Choose Subnautica
Choose Subnautica if you want the VR Supported side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 177,256 Steam reviews back the pick.
Subnautica vs Fantastic Fishing
Subnautica and Fantastic Fishing both land in Indie, Adventure on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam. Subnautica (2018) is 2 years older than Fantastic Fishing (2020). Subnautica scores higher on Steam reviews (96.9% positive) than Fantastic Fishing (40% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Fantastic Fishing
Choose Fantastic Fishing if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 73% cheaper on the Steam Store. Fantastic Fishing launched in 2020.
Both Subnautica and Fantastic Fishing sit in Indie and Adventure on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Subnautica |  Fantastic Fishing | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2020 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure | Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 7.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96.9% positive (177,256 reviews) | 40% positive (10 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Unknown Worlds Entertainment | The Periodic Group |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Subnautica (2018) is 2 years older than Fantastic Fishing (2020).
- Subnautica scores higher on Steam reviews (96.9% positive) than Fantastic Fishing (40% positive).
- Fantastic Fishing is currently ~73% cheaper on Steam than Subnautica (7.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Subnautica is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Fantastic Fishing has no Deck rating yet.
Subnautica vs Fantastic Fishing — FAQ
- Should I play Subnautica or Fantastic Fishing first?
- If you want chronology, Subnautica (2018) came out before Fantastic Fishing (2020). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Subnautica and Fantastic Fishing similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Adventure on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does Subnautica run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Subnautica is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Fantastic Fishing doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.