AquaNox on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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The water is no longer calm. The undersea world has undergone a transformation from tranquil environment to a place of unspeakable violence, graphic murder and horrific danger.
AquaNox is a action, underwater and singleplayer game
developed by Massive Development
and published by THQ Nordic.
Released on April 20th 2010 is available only on Windows
in 4 languages: English, German, Italian and Spanish - Spain.
It has received 372 reviews of which 264 were positive and 108 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.7 out of 10. 😐
The game is currently priced at 4.99€ on Steam, but you can find it for less on Gamivo.
The Steam community has classified AquaNox into these genres:
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- OS: Windows 98/ME/2000
- Processor: Intel P3 or AMD Athlon/Duron >400MHz
- Memory: 128 MB
- Graphics: 16 MB AGP2X Video Card or better
- DirectX®: DirectX 8.0
- Hard Drive: 500MB
- Sound: SoundBlaster or compatible
- Other Requirements: Joystick or Mouse
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
AquaNox, developed by Massive Development and published by THQ Nordic, is a distinctive underwater action game that stands apart from the typical space or aerial combat titles of its era. Set in a dystopian future where the surface of Earth has become uninhabitable, humanity has retreated to life beneath the waves, building cities and societies in the depths of the ocean. Players take on the role of Emerald “DeadEye” Flint, a mercenary pilot navigating the treacherous politics and dangers of a submerged world. The premise immediately sets a grim but fascinating tone, offering a unique environment where survival depends not only on combat skill but also on adapting to the harsh realities of a society struggling below the sea. The strength of AquaNox lies in its atmosphere and setting. At the time of its release, the game’s visuals were widely praised for their advanced lighting effects, detailed submarine models, and immersive underwater landscapes. Exploring dark caverns, traversing coral reefs, and maneuvering through the remains of underwater cities gave the game a claustrophobic yet awe-inspiring feel. Even today, while the graphics show their age with low-resolution textures and blockier models, the design still manages to convey the eerie majesty of the deep ocean. The mood is further enhanced by sound design that emphasizes the weight of being submerged—distant echoes, sonar pings, and the mechanical hum of engines help keep players immersed in the aquatic atmosphere. Gameplay revolves around piloting heavily armed submarines through a series of story-driven missions. Combat is at the forefront, with players engaging rival mercenaries, military forces, and mutated sea creatures using torpedoes, cannons, and other weapon systems. Missions often involve escorting allies, destroying enemy fleets, or infiltrating hostile territories, and while the objectives can feel repetitive over time, the underwater physics give battles a unique dynamic. Movement is slower and heavier compared to aerial or space shooters, forcing players to think more strategically about positioning, dodging, and using cover. There is also an element of progression, as salvaging and completing contracts provide the resources needed to upgrade ships and weapons, keeping the sense of advancement alive throughout the campaign. Narratively, AquaNox presents an ambitious vision but does not always deliver it convincingly. The world-building is intriguing, with factions vying for control and the remnants of humanity clinging to life in oceanic enclaves. However, the dialogue and character development are often criticized for being shallow or awkwardly written, leaving the story more as a backdrop for missions than a compelling narrative on its own. Emerald Flint serves as a functional protagonist, but players may find it difficult to feel deeply invested in his personal journey or the political drama unfolding around him. This is a missed opportunity, as the setting itself is rich enough to support a more layered story. As a whole, AquaNox strikes a balance between innovation and limitation. It deserves credit for carving out a niche genre—underwater vehicular combat—and for creating a world that felt fresh compared to the countless space shooters of its time. Its technical achievements, especially in graphics and atmosphere, were impressive, and its combat could be satisfying once mastered. Yet the repetitive mission structure, occasionally clunky controls, and underdeveloped narrative kept it from reaching its full potential. For many players today, it stands as both a nostalgic curiosity and a reminder of the experimental spirit of early 2000s PC gaming. Ultimately, AquaNox remains a game best appreciated by those willing to look past its flaws and enjoy what it uniquely offers. It is not a perfect title, but it provides a moody, distinct experience that few games since have replicated. For fans of retro shooters or players intrigued by the concept of underwater combat, it is worth exploring, if only to experience a setting and style of gameplay that still feels unusual within the broader landscape of action games. Rating: 7/10
Expand the review
AquaNox is a first person action game. The game is undersea action game which is unusual in the shooter genre. This game originally came on one CD-ROM. The games graphics are not bad given the vintage. The voice acting is heavily compressed to fit a CD-ROM. The action is entirely underwater so the shooting is slower than usual. This game actually supports 1920x1080 from the original CD-ROM. I played this on my Dell Precision 3480 with Intel Xe Arc graphics and RTX A500 graphics.
Expand the review
This AquaNox is the original it's polished, old but gold.
Expand the review
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Frequently Asked Questions
AquaNox is currently priced at 4.99€ on Steam.
AquaNox is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 4.99€ on Steam.
AquaNox received 264 positive votes out of a total of 372 achieving a rating of 6.74.
😐
AquaNox was developed by Massive Development and published by THQ Nordic.
AquaNox is playable and fully supported on Windows.
AquaNox is not playable on MacOS.
AquaNox is not playable on Linux.
AquaNox offers both single-player and multi-player modes.
AquaNox offers both Co-op and PvP modes.
AquaNox does not currently offer any DLC.
AquaNox does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
AquaNox does not support Steam Remote Play.
AquaNox is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for AquaNox.
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Last Updates| Steam data | 24 October 2025 22:35 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 20 October 2025 17:59 |
| Steam price | 26 October 2025 04:45 |
| Steam reviews | 24 October 2025 21:50 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about AquaNox, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about AquaNox
- SteamCharts - Analysis of AquaNox concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck AquaNox compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
1
Developer
Massive Development
Publisher
THQ Nordic
Release
20 Apr 2010
Platforms
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