Subnautica: Below Zero is a narrative survival game, and how you consume the story matters enormously. Unlike the original Subnautica, which had a single coherent storyline you uncovered through exploration, Below Zero juggles two storylines simultaneously — Robin’s personal investigation into her sister’s death and the alien AL-AN’s efforts to find a body to inhabit. Understanding how these threads relate and how to experience them without missing key moments is the purpose of this watch order guide.
Why a Playthrough Watch Order Matters
Ricardo has produced a comprehensive Below Zero video series on the RicardoPlays channel covering every major story moment, key gameplay system, and decision point in the game. If you are following along with the series while playing yourself, or if you are watching without playing, understanding the sequence of the story makes a significant difference to how the narrative lands. Some story reveals only work if you have experienced the preceding events in order.
Recommended Watch Order for Below Zero Story
The recommended narrative order for Below Zero follows the game’s own story progression: start with Robin’s arrival on Planet 4546B and her initial investigation at Delta Station. The first major story beat involves discovering what happened to her sister Sam. This leads to the AL-AN introduction, which shifts the game’s focus significantly. The relationship between Robin and AL-AN is Below Zero’s emotional core, and experiencing it in the intended sequence — rather than rushing to specific locations — makes it considerably more impactful.
- Phase 1: Arrival and Survival Setup — Delta Station investigation, first encounter with alien signals
- Phase 2: Discovering AL-AN — the Architect encounter and the beginning of their partnership
- Phase 3: Sam’s Story — uncovering the events that brought Robin to the planet
- Phase 4: Arctic Region Exploration — venturing to land-based areas and the Arctic Spires
- Phase 5: Deep Ocean Mysteries — Thermal Spires and the Fabricator Cavern below
- Phase 6: The Architect Body — finding AL-AN a form and the story’s resolution
- Finale: Departure — the game’s conclusion and its emotional payoff
Ricardo’s Below Zero Series on RicardoPlays
The RicardoPlays channel features a complete Below Zero walkthrough series covering every major story moment with Ricardo’s commentary on the narrative, the design choices, and the moments that make Below Zero special as a follow-up to the original Subnautica. This guide and the accompanying video series together provide the most complete coverage of Below Zero’s story and gameplay available from the channel.