Let's Nerd Out With 7 Video Games For Divers
Whether you are a seasoned gamer or looking to pick up a new hobby, there are a whole bunch of video games out there that might appeal to people that also like being underwater.
Here are some of my top picks in alphabetical order! Not all of them have diving in them, but still have great watery vibes.
Enjoy!
Abzû
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Game type: Adventure/Exploration
Trailer: https://youtu.be/P2G54w8H4oM
If you don’t play games normally but want to try a scuba game, this is the one for you. It is less of a game, more of a beautiful exploration of a world for a few hours.
There is a limited story but a huge sense of wonder as you travel between different underwater environments, looking for the secrets they hold. Whilst it is based on real-life sea creatures, it has a really cool art style and all of the environments have different feels to them.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PS4, PC, Xbox One, Switch
Game type: Action/Stealth
Trailer: https://youtu.be/OwVe4ZNeQZk
When you are heading to a dive site on a boat, do you ever feel like a pirate off to explore the uncharted seas? Bring that experience home with this classic Assassin’s Creed game. Set in 1715 in the Caribbean, you play as Edward Kenway who is trying to establish a Republic of Pirates, free from British and Spanish rule.
You spend a lot of time exploring, battling and hunting sea monsters from your ship, the Jackdaw. Sure there are a lot of things to do on land too, but where better to do that than the Caribbean? Plus there are a LOT of sea shanties…
Beyond Blue
Platform: iOS, PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One
Game type: Educational/Adventure
Trailer: https://youtu.be/pOAWBCXpo6k
Play this on your iPhone! Sadly not available for Android.
Inspired by Blue Planet II, you take on the role of a deep-sea researcher looking to investigate wildlife. Other researchers join and talk you through what you see along the way. It also features content from Blue Planet II, including the octopus that uses shells as a shield that then went on to star in My Octopus Teacher!
It isn’t the longest game, but it is pretty, it is chilled out and a learning experience for ocean lovers of all ages..
Ecco the Dolphin
Platforms: Sega Megadrive/Genesis, PC
Game Type: Action/adventure
Playing as the titular cetacean, you start off adorably frolicking with your friends when disaster strikes. As you start speaking to other creatures, using your echolocation ability to find your way around and smacking your foes, you uncover a tough but mysterious adventure with aliens.
It originally came out in 1992 so it does lack some modern mechanics we tend to expect in modern games. But it is a great blast from the past and there are a few sequels if you have a good time.
Endless Ocean
Platforms: Wii
Game type: Adventure
Trailer: https://youtu.be/K1_vOuX_bZ0
Remember the Wii and bowling with your family? It might be time to dust it off and explore the possibilities of Endless Ocean and its sequel.
You play as a scuba diver exploring a fictional sea in the South Pacific, searching for sea life and treasure. Yes, proper scuba diving with the regulator breathing noises! Although the streamlining with your gauges and hanging alternate are NOT to the standards we teach at Aquasport... There is a huge range of creatures to discover and even the sharks are friendly to you. You can even try out a little cave or wreck diving but we still recommend the really PADI speciality for those.
You can pick this up for around £5 on eBay or you can seek out Endless Ocean 2: Adventures of the Deep too.
Maneater
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Game type: Action/Role-Playing
Trailer: https://youtu.be/HCRmiOqUgYQ
You are a shark that wants revenge.
We know sharks as beautiful, gentle creatures that get a bad rap in the mainstream media. This is no exception. But if you are a baby bull shark that sees your mother killed and has your face disfigured by a reality TV star, you would be up for revenge too, right?
So that’s exactly what you do in this RPG. You explore, get stronger and hone your skills around the Gulf Coast to make those pesky humans suffer.
Subnautica
Platforms: PC, MAC, Xbox One, PS4 Switch
Game type: Action/adventure/survival
Trailer: https://youtu.be/Rz2SNm8VguE
Alien fish. Survival. Underwater bases. Building machines to go deeper. Mild horror.
If this sounds like your thing then Subnautica is the game for you! It starts with simple exploration of a beautiful alien ocean world. However, the story reveals itself and you discover more about what happened on this planet. Be warned, there are plenty of jump-scares as you discover the more menacing parts of the environment.
Honourable mentions:
Here are even more games that might be worth your time checking out...
Cyberpunk 2077 has a scuba diving mission, but maybe wait for some patches if you don’t own it already.
Bioshock 1&2 are classic games that are based in the underwater city of Rapture.
Any of the three most recent Assassin’s Creed games (Origins, Odyssey and Valhalla) feature many side quests and rewards for freediving. My pick of the three would be Odyssey as the waters of the Aegean are lovely and there is even DLC based in Atlantis.
Freediving Hunter Spearfishing the World is a beautifully imagined game simulating underwater hunting.
Sea of Thieves is much like Black Flag in that you can live out your pirate dreams, but this time with friends!
SOMA takes place in an underwater research facility and is, frankly, too scary for me to play. Your wimpiness may vary.
Cat Jones.
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