Cold from the outside in, versus cold from the inside out.
A cold environment you survive by upgrading what you wear and what you build, with exploration gated by how long you can stay out.
Below Zero is a lone experience about beautiful, terrifying water. Permafrost is a social one about a dead city.
Side by side
| Dimension | Permafrost | Subnautica: Below Zero |
|---|---|---|
| Cold medium | Air and blizzard | Air and water, separately modelled |
| Setting | Frozen Earth | Arctic ocean on alien planet 4546B |
| Co-op | Yes — up to 4 players | No — solo campaign |
| Base building | Yes | Yes — full underwater base construction |
| Exploration | Frozen open world | Open ocean with depth gating |
| Threat | Cold, wildlife, hostile survivors | Cold, leviathans, oxygen |
| Status | Early Access from 9 Oct 2026 | Full release |
Subnautica: Below Zero — Unknown Worlds, 2021. Permafrost — SpaceRocket Games / Toplitz Productions, Early Access 9 October 2026. Anything not yet disclosed for Permafrost is marked as such rather than guessed.
Play Subnautica: Below Zero if…
You want a finished arctic survival game with exceptional base building and no group requirement.
Subnautica: Below Zero on Steam ↗Play Permafrost if…
You want cold-survival you can run with friends, on land, with salvage at the centre.
Release date & wishlist →Verdict. Below Zero proves cold works as a core mechanic. Permafrost has to prove it works with four people arguing about loot.
FAQ
Is Permafrost like Subnautica: Below Zero? +
A cold environment you survive by upgrading what you wear and what you build, with exploration gated by how long you can stay out.
What is the biggest difference between Permafrost and Subnautica: Below Zero? +
Below Zero is a lone experience about beautiful, terrifying water. Permafrost is a social one about a dead city.
Which should I play — Permafrost or Subnautica: Below Zero? +
You want a finished arctic survival game with exceptional base building and no group requirement. You want cold-survival you can run with friends, on land, with salvage at the centre.
When does Permafrost come out? +
Permafrost enters Early Access on 9 October 2026 on Steam, GOG.com and the Epic Games Store.
More comparisons
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ComparisonPermafrost vs Valheim
The genre-standard co-op builder, versus the cold-first newcomer.
ComparisonPermafrost vs Icarus
Timed extraction salvage versus persistent frozen-world survival.
Data version 2026.09.24 · reviewed 24 September 2026.