Summary
The ocean is a vast,mostly undiscoveredwonder that has only had a few people attempt to explore the deepest areas of it. This curiosity about the sea has led many developers to create games that focus on this deep sea exploration, from both open-world titles to those that simply focus heavily on the ocean.
Players who are looking for some of the best games for deep ocean exploration should look no further than these titles, with some of them not only exploring our seas but others instead taking players on an even greater adventure through exploring the deep oceans of alien planets.
Starting off with one of the most interesting underwater games,Ocean Riftis not only an extraordinary title due to it being educational, as it allows players to explore not only the current oceans of Earth but also the prehistorical ones, where players can meet the various dinosaurs that once called the deep sea their home.
Ocean Riftis also played entirely in Virtual Reality, allowing players to enjoythe underwater biomeswithout needing to hold their breath while using the Meta Quest. Using the innovative motion controls of the Meta Quest, players are free to actually swim around these habitats in one of the first underwater safaris.
VR isn’t the only way to explore the deep ocean, asBeyond Blueisa narrative experiencethat will have players tracking all sorts of sea life as well as diving deep under the waves to see, hear, and interact with the ocean in a variety of meaningful ways, by playing as Mirai, a deep-sea explorer, and researcher.
Across these eight unique dives to be a part of inBeyond Blue, players will meet all sorts of sea life while enjoying an incredible soundtrack that also makesBeyond Bluea great, relaxing experience. Not to forget to mention the availability of mini-documentaries that hope to open the player’s eyes to more of the wonders found within the ocean.
Aside from educational underwater adventures, there are deep ocean exploration games that allow players to feel as if they are being helpful. One great example of this is the adorableLoddlenaut. In this cozy title, the player is tasked with cleaning up the ocean on an open-world alien planet.
Players will unlock various new gadgets to help with their cleaning as they explore new areas of the alien planet underwater and recycle the various bits of trash they find. In between cleaning tasks, players can not only explore the planet ofLoddlenautbut also raise adorable deep sea critters called Loddles, which change depending on what they have consumed.
WhileAssassin’s Creed 4 Black Flagfocuses mainly on assassinations, due to the title of theAssassin’s Creedfranchise being set during 1715, players take on the role of a pirate sailing across the Caribbean seas. This means thatBlack Flaghas plenty of underwater side activities for the player to get involved in that were incredibly popular at the time, from hunting sharks to diving to exploring shipwrecks.
There is great adventure to be had under the waves inAssassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag,as some ofthese shipwrecksare known to be quite deep underwater, revealing an entirely different world to the player that allows them to escape the creed for a few moments.
Players who think themselves to be quite brave or wish to experience deep sea exploration with friends should look no further thanBarotrauma. Players must work together in this 2D submarine simulator as they explore some of the deepest parts of an alien ocean that isn’t as cozy asLoddlenaut.
As players explore deeper as a team in their submarine, they are likely to encounter all sorts of horrors they must survive against while making sure to keep the ship intact. Although the threats outside the submarine inBarotraumamay be dangerous, it’s still a wonder to explore.
While some games like to present the deep sea as being a fearful place filled with danger,Abzuhighlights the beauty of the sea, creating one of the most extraordinary underwater adventure games. Since it was created by the art director ofJourney, it’s no surprisehow incredible the visualsofAbzu are, as each area of the sea the player explores is just as vibrant as the next.
Even when exploring the deepest parts of the ocean inAbzu, the bioluminescence that brightens these dark areas creates its own beauty while also creating a game that players will likely enjoy exploring while attempting to relax.
Dave the Diveris arguably one of the most interesting games for exploring the deep ocean. As a sushi restaurant owner, Dave spends his mornings fishing for the ingredients he needs to make a profit in the nighttime by selling his sushi.
When players don’t wish to manage their restaurant or fish, they can instead go deep-sea diving, where Dave and his friends hope to uncover the mysteries that are to be found within the Blue Hole. Naturally, the story ofDave the Divergets stranger the deeper the player dives under the waves.
By far, one of the great games for players who are looking for a title where they can truly explore the deep ocean should look no further than the survival titleSubnautica. In this game, which’s set on an alien planet, a player makes their home underwater as they attempt to not only find a way to escape this water-covered planet but also uncover what has happened to the lab that can be found deep below the surface.
With a whole open world for the player to explore inSubnautica, there are various interesting underwater biomes available, from adorable coral beds to the horrifying deep sea filled withall sorts of dangerous sea creatures. Players will have to brave the deep to uncover all its mysteries in one of the greatest deep sea games.
