In Below Zero, you can pin crafting recipes to your HUD so you don’t have to keep double-checking which materials you still need to get.

This is less a tip for you, and more of a nagging reminder to myself.

Don’t forget to take a Beacon with you before you head off into the deep unknown.

Below Zero has a new handheld tool called the Mineral Detector that’s really useful for visually busy areas like the cave systems. As such, it pays to pay attention (and keep extras back at home for your future self).

Every biome has its own resources for crafting and scannable parts for unlocking blueprints, although there is some overlap.

At a certain point, you may feel the need to consult a player-made map image, but I’d resist the temptation as long as you can. There isn’t an in-game map or even a mini-map to rely on - aside from landmarks like your central Drop Pod, it’s all in your head.

A huge part of the Subnautica series’ appeal is mapping out your surroundings.

If you’re up for Hardcore mode, more power to you. For me, Freedom mode strikes a nice balance with temperature and oxygen constraints to keep the pressure on but no hunger or thirst mechanics. Survival mode might be more than you bargained for, while Creative mode could be too easy since it gives you full access to all the blueprints. Different people will want different things from Below Zero, especially those of us who have limits with survival genre tropes.

It’s important to pick the right mode.

There are freaky beasts, don’t get me wrong, but they aren’t as unholy as some of the creatures in the last game.

Another recurring question: how scary is it? Honestly, Below Zero isn’t nearly as intimidating as Subnautica.

The core gameplay is the same in both games, and most of the crafting materials, recipes, and tools are one-to-one, but Below Zero has a more tightly packed map and a generally clearer story progression. Actually, I think some players might even prefer Below Zero if they found the (at times) very open-ended structure of Subnautica to be too overwhelming. That said, you don’t need to have played the first game to enjoy it.

Below Zero is a sequel to Subnautica, and it’s a standalone game, not an expansion.

To that end, I’ve also included some item-specific wiki links for further reading.

Some of these pointers will seem like no-brainers for experienced Subnautica players, but it’s good to have a refresher.

Whether you’re diving into Subnautica: Below Zero fresh off the original game or you’re coming in hoping to shake off the rust, here are some tips to get you started in this new standalone adventure. Below Zero starter tips for new and returning Subnautica players

Diamond subnautica below zero