Subnautica: Below Zerohas finally received its full release after a successful period in early access. The survival game keeps its core gameplay very similar to its predecessor,Subnautica,but does makea few significant changes, such as the introduction of arctic biomes and a new set of aggressive creatures to contend with.
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One of the many aspects thatBelow Zerocontinues from its predecessor is its lack of hand-holding. Players are free to explorethe game’s open worldin any direction they choose, and aren’t given too much insight as to what to do and where to go. Consequently, it can be difficult for new players to understand how best to approach the game. So, to give beginners some guidance, here are someSubnautica: Below Zerotips and tricks for the game’s opening hours.
Updated July 05, 2025, by Jack Pursey:Subantuica: Below Zeroreceived its full release a few months ago, and many players have now finished their memorable journey to Planet 4546B. Numerous players have been complimentary of the adventure, and the game received solid Metascores of 83 and 82 and Xbox Series X and PC respectively, encouraging many people to give the game a try.
Trying out this title easy for plenty of people today, as the game recently came to Microsoft’s Game Pass service. For those who are diving intothe arctic oceanfor the first time, we’ve updated this list to include five moreSubnautica: Below Zerotips.
15Never Travel To The World Edge
The World Edge, as the name suggests, is the edge of the game’s map. When people get close to the World Edge, they will be greeted by the horrifying message “WARNING. Entering ecological dead zone. The prospect for survival is fast approaching zero.”
For most people, this is a clear sign to take an immediate U-turn and travel far, far away. For gamers, however, this can be taken as a sign that they’re about to reach anexciting new areathat is integral to the story. Unfortunately, all that is waiting for the players in the biome is a swift death.
The World Edge essentially acts as an extreme invisible wall, as it stops players from travelling beyond the map’s edge by killing them. Three Void Chelicerate Leviathans will constantly spawn around the player, and will respawn if the player manages to kill them.
With the amount of fauna, resources, and pre-existing bases inSubnautica: Below Zero, the player’s databank is constantly being filled with new entries. Because of this, and because of how long some of the entries are, many players will decide not to bother reading any of them.
This is a mistake, as the databank entries provide vital information regarding how to progress in the campaign. They also include missable story moments, as well as handy information forhow to survive against aggressive creaturesand environmental hazards.
13Think Carefully About Base Placement
Base building can be one of the most enjoyable elements ofSubnautica: Below Zero, and players can be entertained for hours expanding and improving their base. Despite this, many new players overlook the most important aspect of base building: the base’s placement.
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Placing the base in a dangerous area can be a fatal error, as players may struggle to return if it’s been mistakenly placed around a group of Chelicerate Leviathans. Along with ensuring the base is safe, it’s also worth considering convenience, so that the base can be a hub between key locations.
12Upgrade The Oxygen Tank As Soon As Possible
Upgrading the oxygen tankshould be one of the first things that players do when starting a new campaign inBelow Zero.Although it may seem obvious, many new players put the upgrade off, putting themselves in constant danger of drowning and significantly slowing down their progress.
Upgrading the oxygen tank will let players dive deeper and stay in the water for considerably longer, which will make the opening hours of the game far easier.
11Keep An Eye Out For Ice Floes
Following on from the previous point about the dangers of drowning, players need to keep a constant eye out for ice floes. This term refers to large portions of ice that sit on the ocean’s surface, which can provide a barrier preventing players from reaching the top.
Below Zero’s ocean has a handful of areas that are densely populated with ice floes. Many of these ice floes can take over five seconds to pass, so it’s essential to keep an eye out for them when getting low on oxygen.
10Scan Everything
The scanner is one of the first items that players should craft. It’s constructed with one Titanium and one Battery at the Fabricator and will have many benefits for the player. The scanner’s main benefit is that it will teach them how to craft certain items required to progress further in the game.
When first startingBelow Zero, players may be nonchalant when it comes to scanning, as they believe they can return to certain areas anytime they chose. However, this is a common early-game mistake.Subnutica: Below Zerodoesn’t provide players with a map, so it can be easy to forget where key scannable items are located.
9Don’t Cook Fish Until Needed
Another common early-game mistake is stocking up on cooked fish. This may seem logical, asBelow Zerogives players a hunger meter that they must constantly keep an eye on to ensure that they don’t succumb to an avoidable death. However, cooked fish can’t be kept for too long, as they will go rotten if players don’t eat them swiftly.
Thankfully, the same issue doesn’t exist with drinkable water, which players are free to stock up on as much as they like.
8Always Carry A Couple Of Beacons
As mentioned before,Subnutica: Below Zerodoesn’t provide players with a map. Consequently, players will often find themselves struggling to locate previously visited areas, which can be a nightmare when trying to figure out the game’s world.
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Thankfully, there is an effective way to prevent this issue. Players are able to find and construct Beacons inBelow Zero, which will constantly display their location for the player to see.
Batteries are one of the most important items in all ofSubnautica: Below Zero,as players will use numerous electricals throughout their adventure, including key items like the scanner and seaglide.
When batteries reach the end of their charge, it may seem logical to throw them away to open up some inventory space. However, this would be a mistake as dead batteries can eventually be recharged and can also be used for crafting.
6Understand Creature Behaviour
Subnautica: Below Zero, much like its predecessor, fills 4546B with a plethora of terrifying predators. These predators are one of the players' biggest dangers, as they can deal significant damage or even kill the player if they get too close.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, it’s worth scanning predators to understand their behavior. For example, the Cryptosuchus may appear to be a serious issue for the player, but upon researching them, players will learn that they immediately retreat after being hit, making them easy to deal with.
