Summary
- Ocean Rift offers an educational VR experience of Earth's oceans as well as prehistoric seas.
- Beyond Blue provides a narrative adventure where players explore the ocean and interact with sea life.
- Loddlenaut is a game that tasks players with cleaning an alien ocean and raising deep sea creatures.
The ocean is a vast, mostly undiscovered wonder 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.
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The deep, blue unknown is the perfect setting for an exploration game.
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.
8 Ocean Rift
An Educational VR Experience
Ocean Rift
- Released
- September 13, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Llyr ap Cenydd
- Genre(s)
- Indie, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Steam, Meta Quest
Starting off with one of the most interesting underwater games, Ocean Rift is 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 Rift is also played entirely in Virtual Reality, allowing players to enjoy the underwater biomes without 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.
7 Beyond Blue
Explore The Boundless Wonder Of The Sea
Beyond Blue
- Released
- June 11, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Everyone // Alcohol Reference, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Violent References
- Developer(s)
- E-Line Media
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Casual, Simulation
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
VR isn't the only way to explore the deep ocean, as Beyond Blue is a narrative experience that 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 in Beyond Blue, players will meet all sorts of sea life while enjoying an incredible soundtrack that also makes Beyond Blue a 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.
6 Loddlenaut
Clean Up Every Crevice Of The Ocean
Loddlenaut
- Released
- November 16, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
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 adorable Loddlenaut. In this cozy title, the player is tasked with cleaning up the ocean on an open-world alien planet.
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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 of Loddlenaut but also raise adorable deep sea critters called Loddles, which change depending on what they have consumed.
5 Assassin's Creed 4 Black Flag
Dive To Explore Shipwrecks
Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag
- Released
- October 29, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
While Assassin's Creed 4 Black Flag focuses mainly on assassinations, due to the title of the Assassin's Creed franchise being set during 1715, players take on the role of a pirate sailing across the Caribbean seas. This means that Black Flag has 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 in Assassin's Creed 4 Black Flag, as some of these shipwrecks are 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.
4 Barotrauma
Exploring The Horrors Of The Deep Sea
Barotrauma
- Released
- March 13, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Players who think themselves to be quite brave or wish to experience deep sea exploration with friends should look no further than Barotrauma. 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 as Loddlenaut.
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 in Barotrauma may be dangerous, it's still a wonder to explore.
3 Abzu
One Of The Most Beautiful Underwater Games
Abzu
- Released
- August 2, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
While some games like to present the deep sea as being a fearful place filled with danger, Abzu highlights the beauty of the sea, creating one of the most extraordinary underwater adventure games. Since it was created by the art director of Journey, it's no surprise how incredible the visuals of Abzu are, as each area of the sea the player explores is just as vibrant as the next.
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Even when exploring the deepest parts of the ocean in Abzu, 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.
2 Dave The Diver
Fish And Explore During The Day And Manage A Restaurant At Night
Dave the Diver
- Released
- June 28, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
- Mintrocket
- Genre(s)
- Simulation, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Dave the Diver is 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 of Dave the Diver gets stranger the deeper the player dives under the waves.
1 Subnautica
An Expansive Underwater Adventure On An Alien Planet
Subnautica
- Released
- January 23, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Unknown Worlds Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
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 title Subnautica. 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 in Subnautica, there are various interesting underwater biomes available, from adorable coral beds to the horrifying deep sea filled with all 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.
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