Play Subnautica first or start here?

[Nega Prophet Adult Warhead]

Salutations fellow divers,

I like ocean based games and I want to start playing the Subnautica franchise, but I'd just like to know if Below Zero is more like a DLC of the Subnautica or Subnautica 2, and should I bother playing Subnautica first or I can start with Below Zero directly.

[Dirak2012]

Below Zero is more streamlined and optimized, but it's also a very different experience from the original. It's a good game but a bad sequel.
It was originally meant as a dlc, but it ballooned into a *entire* game set after the events of the original with a different map and protagonist.
I'll always recommend to play the original first.

[Coops]

Below Zero did have much better QoL improvements over the original when it launched, but those mechanics were imported back to Subnautica. So now they are similar.

[SIX]

I would start with subnautica there is no reason to skip it.

[R34L X]

it feels like a texture pack

[Pragmatic Tornado]

Subnautica is one of my favourite games. Possibly top 10. It is by far my most played VR game, and the only one that has managed to hold my attention for many hours at a time. This expansion pack, however, isn't even in my top 500.

You may like this one, but do yourself a favour and start with the first one. It's simply leagues above.

[traviniperv]

Subnautica first, its a little simpler and a good intro. Also dont be afraid to go dig up walkthrus online. This game is not as easy as it first appears.

[Necrosario]

Originally posted by traviniperv:

Also dont be afraid to go dig up walkthrus online. This game is not as easy as it first appears.

I would totally disagree with that. Keep the pleasure of exploration and do not spoil the game by watching videos about it.

[traviniperv]

Originally posted by Necrosarius:

Originally posted by traviniperv:

Also dont be afraid to go dig up walkthrus online. This game is not as easy as it first appears.

I would totally disagree with that. Keep the pleasure of exploration and do not spoil the game by watching videos about it.

Sorry I didnt mean it like that.

I meant, when you get stuck, dont be afraid to go look for help.
I should have been more clear.

[Front Bucket]

You would absolutely be doing yourself a disservice playing Below Zero First. I have played both from EARLY development as they were literally pushing daily updates to Subnautica 1. I would call subnautica in release order very curated and amazing. You progress in challenging and meaningful ways going in order. To reverse the order may mess with that amazing progressing route, primary I think you might feel like "where is part X," and "where is thing x, that let me do thing y?" because of the streamlined entry into below zero. You will spend more time in the shallows in the first, getting acclimated for a while. Below zero starts pretty fast into the better parts, but with little explanation or acclimation. It's story is told ENTIRELY differently as well. Below Zero may make you shy away from the more silent story telling of the original. The sequel is dialogue heavy, the original is nooooooot. Subnautica's first few seconds reveal that it is a true survival game, you are stranded. About 10 minutes later, it pretty well dashes the hopes of some quick escape. Below Zero reveals very very quickly that the planet, in the expansion's time-frame, is not really a survival situation anymore, as much as a Human Vs. Nature experience. The sequel it is implied your character could kinda maybe probably kinda leave if they even attempted to contact someone.

TL;DR: They are two different experiences. You may enjoy the second one more than the first one. That's ok. They are designed to be experienced in order for the challenges and progression to make sense. Reversing may make the first feel weird, but going in order can't do that.

[Ez Duzit]

You will never like the second one more then the first one.
Below zero is not a horrible game but it is vastly inferior in every way to Subnautica.

So if you play Subnautica first you will have such a good experience you will absolutely want to play Subnautica Below zero to get more Subnautica goodness.
But if you play Below zero first, there is a good chance you would not want to play Subnautica. Because having played the 2nd one first and having only a so-so experience, you wouldn't know that the first one was leaps and bounds better in every way.
So play the first one first.

[DangerousDD]

The first one still has 3k+ player avg. You will def love the first one.

[Eightball]

I agree with all those that suggest you play the first, well, first.

And I would add my voice to those above that say you should play blind to get the most enjoyment out of it. There are some wondrous moments to be discovered in the 1st game so don't cheat yourself of the experience.

Of course I have never understood those that watch YT, extensively read wikis and peruse 'hint' articles before playing a game as I find discovering things myself as I play is far more enjoyable.

[infirit]

Been doing a play-through without a "companion". While some may find the "companion" annoying it does add a lot to the game's narrative.

Yes play the first subnautica before this one but when you start below zero, try to get your "companion" as early as possible.

[УдивительнаяДама]

I am just like "What happened to the queen or whatever.....and her babies..."