Game Modes

Subnautica currently features four different Game Modes.

Freedom Mode
Disables the need for food and water, but you will still need to keep an eye on your Oxygen. Energy is consumed by all electric tools, including the Cyclops, Seabases, and the Escape Pod in this game mode.

Survival Mode
Similar to Freedom mode except the fact that you now need to find food and water as well as the oxygen and health. If your health reaches zero percent, you may lose some of your items in your inventory if you picked them up without going into your Seabase, Cyclops, Escape Pod, etc...

Hardcore Mode
In addition to the food, water, oxygen, and health requirements of Survival mode, Hardcore mode goes one step further by adding one life. In other words, if your health reaches zero percent, your game ends, forcing you to completely start over from the beginning. There are no second chances. One more thing that the Hardcore Mode does is that there are no warnings for oxygen, food, or water

Creative Mode
In Creative mode player death is disabled as well as damage to the player's Vehicles. Materials and Blueprints are not required for crafting. There are no energy requirements. The story is disabled. This mode is currently experimental only.