Survival is everything in Subnautica 2, and managing your hunger and thirst is one of the first major challenges you’ll face after landing on the alien ocean world.
While oxygen and dangerous creatures remain constant threats, running out of food or clean water can end a run, especially during the early hours when resources are scarce. Dying can also cause you to lose many of the items you were carrying, which can be extremely difficult to recover early in the game, particularly in dangerous biomes far from your lifepod.
Thankfully, there are several reliable ways to stay fed and hydrated as you explore deeper biomes and build your first base. Here are some of the best ways that we’ve found to get a constant supply of food and water in Subnautica 2.
Best ways to get food and water in Subnautica 2, explained
Before diving into the best ways to get food and water, make sure to get the biological upgrade called Digestion Adaptation, which can be found near Anita’s Blackbox. The adaptation allows you to safely consume the local flora and fauna found across the alien ocean planet.
For a steady supply of water, collect Water Slugs from the ocean floor. These glowing blue creatures are easy to spot at night thanks to their droplet-like appearance, and they move slowly enough to catch without much trouble. They can also sometimes be found hiding in underwater grass patches, so try gathering several at once and keeping them in your inventory. You can then process them into drinking water using the Fabricator whenever needed.
Each water bottle restores +40 hydration, meaning carrying a few during long exploration trips can keep you hydrated for a very long time. As long as you regularly stock up on Water Slugs, you’ll have a reliable source of fresh drinking water throughout the game. You can also make water with the processor later in the game using the Acidic Raion Pouch, which is an alternative recipe.
For food, you can rely on cooked fish early on, but most of them only restore a small amount of hunger. They work well as temporary snacks during exploration, though prepared meals are far more efficient since they provide significantly more food points and keep you full for longer periods.
Some of these recipes can be difficult to craft because they require multiple ingredients. For example, the Threemoon Temaki meal needs three different fish types and Fibrous Pulp, but rewards you with a massive +60 food and +15 health, making it excellent for both hunger management and healing minor damage while exploring dangerous areas.
Once you unlock the Processor in your base, your food options improve even further. It allows you to create Biofuel Blocks, which can later be combined with salt to craft Nutrient Blocks. These provide a large amount of food and are ideal for long expeditions since they keep your hunger meter full for an extended time without getting wasted.
