Under the sea, down where it’s wetter, gaming is better, take it for free. Poor references aside, the ocean remains a never-ending bounty for stories and video games. In a way, the deep blue realm is like space – unexplored, littered with mystery and inhabited by strange alien creatures.
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Best of all, the setting is perfect for every genre. Whether you’re making ahorror gameabout surviving some undersea terror, a science fiction story about exploring with colorful aquatic critters, or some warped combination of the two, the ocean will provide. So, put on your scuba gear, because it’s time to dive into a treasure trove of the finest games found only in the briny deep.
10Barotrauma
The Depths of Terror
Barotrauma
Who hasn’t wanted to pilot a submarine? In Barotrauma, it takes a whole crew to operate and defend your vessel, and though the 2D game features NPCs to assist, it’s more fun to team up with other players in onlineco-op. It won’t be easy, as the deep is inhabited by terrifying entities that would make H. P. Lovecraft himself blush.
This game isn’t a simple drive in one direction. It requires teamwork to navigate the sub through a dark ocean inhabited by enormous sea monsters. Be prepared for a fight, as these battles can be intense. You won’t just be fending off outside organisms either as sometimes the nasty critters will breach the hull and come after your characters. Anything can happen and Barotrauma is a terrifying experience you won’t want to play alone.
9BioShock 2 Remastered
Return to Rapture
BioShock 2
Often considered the black sheep of the family,BioShock 2still captures the feeling of being trapped under the sea while putting the player intomoments of moral dilemmasthat the series is known for. Except now, Rapture has fallen into further ruin, its inhabitants having devolved into a cult of abominable maniacs.
One of the big selling points of the sequel is you get to play as a Big Daddy, and since your character is in a diving suit, it allows for moments where you get to leave the confines of Rapture and explore areas of the ocean. That aside, theFPSgameplay is another plus. Use the right trigger to fight enemies with your weapons and drill, and the left trigger to blast them with your array of enhanced Plasmid abilities, which can lead to unique combination attacks. Despite its setbacks, BioShock 2 is full of undersea fun.
Its multiplayer was enjoyable too. Sadly, this feature was not included in the remastered edition.
8Endless Ocean: Blue World
Relax & Explore
June 18, 2025
Adventure/Simulation
Some sequels have trouble living up to their predecessors, but sometimes, they excel and surpass the original, which is the case for Endless Ocean: Blue World. Only released on theNintendo Wii, despite its limited graphics, the game is a soothing experience about exploring the sea.
There’s no plot involving sea monsters or Lovecraftian nightmares – it’s just you scuba diving in various locations and interacting with the undersea life. Sure, there’s the occasional scary moment or two where you must avoid the more hazardous ocean creatures, but most of the game focuses on simulating a more calming side of the ocean. Endless Ocean is recommended for players looking for a more realistic video game.
7Dave the Diver
An Addicting Pixelated Adventure
Dave the Diver
Exploring the ocean can be hungry work, particularly for those who have a taste for seafood. Well, Dave the Diver can satisfy that desire as you take on the role of Dave – diver by day, restaurant worker by night – in anRPGadventure with a pixel art design.
With only a diving suit, a harpoon gun and a ranged weapon, you venture into the ocean to catch fish that you’ll serve as a sushi dish in your restaurant. Such a simple concept is what makes this game fun and addicting. With the money earned in the restaurant, you can upgrade your gear to dive further where the better fish lurk, which will unlock new recipes to serve your customers. Though it won’t be simple forever, the deeper you dive, you’ll soon discover there’s more than fish down there.
You Are a Monster
Watch out, players, she’ll chew you up. She’s a Maneater. Or better yet, you are. Because in this game, YOU get to play the monster. Go on a rampage where you’re mutating shark causes carnage and mayhem below and above the water.
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Maneater is pure mindless fun, along with the same sense of humor you’d usually find in theSaints Rowgames. The more creatures you consume, and the more collectibles you discover, the more your shark will mutate, going from a Jaws knockoff into a glowing behemoth out of aGodzillafilm. All in all, Maneater is perfect for those looking for a game to destress or to live out their fantasy of being an unstoppable monster.
5SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle For Bikini Bottom Rehydrated
An Utter Blast of Cartoon Fun
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? It’s that little yellow sponge in the remake of his classic 3D platformer:SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle For Bikini Bottom Rehydrated. In an aquatic adventure set in a cartoon world, you may go ahead and throw logic out the window.
You get to play as SpongeBob, or Patrick and Sandy. The city of Bikini Bottom has been invaded by Plankton and his army of robots. Using your characters’ unique abilities, it falls on SpongeBob and his friends to stop Plankton’s plans. Bust up machines across familiar locations from the show, hopping across platforms and locating hidden collectibles. Best of all, the remake includes cut content that didn’t make it into the original game.
The Empty Future
Set in a dark future,SOMAis a Sci-Fi and Horror tale that drops the player in an abandoned undersea base, with no memory of how they got there. FromFrictional Games, the same minds behind the Amnesia series, comes one of the most depressing games ever made, and that’s not an insult.
This isn’t a story about saving the world. SOMA delves into some heavy themes about extinction, transhumanism and digital immortality. The gameplay focuses more on atmosphere as the player explores each underwater facility, solving puzzles and picking up clues about what has happened. SOMA is like being cast into an abyss, and no matter where you turn, there’s no way out, and no happy ending waiting for you.
An Uplifting Journey
The ocean has never looked more beautiful or inviting than in the world ofABZÛ. Every creature and plant in this undersea environment is glowing with vibrant color. It should come as no surprise because the art director forJourneyworked on this. Even ABZÛ’s soundtrack and themes are similar, making the game feel like you’re in a guided meditation.
Don’t assume this game is just an endless void of swimming. There’s a story, but one with no dialogue whatsoever. ABZÛ wants players to piece together the clues and figure out the story on their own. Also, this is one of the few stories to feature a shark that acts like a proper marine creature and not just a wicked monster. ABZÛ is a short game, however, one you can probably finish within a few hours.
Fun Fact: The translation for ABZÛ means “Ocean of Wisdom.”
2BioShock Remastered
“A Man Chooses, A Slave Obeys”
Anyone who’s ever heard of an undersea game knew this was coming. After all, it’s considered one of thegreatest first-person shooters of all timethat forever changed storytelling in video games. InBioShock, a plane accident leaves you stranded at sea, with no choice but to take a bathysphere to the hidden city of Rapture.
What seems like salvation turns into a claustrophobic fight for survival, as the utopia has fallen, its inhabited driven psychotic and its children turned into corpse harvesters, guarded by massive brutes called Big Daddies. Utilizing an arsenal of upgradable guns and Plasmids, the only way out is to fight. BioShock forever remains an unforgettable experience, one with the biggest twist in gaming history, where a story about escaping an underwater city turns into a tale about how a man was a slave all along.
1Subnautica
Scan, Scavenge & Survive
Subnautica
Being lost at sea is a scary thought, but being lost on a planet that’s nothing but water? Now that’s a nightmare. When it comes toopen-world games, Subnautica is among the best. Alone and armed with nothing but a PDA and a fabricator, how you survive is up to you.
The world of Subnautica is open to explore from the moment you begin. you’re able to go wherever you please and scavenge however you wish. Just don’t expect things to go smoothly. While some creatures are benign, others are eager to take a bite out of the player, particularly the Leviathans. But by foraging for items and materials, you’ll steadily construct better equipment and even build an undersea base. With so much freedom, gameplay and the perfect balance of terror, Subnautica stands on its own as the most satisfying game you’ll ever find under the sea.
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