Steam Ocean Fest Ends Today — Last Chance for Subnautica 75% Off and More

What Is Steam Ocean Fest?

Steam's themed sales have become a regular fixture — every few weeks, Valve spotlights games within a specific theme with discounts that sometimes reach all-time lows. Ocean Fest is exactly what it sounds like: hundreds of games set in, on, or under the water, all at steep discounts.

This edition spans underwater survival, piracy and sea combat, oceanic horror, fishing simulators, and everything in between. Some of the discounts are genuinely remarkable, and a few represent the lowest prices these games have ever seen on Steam.

The timing of Ocean Fest is almost certainly tied to Subnautica 2 entering Early Access in the near future. Unknown Worlds and Valve clearly want new players to experience the original Subnautica and Below Zero before the sequel arrives.

The Best Deals Right Now

Subnautica — Buy It. Seriously, Just Buy It.

If you haven't played Subnautica, today is the day. It's not hyperbole: Subnautica holds a 97% positive rating on Steam from over 320,000 reviews. That puts it in rarefied territory.

You crash-land on an alien ocean planet. No land. No guide. Just you, a damaged life pod, and an ocean full of creatures you don't understand yet. The game is survival, exploration, base-building, and mystery-solving — all wrapped in one of the most distinctive atmospheres in gaming.

At $7.49, it's comfortably under the price of a fast food meal. There is genuinely no reason not to have this in your library.

Subnautica quick facts:

• ▶40-60 hours for a thorough first playthrough
• ▶Genuinely terrifying in some sections (in the best way)
• ▶Deep narrative mystery that unfolds naturally through exploration
• ▶Creative mode available for those who want the exploration without survival pressure
• ▶One of the best uses of audio design in any game

Skull and Bones at $2.99 — Is It Worth It?

Skull and Bones launched in 2024 to considerable backlash. Ubisoft's claim that it was a "AAAA" game at full price earned it near-universal mockery. At $2.99, however, the calculus changes.

The sea combat is genuinely fun, the progression loop works, and at this price point there's very little to lose. It's a perfectly serviceable naval action game when you're not paying full price for it.

"

"At $3, Skull and Bones is basically a free game. I was never going to pay $30, but $3? Absolutely worth a laugh." — Reddit r/patientgamers

"

"Don't expect Black Flag. Do expect a surprisingly OK time blowing up ships." — Steam community review

Barotrauma — The Hidden Gem of This Sale

At 50% off ($19.99), Barotrauma doesn't have the flashy discount percentage of the other picks. But it's arguably the most underrated game in this sale.

Barotrauma is a cooperative submarine simulation set on Jupiter's moon Europa, where you and up to 16 players operate a submarine through increasingly deadly ocean trench environments. The game is part crew management sim, part horror, part engineering puzzle. One power outage, one hull breach, or one crew member going rogue can cascade into complete disaster in minutes.

If you have a group of friends looking for a cooperative experience with actual stakes, Barotrauma at $19.99 is exceptional value.

BioShock Remastered — Gaming History Under $5

BioShock Remastered and BioShock 2 Remastered are on sale at $4.99 and $2.99 respectively. The original BioShock remains one of the most influential games ever made — its underwater city of Rapture, its atmosphere, and its narrative twists are benchmarks that developers still reference today.

If you've never played BioShock, $4.99 is genuinely one of the best deals in gaming.

"

"BioShock at under $5 is one of the easiest recommendations in gaming. This game shaped the entire medium." — Steam curator review

Full Ranking: Best Value for Money in This Sale

Ocean Fest ends at 10am PT today. Get your cart ready.