and is one of the slower subs in the game. Crews or solo players looking to maximize the speed of their sub will want to choose a different entry on this list.
4 Humpback
For crews on the smaller side, it's hard to imagine that many players will take issuw with the Humpback. One of the fastest subs in Barotrauma, Humpback packs plenty of great quality-of-life features that make it accessible and versatile. It's a fantastic option for crews of all different playstyles.
No subs are perfect, of course, and Humpback is no exception. (Afrer all, even vessels in some of the best games about boats and ships have their flaws.) Some players lament the fact that its emergency batteries require manual startup, and the sub's gun coverage does leave something to be desired. On the whole though, it's a great ship that more players should consider using.
3 Kastrull
One of Barotrauma's Attack class submarines, Kastrull's strongest feature is arguably its drone. The sub also sports a whopping eight guns (one of these being on the drone itself), five of which can be actually be controlled by gunners. With a Max Horizontal Speed of 20 km/h, Kastrull is also one of the faster Attack subs out there, making it a great choice for players who want to combine mobility with firepower.
As mentioned above, the Kastrull's drone is a fantastic feature, thanks in large part to its powerful coilgun. It's innovations like these that put Barotrauma on equal footing with other games that fans of submarines and naval combat are sure to love.
2 Azimuth
Azimuth has one of the best reactors of all the submarines in Barotrauma. In addition, it's also a sub with relatively low energy consumption, making it a great choice for players looking to prioritize efficiency in their ships above all else.
However, it's worth pointing out that Azimuth doesn't have a Metal Fabricator onboard. Lacking an important feature like this makes the submarine arguably more vulnerable than others. Of course, feeling vulnerable while at sea is a crucial part of the experience in horror games that use this setting, and this is something that players can work around.
1 Berilia
Players looking for the maximum storage space as well as decent defensive capabilities need look no further than Berilia. Berilia is a highly resilient submarine, and also has the most cargo space of any of the game's ships. While it's not the fastest ship out there, making players feel slow and clunky is something that survival horror games have been doing since even before Resident Evil.
While players may not end up using all the cargo space that the Berilia has, it's nice to have the option. And, players don't need to worry about the Berilia being vulnerable thanks to its size; the ship has a number of Electrical Discharge Coils to cover its blind spots.
Barotrauma is out now on Mac, PC, and Linux.