Info about What'Sub: Official game description: **Gather a shaggy pirate crew for an underwater quest for immeasurable fortune!** --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What'Sub is a Co-op Extraction "Looter" where you and your crew of semi-professional submarine pirates brave the deepest, darkest corners of the ocean in search of adventure and riches! **Features** ------------ * Online co-op for 1–4 (or more!) players * 3 unique ocean biomes with procedurally generated levels * 3 fully upgradeable submarines for solo and co-op play * Challenging risk vs reward gameplay * 100+ unique character customization options **Descend into The Well** ------------------------- Navigate oceanic life, shipwrecks, and caverns to reach the bottom of The Well, a gaping sinkhole that recently carved itself into the ocean. It is still unknown how deep it really stretches, what rare treasures have been exposed, and what hidden dangers lie in wait... **Plunder the ocean** --------------------- Fill your hold with the endless bounty of the deep sea. But beware—those blinded by greed may be swallowed by the deep. Your submarine can only go so far, and you will need to determine whether the risk is worth the potential reward. **Upgrade your submarine** -------------------------- Use your hard-earned riches to improve your submarine, making it faster, sturdier, and better able to withstand the increasingly threatening forces of nature. **Be the fanciest pirate YOU can be** ------------------------------------- Dress to impress! Don't let anyone tell you you're not the snazziest pirate in all the abyss. Grab a cup of coffee with the inhabitants of the Subyard or play a shanty with your friends, but try not to be too dramatic when your main audience tries to steal your gold. Release date: Nov 4, 2026 Categories: Cooperative Multiplayer, Looter Shooter, Underwater Exploration, Risk vs Reward Gameplay, Resource Management, Vehicle Customization, Procedural Generation, Character Customization - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: No data - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 2.0h - Story completion: N/A - Session length: 3.0h - Endgame: N/A - Reasoning: The clearest completion signal is the report that everything currently offered can be seen in 2 hours, so gameCompletion is set to 2. A co-op session is described as lasting about 3 hours, supporting sessionLength of 3; another player stopped after only 30 minutes, so this value is a rough typical maximum rather than a strict average. The 4-hour comment is total playtime so far and does not establish completion or endgame time. No review provides story completion or endgame hours, so those metrics are null. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: 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. - Stance: Fun immediately - Anchor: N/A - Time to anchor: N/A - Friction: Weak tutorial; No easy quick checks on mechanics - Unlock drivers: N/A - Conditions: Playing with friends; Having friends available for sessions; Enjoying goofy co-op experiences; Post-launch version - Player Archetypes: - Small-Group Co-op Socializer (buy) - Motivation: Shared cozy and slapstick co-op sessions with a small friend group. - Playstyle: Plays in a 1-2 friend crew, relying on teamwork for ship upkeep and chaotic shared moments. - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: N/A - Reference games: Guns of Icarus - Proven-Loop Ship Crew Player (buy) - Motivation: Engaging a proven ship-repair and looting loop that feels like Sea of Thieves. - Playstyle: Focuses on looting, repairing, and treating the submarine as a shared home. - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: N/A - Reference games: Sea of Thieves - Solo Viability Seeker (no buy) - Motivation: To play the game solo without an excessive multi-job workload. - Playstyle: Solo attempts at handling every ship job; seeks a viable lone-player route. - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: no buy - Labels: solo player - Reference games: N/A Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Fun and enjoyable gameplay (weight 0.97): Players consistently describe the game as fun, enjoyable, and entertaining. The core loop and first sessions are frequently praised. - Charming art style and visuals (weight 0.96): 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 (weight 0.69): 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 (weight 0.66): 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 (weight 0.61): Playing with two to four players is highlighted as chaotic, hilarious, and significantly better than solo. The dynamic changes positively with more players. - Strong underwater atmosphere and sound (weight 0.45): The atmospheric sound design, creaking hull, and soothing ocean ambiance enhance immersion. Tense moments like oxygen deprivation add to the experience. - Engaging diving and looting mechanics (weight 0.45): Diving and looting are well done, with challenging pearl hooking and treasure to find. Each dive feels different and enjoyable. - World feels rich and atmospheric (weight 0.42): The worldbuilding is cool and the world feels like it has a lot to it. Nasty sea critters like the Kelp Eel add to the atmosphere. - Smooth performance and UI improvements (weight 0.36): The game runs smoothly even on old computers, and recent UI improvements and build size reductions are appreciated. - Submarine controls feel amazing (weight 0.36): Controlling the submarine is awesome and moving it with the grapple is liked. Navigation works well when speaking together. - Chaotic and hilarious moments (weight 0.3): The co-op experience is chaotic and enjoyable, with goofy times and hilarious moments with friends. - Enjoyable cosmetics and customization (weight 0.26): Players enjoy the cosmetics and cute character customizations. - Cozy hub-world and appealing NPCs (weight 0.21): The hub-world is cozy and NPC designs are appealing, adding charm to the game. - Simple and pressure-free gameplay (weight 0.12): The gameplay is simple and pressure-free, making it accessible and relaxing. - Fans in base are brilliant (weight 0.12): The addition of fans in the base to move around is considered a brilliant addition. - Good game since update (weight 0.12): The game has become good since the update. - Insane progress from demo (weight 0.11): The game has made insane jumps from the demo in a very short time. - Still has 'The Spark' (weight 0.11): The game retains a special quality or 'spark' that makes it engaging. - A lot to work on (weight 0.11): Despite the positives, there is still a lot to work on. Common complaints: - Unfinished, unpolished state (weight 0.74): 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 (weight 0.68): 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 (weight 0.55): 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 (weight 0.53): 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 (weight 0.23): The game does not adequately explain core mechanics such as obtaining air or the purpose of items, leaving players confused. - Out-of-bounds in hub (weight 0.22): Players can easily get out of bounds in the hub area, and this issue persists even after a patch that fixed an old path. - Poor performance and textures (weight 0.21): Optimization is poor and the game requires a powerful computer; one reviewer experienced missing or low-quality textures. - Submarine soft lock (weight 0.13): A soft lock can occur with the submarine, potentially trapping players and halting progress. - Leak location unclear (weight 0.12): When the submarine takes on water after a collision, it is not clear where the leak is, making it hard to repair. - Role improvements needed (weight 0.12): Some submarine roles, such as the scope operator, could be improved with more ping options and similar features. - Not suited for solo play (weight 0.12): Reviewers note that the game is not designed for solo play, which may disappoint those expecting a single-player experience. - Character collision issues (weight 0.12): The character gets snagged on ledges and frames due to poor collision detection, causing frustration. - Treasure found too quickly (weight 0.11): Some players feel that treasure is discovered too quickly, reducing the sense of challenge or exploration. - Lack of danger (weight 0.11): Aside from self-inflicted harm from poor driving, there is little sense of danger, making the game feel too safe. Gameplay feedback: - Submarine roles (weight 0.55): 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 (weight 0.48): 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 (weight 0.45): Players can perform dives into the aquatic abyss, with varying dive experiences. Diving is a core activity involving exploration and risk. - Designed for friends (weight 0.39): 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 (weight 0.39): 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. - Varied activities (weight 0.35): Players can engage in activities like fishing, hooking pearls, combat with crabs, and playing music for fish. These add variety to the core loop. - Exploration and areas (weight 0.33): Players explore oceans with a friend, venturing into areas that become larger and more interesting. The base includes fans for movement and NPCs with distinct designs. - Sandbox and mission gameplay (weight 0.33): The game is currently more like a sandbox, with mission-based gameplay and a core loop of surviving, collecting, buying, and going deeper. It involves exploration and resource gathering. - Miscellaneous mechanics (weight 0.31): Other features include spawnable resources, cosmetics, depth thresholds, and grappling movement. These add depth to the simulation. - Repair and maintenance (weight 0.3): Players must repair the submarine as it sinks, patching hull breaches and pumping bilge. Teammates can also crank mechanisms to help keep the sub operational. - Progression and upgrades (weight 0.29): The game includes hull upgrades and the ability to repeatedly play the first area to earn resources. Different submarines with unique equipment are planned. - Sea of Thieves comparison (weight 0.29): The gameplay loop is similar to early Sea of Thieves but set underwater, with extraction and survival elements. Players compare the ship-as-home and repairing mechanics to that game. - Hub world (weight 0.22): The game features a hub area that serves as a central base for players. This hub likely provides upgrades, resources, and mission selection. - Player count flexibility (weight 0.21): The game supports two, three, or four players, accommodating different group sizes. A solo player would have to handle all roles simultaneously. - Slapstick co-op moments (weight 0.2): The game features slapstick humor, such as hitting each other with wrenches, enhancing the co-op experience. These moments contribute to a fun, chaotic atmosphere. Performance notes: - Launch and black screen issues (weight 0.31): 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 (weight 0.23): 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 (weight 0.13): The game crashes, disrupting play sessions. This adds to the instability issues reported alongside launch failures. - Rough launch experience (weight 0.13): 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 (weight 0.13): One user noted the game had little to no textures, resulting in severe visual degradation. This suggests incomplete asset loading or rendering problems. - Smooth on old hardware (weight 0.12): One reviewer reported the game ran very smoothly on an old computer, contrasting with the widespread optimization complaints. This indicates inconsistent performance across different systems. Recommendations: - Best with 1-2 friends (weight 0.46): 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 (weight 0.29): 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 (weight 0.13): 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 (weight 0.13): 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 (weight 0.13): Reviewers state the game is worth picking up and letting the team work through it. This general positive sentiment encourages acquisition and team play. - Worth keeping an eye on (weight 0.12): Some feedback suggests the game is worth watching for future improvements or updates. This indicates cautious interest rather than immediate recommendation. - Avoid or wait (weight 0.1): A minority advises avoiding the game entirely, though without specific reasons. This negative sentiment is low in frequency and detail. Other player notes: - Still in early access (weight 0.8): 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 (weight 0.66): 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 (weight 0.36): 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 (weight 0.3): 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 (weight 0.22): Updates are expected to add more content to submarine roles. The game updated and more content is incoming. - Developer engagement noted (weight 0.21): Developers are actively working on improvements, balancing toward a specific vision, and responding to reviews. - Official launch added content (weight 0.18): Official launch added many cool things, enhancing the game from its demo origins. - Launch issues resolved quickly (weight 0.12): Game did not start on release day but worked a day later, indicating quick fixes for launch problems. - Four co-op roles (weight 0.12): The review assigns four distinct co-op roles, highlighting the multiplayer structure. - Price point leniency (weight 0.11): Reviewer is lenient due to the low price point, suggesting value for money despite early state. - Met developers at event (weight 0.08): Reviewer met the developers at Gamebox and won a copy, providing personal context. Emotions: - Frustration (weight 0.18): Players are frustrated by persistent technical issues including black screens, crashes, and game-breaking bugs that often prevent the game from launching. They also struggle with unclear oxygen mechanics, getting stuck on environment collision, and poor optimization that demands a powerful computer. - Enjoyment (weight 0.14): Players enjoy exploring the oceans with friends and appreciate the game's fun concept, art style, and world design. The core gameplay loop is already enjoyable despite the game's rough state. - Excitement (weight 0.12): Players are excited about future features like fishing and crab combat, as well as the chaotic co-op dives with friends. The promising underwater extraction concept and cool worldbuilding generate anticipation for what's to come. - Optimism (weight 0.06): Optimism stems from the developers' quick fixes and the game's underlying potential. Players believe upcoming updates could turn the game into a solid experience based on its proven gameplay formula. - Anticipation (weight 0.06): Players look forward to seeing the game fully finished, including the full version with missions and hazards. They are eager to experience what the game will be like at launch. - Appreciation (weight 0.04): Players appreciate small improvements such as UI changes and balancing, as well as the art direction and fish designs. These details enhance the overall experience. - Amusement (weight 0.04): Amusement comes from hilarious and chaotic co-op moments, like yelling at friends to repair the sinking sub and blaming each other for failures. - Hope (weight 0.04): Players hope the game becomes an entertaining friendslop addition to their collection, as it is cute and has the chance to be a lot of fun. - Disappointment (weight 0.04): Disappointment arises from a rough launch with black screens during co-op attempts and little to no textures. Poor optimization further dampens the experience. - Satisfaction (weight 0.04): Satisfaction is felt from the developer's responsiveness and the amazing feel of controlling the submarine. - Fun (weight 0.02): Fun is had by playing with friends, doing dives, and going below the depth threshold together. - Panic (weight 0.02): Panic occurs when going below the submarine's depth threshold, creating tense moments. - Coziness (weight 0.02): The hub-world and NPC designs create a cozy atmosphere that players enjoy. - Faith (weight 0.02): Faith in the developers is built by their clear vision and work toward it. - Happiness (weight 0.02): Happiness is brought by fast update releases and the addition of a new biome. - Joy (weight 0.02): Joy comes from goofy times with friends during co-op sessions. - Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise is expressed at having a surprisingly good time with the game. - Love (weight 0.02): Love is felt for the puffer fish that nearly drowned the player, likely due to its memorable behavior. - Confusion (weight 0.02): Confusion arises from not being able to tell where the submarine is taking on water. - Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm is driven by seeing the rapid progress and treasure the game offers.}