Subnautica: Below Zero was fully released on May 14, 2021, following a stay in early access. The game is a sequel to Subnautica, and like its predecessor, is an open-world survival game. Befitting of the open-world and survival genres, Subnautica: Below Zero gives players tons of freedom to play the game and explore planet 4546B in almost any way that they choose.
Although the sense of freedom is one of the Subnautica series' best features, it can make it tricky for new players to figure out what to do in the opening hours. So, to help new players, here are eight common mistakes that new players make in Subnautica: Below Zero.
8 Underestimating The Life Meters
The latest Subnauitca game gives players a lot to think about, as they now have a whopping four life meters to contend with. Health, hunger, hydration, body temperature, and oxygen all need to be considered at all times, as the players will immediately die and drop items if any of them deplete.
Oxygen is by far the meter that players will be battling with the most. For experienced players, it can be easy to forget just how quickly the meter depletes when first diving into the ocean. Moreover, Below Zero frequently tantalizes players with numerous temporary solutions like Oxygen Plants, though these can often make new players complacent as they underestimate how long it will take to resurface. Although it can get tedious in the early stages, it's best to be patient before crafting oxygen tanks.
7 Rushing Into New Areas
Like any great open-world game, exploring Below Zero's ocean and new arctic biomes is one of its most enjoyable features. Each of the world's many biomes comes with its own unique features and resources, making finding a new area an exciting moment. Unfortunately, each biome also comes with its own set of aggressive creatures.
Predators like the Shadow Leviathan and Chelicerate will punish players who venture too deep before being suitably prepared by treating them to a terrifying death animation if they don't escape. Moreover, players have environmental risks to consider, such as crush depths and extreme weather conditions.
6 Trying To Kill Predators
After crafting the Survival Knife, many players will expect that they'll need to fight some dangerous predators at some point. So, when players come across their first Squidshark or Chelicerate, they'll start swinging their trusty knife, only to suffer an overwhelming defeat. Not only are the predators in Subnautica: Below Zero extremely tough to kill, but there is also minimal reward for doing so.
Instead, it's best to work towards the Perimeter Defense Upgrade for the Seatruck, which will fend off predators who try to attack.
5 Not Setting Numerous Beacons
When playing Subnautica: Below Zero for the first time, many players will be surprised to learn that there's no map feature to help them traverse the ocean depths and arctic biomes. Due to the ocean's size and lack of distinctive landmarks, especially underwater, players can forget about trying to re-find specific locations after a long journey.
Thankfully, there is a solution. The player can construct beacons, which will set a permanent waypoint that can be seen from anywhere on the map. Constantly crafting beacons can get tedious, though it's worth the effort to have a well-mapped-out world for the mid-game.
4 Illogical Base Building
Another aspect that is important in preparing for the mid-game is base building. The Drop Pod is handy for the first hour, but players will soon need to start branching out if they want to make significant progress in the story.
Due to the lack of in-game help, many players will be unsure of where to build their base and just put it next to their Drop Pod. However, this is a fairly illogical place to build a base, as the idea behind base building is that it gives multiple safe havens around the map while also letting the player craft items, recharge batteries, scan for resources, and more.
Although putting multiple bases around the far-reaching corners of the map is a good idea, it's important to be wary of the sea life in each area, or players will have a few unwanted house guests waiting for them to come home.
3 Not Scanning Persistently
Scanning is one of the most important things to do in Subnautica: Below Zero, aside from keeping health meters in check. Scanning is essential to making progress in the game, as analyzing fragments and resources will give players the blueprints to craft better equipment, allowing them to delve deeper into the ocean and venture further in the snow to progress the story.
Simply put, players need to scan anything and everything in Subnautica: Below Zero, particularly in the opening hours when the whole world is filled with materials yet to be analyzed.
2 Not Reading PDA Entries
Upon using the scanner, players will usually receive a PDA entry about what they've just analyzed. This will often consist of numerous paragraphs, which many players will ignore, as essential information like new blueprints will be detailed elsewhere.
However, not reading the PDA entries is a mistake, as there's a plethora of useful information within the lines of text. For example, the Cryptosuchus' may seem very intimidating at first, especially with their ferocious roar, but scanning them will reveal that just a single cut from the Survival Knife will cause them to retreat. Along with helpful information, the PDA entries also contain vital story information to support the game's main and side narratives.
1 Reaching The World Edge Biome
As players begin to get more confident in Subnautica: Below Zero, they will likely try to see how far they can travel, which will inevitably bring them to the World Edge.
Upon reaching the biome, players will be greeted with the horrifying message: "Warning. Entering ecological dead zone. The prospect for survival is fast approaching zero." To a normal person, this is a pretty obvious sign to immediately turn back and stay far, far, away. However, in the world of video games, this message will make some players believe that they're about to make an interesting, exciting discovery.
Unfortunately, the surprise awaiting players won't be a nice one, as the area spawns deadly Void Chelicerates every 30 seconds to kill the player for traveling too far, which is a terrifying alternative to an invisible wall.