Rematch III · Survival
Subnautica vs Sons of the Forest
Two survival games on islands, one under the sea and one in the forest. Story and discovery against co-op and building.
3 : 2 Winner: Subnautica
Subnautica 89
You want the most memorable survival exploration game on Steam.
3
West
Sons of the Forest 86
You want a scary survival sandbox to play with friends.
2
Five rounds
- Round 1StorySubnauticaSubnautica tells its mystery through the world.
- Round 2Co-opSons of the ForestSons of the Forest supports up to eight players.
- Round 3AtmosphereSubnauticaThe deep ocean is unforgettable.
- Round 4BuildingSons of the ForestLog-by-log building is free and creative.
- Round 5Steam DeckSubnauticaSubnautica is Verified; Sons of the Forest is Unsupported.
Tale of the tape
| Compare | Subnautica | Sons of the Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 89 / 100 | 86 / 100 |
| Rank | Ozeki | Ozeki |
| Price | $29.99 | $29.99 |
| Players | Single-player | 1–8 players |
| Difficulty | Demanding | Hard |
| Typical playtime | ~40 h | ~35 h |
| Steam Deck | Verified | Unsupported |
| Systems | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Released | 23 Jan 2018 | 22 Feb 2024 |
| Depth | 94 | 90 |
| Feel | 92 | 88 |
| Easy to start | 84 | 78 |
| Replay | 80 | 84 |
| Value | 92 | 88 |
Pick Subnautica if
You want the most memorable survival exploration game on Steam.
Against Sons of the Forest it wins on atmosphere, story and sense of discovery. It is the better choice if you want a crafted world to explore alone rather than a sandbox to survive with friends.
Full review →Pick Sons of the Forest if
You want a scary survival sandbox to play with friends.
Against Subnautica it wins on co-op and on freedom of building. With friends, it turns into a loud survival sandbox. It is the better choice for a group.
Full review →Our call. Subnautica wins 3 rounds to 2. Pick Sons of the Forest if you want to survive with friends.
Updated 20 Oct 2026. Prices are US Steam list prices. Rounds are editorial judgements; scores follow our method.
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