What'Sub Review Summary

Fun gameplay and charming art plus frequent updates from a responsive dev are undermined by an unfinished, buggy build with game-breaking issues and a confusing, punishing oxygen system.

Fun and enjoyable gameplay: Players consistently describe the game as fun, enjoyable, and entertaining. The core loop and first sessions are frequently praised.

Charming art style and visuals: The art direction, character designs, and visuals are widely appreciated for being cute, bright, and timeless. The overall aesthetic creates a pleasant atmosphere.

Frequent updates and responsive developer: Updates are released quickly, adding new content like biomes and larger submarines. The developer is responsive and balancing moves toward their vision.

Promising concept and potential: The game shows promise and potential, with a fresh underwater extraction concept reminiscent of Sea of Thieves. Players are enthusiastic about future development.

Great co-op experience with friends: Playing with two to four players is highlighted as chaotic, hilarious, and significantly better than solo. The dynamic changes positively with more players.

Unfinished, unpolished state: Many reviewers describe the game as feeling incomplete, with rough edges and mechanics that feel unfinished, likening it to an alpha or vertical slice.

Bugs and game-breaking issues: Numerous bugs are reported, including game-breaking ones, black screens, crashes, and a black screen on launch that remains unfixed.

Oxygen system confusing and punishing: Players frequently die from running out of oxygen, cannot find or obtain oxygen, and find the mechanics poorly explained. Some played many missions without success.

Limited content and things to do: The game currently offers little content or activities, with some calling it basic and lacking sufficient upgrades or quality-of-life features.

Tutorial and guidance lacking: The game does not adequately explain core mechanics such as obtaining air or the purpose of items, leaving players confused.

Submarine roles: The submarine has distinct roles: pilot, gunner, engineer, and quartermaster. Each role has specific responsibilities such as navigating, shooting harpoons, repairing, and managing resources.

Co-op submarine gameplay: The game is built around cooperative submarine play, with clusters emphasizing team-based operation of a submersible. Players work together to control and maintain the submarine.

Diving gameplay: Players can perform dives into the aquatic abyss, with varying dive experiences. Diving is a core activity involving exploration and risk.

Designed for friends: Multiple reviewers highlight that the game is intended to be played with friends, emphasizing multiplayer co-op experiences. The social aspect is central to the enjoyment.

Oxygen management: Oxygen is a critical resource that can run out, causing vision to darken and potentially leading to death. Players must return to the exit before oxygen depletes, and oxygen capacity can be upgraded.

Launch and black screen issues: Multiple reports describe the game failing to launch, showing black screens, or getting stuck on the initial loading screen. These startup problems prevent players from accessing the game at all.

Poor optimization and performance: Reviewers frequently mention poor optimization, making the game difficult to run even on capable hardware. One report claims it nearly bricked a PC, indicating severe performance problems.

Crashes during gameplay: The game crashes, disrupting play sessions. This adds to the instability issues reported alongside launch failures.

Rough launch experience: The launch day was described as rough, summarizing the cumulative technical issues. This aligns with the widespread reports of launch failures and crashes.

Missing textures: One user noted the game had little to no textures, resulting in severe visual degradation. This suggests incomplete asset loading or rendering problems.

Best with 1-2 friends: Several reviewers emphasize that the game is best experienced with at least one or two friends and is definitely better in a group. Playing with friends is repeatedly recommended as the ideal way to enjoy the game.

Support ongoing development: Players recommend buying the game to support its continued development, indicating they see potential in future updates. This aligns with giving the game a chance and not regretting the purchase.

Grind first area for upgrade: A specific tip suggests grinding the first area multiple times and turning back in time until obtaining the first hull upgrade. This strategy is recommended before progressing to the second and third areas.

Try before you buy: Some recommend watching gameplay online or trying it and refunding if unsure before committing to a purchase. This suggests players should verify the game matches their expectations.

Worth picking up: Reviewers state the game is worth picking up and letting the team work through it. This general positive sentiment encourages acquisition and team play.

Game completion: 2.0h.

Session length: 3.0h.

Players consistently describe immediate fun, especially in co-op with friends, while one notes tutorial and mechanics-reference friction that does not establish a later enjoyment threshold.

Friction: Weak tutorial; No easy quick checks on mechanics.

Small-Group Co-op Socializer: Plays in a 1-2 friend crew, relying on teamwork for ship upkeep and chaotic shared moments. Motivation: Shared cozy and slapstick co-op sessions with a small friend group. Stance: buy.

Proven-Loop Ship Crew Player: Focuses on looting, repairing, and treating the submarine as a shared home. Motivation: Engaging a proven ship-repair and looting loop that feels like Sea of Thieves. Stance: buy.

Solo Viability Seeker: Solo attempts at handling every ship job; seeks a viable lone-player route. Motivation: To play the game solo without an excessive multi-job workload. Stance: no buy.

Still in early access: Multiple reviews emphasize the game is in an early access or alpha-like state, not a finished product. Players note it feels like an early development build.

Rapid updates and fixes: Developers are releasing updates quickly and fixing issues fast. A recent patch reduced build size by 70% and a new biome was added within days.

Compared to Overcooked and Peak: Reviewers liken the co-op dynamic to Overcooked for yelling and Peak as a friendship-tester. Also compared to Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime and Guns of Icarus.

Sea of Thieves comparison: Gameplay loop is often compared to an early Sea of Thieves but underwater, with similar repairing mechanics and the ship/sub as home.

Future content planned: Updates are expected to add more content to submarine roles. The game updated and more content is incoming.