Subnautica: The Game that Captures Fear
Did you know Subnautica can make you scared of the ocean? The survival game has a way of effectively capturing the fear of being lost in a cave, from the feeling of claustrophobia to the overwhelming vulnerability. Many of our readers agree, and a few chime in with their experiences with other games that evoke a similar feeling.
“Subnautica made me realize how creepy and terrifying being stuck in a cave underwater would be. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one,” says redditor J-Scoob. Others mention specific phobias, like thalassophobia (fear of the ocean) and submechanophobia (fear of man-made objects underwater).
“Dying in Subnautica no longer scares me, because I know it’s not a permanent consequence,” says another redditor. “I imagine it would be different if I was actually underwater.” Another user recommends turning down the sound or playing with headphones, as the scare factor is heightened by the game’s atmosphere.
We also get some recommendations for other games that have scared people. “I’ve had a similar experience with Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, where swimming in the dark with just the lamp on is incredibly terrifying even though there’s nothing there,” says another redditor. “Resident Evil for the PS1 also gave me that feeling at the Spencer Mansion, where you had to go through some dark hallways and were always worried about the dogs jumping you.”
One user shares a story about playing Subnautica and becoming the horrifying monster of the sea: “I was scared at first, then I became the scary thing itself. It’s my favorite game of all time.” Another mentions playing Subnautica in survival mode to make the experience more rewarding and intense.
Finally, there’s a light-hearted discussion about the Reaper Leviathan, a terrifying creature in Subnautica that pops up out of the deep blue and tries to make you into a meal. You can check out our Subnautica review if you want to see what we thought of the game.
Check out some of our other favorite games that make you feel like you’re lost in a cave, like The Forest, Minecraft, and Scanner Sombre. We also have a list of the best PC games that you should try, if you haven’t already.
