Subnautica 2 Walkthrough Hub: Early Access Guide

Whether you’re the type of player to explore first and ask questions later or need some narrative guidance, Subnautica 2 is capable of catering to both. The world, thus far in the early access, is quite open and allows you to travel for as long as you’re physically able to. Subnautica 2 doesn’t punish the explorer for wandering everywhere that is available to access, save maybe some hotter waters. The game also doesn’t leave any player behind; occasionally, you’ll get a ping from NoA, letting you know to check in regularly, and the System will give you locations to travel to if you haven’t discovered them yourself yet.

We’ve organized the story beats of Subnautica 2’s early access by varying levels of advancement to help give you better guidance on where to go, how to get certain items and scans, and make progress on your base and resource gathering. Quests and Walkthroughs are subject to change with future updates to Subnautica 2.

Missing Colonists

The first portion of Subnautica 2’s gameplay and story is going to be based on finding out what happened to the missing colonists who came to Proteus before you. You’ll be tasked with seeking out the colonists' Blackboxes, testaments that record the last moments and thoughts of the deceased. By finding more Blackboxes, you can discover what happened to the group and try to track down any survivors.

The beginning area consists of the Coral Fields, the Desert, the Bloom Infestation, the Anemone Coast, and the BFJ (Big Friendly Jellyfish or Behemoth Finger-legged Jelly). Attempting to go any farther east will require a new adaptation, and there are a series of Quests you need to complete before then.

Tadpole Pens and Zip's Blackbox

After discovering what happened at the Old Habitat and obtaining the Heat Tolerance Adaptation at the Angel Comb in the Bloom Infested area, your next objective will be finding the next major colonists' structure: The Tadpole Pens. The Tadpole Pens are located to the east in the volcanic biome, past a giant chunk of the Cicada that’s landed in the roots of an alien volcano. Marrowbreathers swim comfortably here, and there are pesky Hoverthorns that disrupt your vision if they attack you.

This area is the beginning of the next stage in Subnautica that graduates you from just being a beginner. Here is where you’ll discover the Tadpole Pens, an Abandoned Native Habitat, the Trench, and the Alien Civilization, even farther out east.