Users wrote

Barotrauma is widely praised for its tense cooperative submarine experience and immersive undersea atmosphere. The game shines when played with a crew of friends, with roles like captain, mechanic, medic, engineer, and security, requiring strong teamwork and communication. Players also value the depth of systems and the modding scene, including an in-game editor for submarines, which adds variety and replayability. However, reviewers frequently point to performance and stability issues, especially with mods or on public servers, and vanilla content can feel repetitive, so many recommend buying on sale or playing with a skilled crew to get the most out of it.

Last updated: 2026-03-04

Most Mentioned Advantages

• Cooperative multiplayer with friends (60 mentions) - The game shines when played with others and teamwork is essential. You work as a crew, with roles like captain, mechanic, medic, engineer, and security. Coordination and communication are crucial to survive the mission. Memorable, chaotic moments happen when your team is under pressure.
• Immersive atmosphere and tension (45 mentions) - Underwater setting creates a strong sense of dread and immersion. Players experience thalassophobia as the hull is breached and monsters attack. The audio and visuals contribute to a claustrophobic, tense experience. Reviewers consistently highlight this atmosphere as a major draw.
• Strong modding support and workshop content (30 mentions) - A robust modding scene with popular mods like Neurotrauma, Barotraumatic, and Enhanced Armaments expands content and variety. Mods allow you to customize gameplay, crew roles, and beacons. The workshop adds new challenges and keeps play sessions fresh.
• In-game editor and ship-building (22 mentions) - The built-in editor enables designing and modifying submarines to fit creative ideas. Players can craft bespoke vessels and experiment with complex systems. This tooling broadens how you approach each mission and adds a creative outlet.
• Deep, role-based gameplay (18 mentions) - The game offers a range of crew roles, each with distinct responsibilities. Mastery of systems like reactors, ballast, medicine, and weapons creates a satisfying, sandbox-style challenge. The depth encourages teamwork and experimentation.

Most Mentioned Disadvantages

• Performance and stability issues (40 mentions) - Mod-heavy runs can cause instability and frame drops. Public servers may suffer from Steam P2P errors and crashes. Optimization can be spotty, especially on lower-end hardware or with many mods installed.
• Steep learning curve (35 mentions) - The game has a lot of systems to learn and coordinate, which can be overwhelming for new players. Tutorials do not cover all mechanics, and players often rely on friends or guides to learn. The complexity can deter players at first.
• Public servers can be chaotic or toxic (25 mentions) - Players report frequent trolling, griefing, and long downtime on public servers. Private lobbies with friends are generally preferred to avoid issues and ensure progression.
• Vanilla content feels repetitive (25 mentions) - Some reviews find vanilla gameplay repetitive or lacking long-term content. Without mods or DLC, progression may feel shallow. The base game can feel overpriced to some.
• Price and value concerns (15 mentions) - A number of players feel the base game is pricey relative to its content, especially without discounts. Many advise waiting for a sale to buy. Some say the value increases with mods and long playtime.

Compared Games

• Subnautica (3 mentions) - Barotrauma is often described as more chaotic and crew-driven than Subnautica, with a heavier emphasis on submarine management and cooperative play rather than solitary exploration. It is seen as a different flavor of underwater adventure.
• Space Station 13 (SS13) (2 mentions) - Some reviewers compare Barotrauma to Space Station 13 in terms of crew roles and cooperative play, describing it as SS13-like for divers with ongoing teamwork and dynamic interactions.