Subnautica 2

Subnautica 2 is, by Steam wishlist count, the single most anticipated PC game of 2026. With approximately 3.8 million wishlists accumulated ahead of and during its Early Access launch, it leads every other title on this list by a significant margin on that particular metric — a remarkable achievement for a survival game sequel from a mid-sized independent studio. Unknown Worlds Entertainment's original Subnautica, released in full in 2018 after an Early Access period, became one of the decade's most beloved survival games — a word-of-mouth phenomenon driven by its genuinely alien underwater world, atmospheric dread, and the sense of exploring an immense ocean planet alone and largely without combat. Below Zero, the 2021 standalone expansion, was more divisive but maintained the studio's reputation for environmental storytelling and biome design. Subnautica 2's most significant mechanical evolution is the addition of four-player cooperative multiplayer — a feature the original conspicuously lacked and one that fans had long requested. The co-op structure promises to change the social dynamic of the survival loop while (presumably) maintaining the sense of oceanic exploration that made the original special. The game entered Early Access in 2026 on PC via Steam and is available on Xbox, with a multi-year development roadmap outlined by Unknown Worlds. This means players can experience the game now in an unfinished state, with regular updates building toward a full 1.0 launch. The original Subnautica's Early Access arc was widely praised for its transparency and consistent delivery. Whether Subnautica 2 matches that precedent will be a key narrative to follow through 2026 and beyond.