As the breeze gets warmer and the heat becomes a tad bit unbearable, one simply cannot help but long for the smell of salt in the air while basking in the temporary relief provided by the cool seawater.
Yet, alas, not everyone lives near a good beach nor has the privilege of taking some time off to feel the sand and ocean foam between their toes.
But perhaps the magic of video games can help with that much-needed ‘Vitamin Sea’ fix — from relaxing deep-sea explorations to the thrill of being chased by ocean leviathans.
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Beyond Blue
If you have ever been fascinated with National Geographic or BBC’s underwater documentaries and wondered what it must be like mingling with creatures of the ocean, Beyond Blue is for you.
In this single-player diving exploration game, you take on the role of Mirai, a deep-sea explorer and scientist part of a new research team tasked to “see, hear and interact with the ocean in a more meaningful way than has ever been attempted” using innovative technologies.
The game requires the player to swim around while scanning different underwater animals, with the information on each species logged for later perusal.
With inspiration from BBC’s Blue Planet II documentary, Beyond Blue is the perfect way to live out one’s deep-sea diving exploration dreams, or at least satiate a person’s curiosity about the ocean and its inhabitants.
Raft
Set on a flooded Earth, thanks to climate change, Raft is a survival game in which the player’s task is to build a raft that can safely traverse the perilous ocean.
Raft begins with the player waking up on a small raft, equipped with nothing but a hook.
However, the seemingly fragile tool can be used to catch debris floating by, which can help expand the raft, tend to the player’s thirst and hunger, or craft equipment and other things to aid in survival.
But don’t be too lax, as the ocean is filled with man-eating sharks that could swiftly end your journey.
While the game is mostly spent floating around the endless ocean, certain adventures will bring players to areas on land lost to time and nature.
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Dave the Diver
Step into the flippers of Dave in Dave the Diver and discover the secrets of the Blue Hole while helping your friend in his new sushi restaurant.
In this casual adventure and management game, the player controls Dave as he catches fish for the sushi restaurant in the morning using his harpoon and other weapons.
By night, Dave assists in the establishment, where he meets rather eccentric but charming characters.
Apart from the main gameplay of catching fish and fighting dangerous sea creatures, players can also enjoy a variety of minigames, side quests and storylines.
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Subnautica
Crashlanding on an alien oceanic planet is certainly not the kind of swimming getaway a sane person has in mind — but if you are someone craving for a heart-pounding, adrenaline-rush kind of fun, then Subnautica has you covered.
You play as Ryley Robinson, the sole survivor of the spacecraft “Aurora” after it crashed on Planet 4546B.
The main objective is to survive, investigate the crash and return home.
But it is not as easy as it sounds, as Ryley must navigate through unfamiliar waters filled with alien creatures — both docile and dangerous.
The player is expected to gather resources and craft equipment and weapons for survival, while also ensuring that Ryley stays safe, fed and hydrated.
If the original game is not enough, there is also Subnautica: Below Zero.
Below Zero takes place on the same planet two years after the first game. Players control Robin Ayou, who is on a mission to find the truth behind her sister’s death.
Below Zero‘s gameplay is technically the same as Subnautica, only with new creatures and tools, as well as a storyline and characters that connect to the first game’s lore.
Unknown Worlds, the development team behind the award-winning survival game, also released Subnautica 2 to early access on the online distribution platform Steam on May 14.
It now offers the much-requested multiplayer option, as well as tons of new underwater alien species and lore for players to discover.
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