Your first two hours in Subnautica are the most disorienting and the most important. The game drops you into an alien ocean with a minimal explanation, a small emergency supply cache, and a ticking survival clock. Get through these first two hours with a clear plan, and you will establish the foundation for one of the most rewarding gaming experiences available. Approach them blindly without any direction, and you risk dying repeatedly in shallow water wondering what to do. This is your survival plan for the first two hours of Subnautica.
Minute 0-10: Emergency Survival
You have just been ejected from the Aurora in a Lifepod. Your first actions: open your Lifepod’s Storage to collect the emergency supplies (First Aid Kits, a starting resource pack), check your PDA (read the initial alerts — they are not just tutorial text; they contain orientation information), and step outside to visually survey your immediate environment. Do not swim far from the Lifepod. Get your bearings first.
Minute 10-30: Immediate Resources
You need food and water within the first hour. Swim in the immediate area and collect: Bladderfish (small blue fish floating near the surface — process them in the Fabricator for water), Peepers (bright yellow fish — eat them raw for food and some water), and any Titanium (from limestone outcrops on the seafloor — you will need this for crafting). Return to the Lifepod regularly during this phase; you are learning the immediate area’s layout.
Minute 30-60: First Crafts
Use the Lifepod’s Fabricator to craft your first tools. Priority order: Scanner first (without it you cannot unlock blueprints), then a Knife (for harvesting plants and defence), then begin collecting materials for a Seaglide. Swimming without a Seaglide is painfully slow, and the sooner you build one, the faster your exploration becomes. The Seaglide requires Titanium, Copper, Batteries, and Lubricant — all findable in the starting area.
Minute 60-90: First Exploration
With a Scanner and Seaglide, begin scanning everything you encounter. Scan every creature (unlocks database entries with useful information), scan every glowing fragment (unlocks blueprints for vehicles and advanced equipment), and scan every piece of alien technology you find. The fragments for the Radiation Suit are in this area — finding them is your primary exploration goal. You will need the Radiation Suit to safely approach the Aurora later.
Minute 90-120: First Base
If you have collected enough Titanium and Quartz (for glass), begin placing your first base module. Even a single corridor with a Fabricator and a Storage Locker dramatically improves your logistics. Place a Water Filtration Machine as your first internal addition — this permanently solves your water problem. Build near the seafloor in 15-20 metres of water for easy Solar Panel access. Mark it with a Beacon immediately so you can always find it.
What to Avoid in Your First Two Hours
- Do not swim deep before you have oxygen upgrades and a vehicle — the ocean gets dangerous fast
- Do not ignore your hunger and thirst meters — they drain faster than you expect
- Do not approach the Aurora — you will get radiation damage without the Radiation Suit
- Do not forget to listen to the radio in your Lifepod — story signals will arrive that mark important locations
Beginner Videos on RicardoPlays
The RicardoPlays channel’s Subnautica series begins from the very first minutes of the game, with Ricardo playing without any guide — discovering the starting area exactly as a new player would. His early episodes are the best possible companion to this written guide, showing every step in action. Subscribe for the full beginner experience across the Subnautica series.