Steam Makes Iconic Survival Game 100% Free Until April 6

Steam is kicking off April with a standout treat for survival fans: one of the most beloved entries in the genre is free to play right now, with a hefty discount if you decide to keep it. If you’ve been itching for a deep-dive adventure, this is your chance to take the plunge without spending a cent—so long as you jump in before April 6.

Subnautica is free to play for a limited time

The spotlight this week is on Subnautica, the atmospheric, underwater survival-crafting hit from Unknown Worlds. For a limited window, you can download and play the full game at no cost. Prefer to add it to your library permanently? It’s also discounted by around 75% in many regions during the same period, making it one of the best-value pickups on PC right now.

Subnautica strands you on an ocean planet teeming with alien life. From your lifepod, you’ll swim out into sunlit shallows, kelp forests, and pitch-black trenches, scavenging materials to craft tools, oxygen tanks, and submersibles. The sense of discovery is constant—bioluminescent caverns, volcanic zones, and creature-infested wrecks are waiting below the waves—while careful resource management and oxygen timers keep every excursion tense. Build a seafloor base, scan tech to expand your capabilities, and decide how bold you dare to be when you hear something very large moving just beyond your flashlight’s reach.

It’s a signature survival experience for good reason: clever progression, engrossing exploration, and a world that feels genuinely alien and alive. Whether you’re a newcomer or looking to revisit its depths, the free period offers more than enough time to find your sea legs and decide if it deserves a permanent berth in your library.

How to jump in

• Find Subnautica on the Steam store and hit Play to start the free period.
• The free access runs until April 6. After that, you’ll need to buy the game to continue.
• It’s on major sale during the event, with savings around 75% in many regions. Regional pricing and availability may vary.
• Progress from the free period carries over if you purchase the game.

Why now is a great time to browse Steam

Beyond Subnautica, Steam is currently celebrating homey, comfort-first releases with its House and Home Fest. Expect discounts across cozy builders and sims—think the satisfaction of pressure-washing grime away in PowerWash Simulator 2, laying foundations in Builder Simulator, or settling into smaller-scale indie projects like Whisper of the House, Creature Kitchen, and The Berlin Apartment. If you’re into crafting, decorating, or methodical gameplay loops, this event is a buffet.

There’s also a rotating slate of freebies beyond the big names. Right now, the first-person horror experience Depths Of Horror: Mushroom Day is 100% off to keep permanently through April 6, making it an easy add if you like bite-sized scares between longer sessions in the ocean depths.

Subnautica at a glance

• Genre: Open-world survival crafting, exploration
• Setting: An alien ocean planet with diverse biomes and dangerous wildlife
• Playstyle: Gather, craft, build, and explore; manage oxygen and health; uncover story beats through wrecks and data logs
• Release: Originally launched on PC in 2018, with later versions on modern consoles
• Reputation: Critically acclaimed, often cited as a high-water mark for survival games

Tips for first-time divers

• Prioritize survival basics: water, food, and extra O2 tanks.
• Scan everything—you’ll unlock blueprints that dramatically expand your options.
• Build a small seabase early; storage and crafting stations save countless trips.
• Plan your dives: craft beacons, carry spare batteries, and watch your depth limits.
• Listen carefully: audio cues can reveal both treasures and threats.

Make the most of the free window

Whether you’re chasing that first Seamoth build or just want to see what all the praise is about, Subnautica’s free window is an ideal excuse to suit up. Dive in before April 6 to explore risk-free, and if the call of the deep hooks you, the steep discount makes sticking around an easy decision.