Following a successful stay in early access, Subnautica: Below Zero received its full release on May 14, 2021. The game has been well-received by fans and critics, exemplified by its 83 Metascore on Xbox Series X, including a 4.5-star review from The Best War Games's Pam K Ferdinand.
Along with searching for resources, building bases, and avoiding predators, many players are already trying to unlock all of the game's achievements. There are only thirteen to get, though they require players to complete every key quest in the game. So, for anyone stuck, here's how to unlock all thirteen Subnautica Below Zero achievements.
Updated on November 9, 2021, by Jack Pursey: Subnautica: Below Zero received its full release over five months ago, and many players have now completed their adventure in Planet 4546B. Moreover, the game recently joined its predecessor on Microsoft's Game Pass subscription service, giving numerous players the chance to explore the game's beautiful yet horrifying horrifying ocean depths.
Now that many players have completed the main story, a fair few diehard players will be looking to earn all the achievements. To help such players out, we have updated this list to include a short and sweet Subnautica Below Zero achievement guide under each entry.
Drop in the Ocean
Drop In The Ocean is by far the easiest achievement in the game. When starting a new campaign, players will be on the wrong end of a crash landing, much like in the first Subnautica. Following the crash, the player will see their Drop Pod falling into the ocean in the distance.
To unlock this achievement:
- Follow the waypoint displayed after the opening crash.
- Enter the Drop Pod in the Twisty Bridges and the achievement will unlock.
Like Riding a Bike
One of Subnautica: Below Zero's new features is the introduction of arctic biomes. The biomes add a nice change of pace to the game, letting players take a break from the dangers that lie below the water. Unfortunately, the artic biomes don't provide a safe haven, as they have their own set of troubles for players to contend with. Thankfully, the new biomes are partnered with a new vehicle, the Snowfox.
To unlock this achievement:
- Head to the Phi Robotics Center and scan the Snowfox Hoverpad.
- Craft the Snowfox Hoverpad with a Habitat Builder using 2x Titanium and 1x Wiring Kit.
- Find and scan Snowfox fragments, they are located in the Phi Robotics Center, Glacial Basin, Basin, and Marguerit Maida's Base.
- Craft the Snowfox at the Hoverpad using 2x Magnetite, 1x Battery, 1x Lubricant, and 1x Titanium.
- Ride the Snowfox and the achievement will unlock.
Truckin'
The Snowfox isn't the only new vehicle introduced in Subnautica: Below Zero, as the game also offers the player a Seatruck. Initially, the vehicle is very similar to the Seamoth from the previous game, though players will be able to expand it by constructing and attaching modules.
To unlock this achievement:
- Find and scan Mobile Vehicle Bay fragments, they can be found in the Twisty Bridges, Arctic Kelp Caves, and Arctic Kelp Forest.
- Craft the Mobile Vehicle Bay using 1x Titanium Ingot, 1x Lubricant, and 1x Computer Chip.
- Find and scan Seatruck fragments, they can be found in the Twisty Bridges, Purple Vents, and Thermal Spires biomes.
- Craft the Seatruck at the Mobile Vehicle bay using 1x Titanium Ingot, 1x Advanced Wiring Kit, 2x Glass, 3x Lead, and 1x Power Cell.
- Once the Seatruck has been crafted, the achievement will unlock.
Spy Pengling
Yet another new item in Below Zero is the Spy Pengling. The small robot is predominantly used to enter inaccessible caves, though it also has other benefits such as being able to take fur from a Snow Stalker.
To unlock this achievement:
- Find and scan Spy Pengling fragments, they can be found in the Phi Robotics Center, Glacial Basin, Basin, and Marguerit Maida's Base.
- Craft the Spy Pengling at a Fabricator with 2x Titanium, 1x Wiring Kit, 1x Silicone Rubber, and 1x Battery.
- The achievement will unlock once the Spy Pengling is crafted.
Necessary Repairs
One thing that differentiates Subnautica: Below Zero from most other open-world games is the lack of set-quests. There are only a handful of definitive quests for players to complete in Below Zero, one of which is repairing the bridge in Glacial Bay.
To unlock this achievement:
- Scan the used Hydraulic Fluid that is on the bridge.
- Construct the Hydraulic Fluid at a Fabricator using 1x Creepvine Seed and 4x Gel Sack.
- Repair the bridge using the Hydraulic Fluid and the achievement will unlock.
Xenobiology
For most players, Xenobiology will be the second achievement that they unlock, following Drop in the Ocean. It is a key story moment in the game that sets up one of Subnautica: Below Zero's main quest lines.
To unlock this achievement:
- Head to Sanctuary Zero in the Twisty Bridges. Its location will be hinted to players early on in the game when the player receives an SOS from Al-An.
- Sanctuary Zero's location will then be revealed once the player scans an Ancient Artifact.
- The achievement will be unlocked after the cutscene where Al-An enters Robin's head.
Another Survivor
Unlike its predecessor, Subnautica: Below Zero will give the player another character to interact with sporadically throughout the campaign. Marguerit Maida became a resident of planet 4546B after a Reaper Leviathan destroyed the Deep Grand Reef Degasi Base where she worked. She managed to kill the Reaper and has its skull hanging in her base.
To unlock this achievement:
- A waypoint will appear titled "Pilot - Last Known Position" when the player is near the Purple Vents biome.
- Head to the waypoint and look for a cave nearby (be careful not to enter the Crystal Caves, though, as the dangerous Shadow Leviathans lurk within).
- Find and enter Margurit's Maida's Base for the achievement to unlock.
Pirate Radio
Once players reach the aforementioned base of Marguerit Maida, they will be able to scan the Test Override Module. The Test Override Module is needed to disable Alterra's communication tower, which can be found at the top of Delta Island.
To unlock this achievement:
- Scan the Test Override Module at Marguerit Maida's base.
- It can be constructed at a Fabricator using 1x Parallel Processing Unit, 1x Titanium, 1x Lead, and 1x Copper Wire.
- Head to the Alterra Communication Tower at the top of Delta Island.
- Plug the Test Override Module in the tower and the achievement will unlock.
Out of Mind
Once players reach the previously mentioned Sanctuary Zero and have the unpleasant sensation of Al-An blasting into their head, the game's main quest will become clear. Players need to construct a vessel for Al-An so that he can leave Robin's head.
The achievement Out of Mind is unlocked once players successfully construct the vessel. To construct the vessel, players need to find the Architect Organs in the Crystal Caves Cache, find the Architect Skeleton in the Deep Lilypads Cave Cache and find the Architect Tissue from the Arctic Spires Cache. Once all three have been found, players can travel to the Fabricator Base and construct the vessel.
To unlock this achievement:
- Find the Architect Organs in the Crystal Caves Cache.
- Find the Architect Skeleton in the Deep Lilypads Cave Cache.
- Find the Architect Tissue in the Arctic Spires Cache.
- Travel to the Fabricator Base and construct the vessel to unlock the achievement
Jukebox Hero
From the game's most challenging achievement to one of its most enjoyable. Subnautica: Below Zero lets players take a break from being chased by Squidsharks and Shadow Leviathans by unwinding in their base and listening to some of planet 4546B's best tunes.
To unlock Jukebox Hero, players need to construct a Jukebox for their base, which can be done with the Habitat Builder.
To unlock this achievement:
- Construct a Jukebox with a Habitat Builder using 1x Quartz and 2x Titanium.
- Place the Jukebox in a base and the achievement will unlock.
Dressed For The Weather
The Arctic Biome may provide a nice change of pace for players, but as mentioned before, it comes with its own set of issues. Along with Snow Stalkers and an enormous Ice Worm, the player will also have to be careful of their body temperature when venturing into the arctic. Thankfully, there is a solution to the threat of hypothermia, as players can construct a Cold Suit.
To unlock this achievement:
- Head to the Phi Robotics Center and scan fragments for the Cold Suit, Cold Suit Gloves, and Cold Suit Helmet.
- Construct the Cold Suit using 2x Fiber Mesh and 2x Snow Stalker Fur.
- Construct the Cold Suit Gloves using 1x Fiber Mesh and 1x Snow Stalker Fur.
- Construct the Cold Suit Helmet using 1x Fiber Mesh and 1x Snow Stalker Fur.
- Once the full suit has been constructed, the achievement will unlock
Finding the Cure
One of the most striking and memorable moments in Subnautica: Below Zero, especially for those who didn't watch the trailers, is when the player is greeted by an enormous Leviathan in an ice cave. Thankfully, the Leviathan is frozen, so players don't need to worry about a sudden ambush. Upon further inspection, it will become clear that the Leviathan is infected with Kharaa.
To unlock Finding the Cure, players need to use the Kharaa Antidote on the Frozen Leviathan. The antidote was hidden by Robin's sister, Sam, in a Glacial Basin cave that is accessible with the Spy Pengling.
To unlock this achievement:
- Look for a small cave in the Glacial Basin at the coordinates -1305, 6, -1141.
- Use a Spy Pengling to enter the cave and retrieve the antidote within.
- Head to the Frozen Leviathan in the Phi Excavation Site.
- Use the antidote on the Frozen Levithan and the achievement will unlock.
Into The Unknown
Into The Unknown is the final achievement unlocked in the game. Once players construct Al-An's vessel, they will be able to leave Planet 4546B with him for the Architect planet.
The achievement will be unlocked once players reach the Architect planet, which appears to be hinting at the release of a third Subnautica game.
To unlock this achievement:
- Follow all of the steps from the aforementioned Out of Mind entry.
- Join the newly constructed Al-An in leaving Planet 4546B.
- The game will end and the achievement will unlock.
Subnautica: Below Zero was fully released on May 14, 2021, and is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.