For some gamers, there is nothing scarier than water in video games. Sure, games like Outlast that give you nothing but a camera to survive with are scary, and Lisa haunting the PT hallways is chilling, but there’s just something unsettling about finding yourself stuck in the sea. Whether it’s The Witcher 3 or GTA 5, there’s this uncanny feeling that a giant creature can appear at any moment to swallow you up, even if it would make no sense for a developer to code that in. And if it’s a game like Subnautica where large, deadly sea critters are swimming around and looking for their next meal? Forget about it, that’s true horror right there, and the upcoming Steam game Anchor is going to offer that kind of gameplay.
However, that’s not all that Anchor is going to offer. While its key art does show an unlucky diver about to be eaten alive by a great white shark, said ocean explorer is also aiming a crossbow at another human. This artwork perfectly encapsulates what Anchor is going to be about. Because, while Steam players can totally team up and treat the game like a co-op Subnautica, building the biggest base they can, it also functions as a Rust-like. Naturally, sneaky gamers can be expected to make (and break) alliances, laying siege to bases and hoarding everything for themselves.
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Anchor Features at a Glance
- BUILD a base underwater, fortifying it to defend against attackers while also customizing it to feel as homey as possible.
- FIGHT in large-scale PvP battles set within a massive 16km+ map full of caves, canyons, and monuments.
- RAID enemy bases, blowing up doors and windows to take the fight directly to other groups.
- AVOID predators like sharks while hunting for food to survive, with a range of sea life present wthin each map.
- CRAFT armor, weapons, and gear to keep yourself alive.
- RELAX in a co-op or solo sandbox mode, with only AI threats to contend with as opposed to real gamers from around the world.
Anchor is a large-scale underwater multiplayer survival game. Build your base, craft tools and weapons, explore, loot and prepare for battle. Every player is a potential threat in a persistent world where bases can be raided, alliances broken, and the ocean itself hunts you.
Scratch & Peek
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
possible.
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible.
EasyMediumHardPermadeath
Underwater Rust is Coming Soon, and It’s Going To Be Terrifying
While fighting and fleeing from Leviathans in Subnautica is plenty scary, imagine needing to contend with AI sea monsters AND groups of hostile players looking for more loot. That’s exactly what’s going to be happening in Anchor, as not only are there large creatures like Great White Sharks and Killer Whales lurking around the environment and waiting to pounce, but PvP is always an option. Yes, players can team up like in Rust to rule the sea, but there’s no telling when someone will get the itch to betray their allies, attacking suddenly and stealing all the loot for themselves. Alternatively, big raids and PvP battles can be organized, with plenty of battles able to be had in the massive 16km+ maps.
These maps won’t just be empty oceans, however, as just like Subnautica, there’s going to be a fair bit to see. Ancient monuments and shipwrecks may offer loot, different biomes could contain new sights, sound, and wildlife, and you may be able to spot some secrets in caves and canyons. While there will be plenty of dangers lurking below the waves, the opportunity for rewards is also present, so risktakers could thrive while those who hide in their bases could fall victim to raiders at any second.
As you explore and gather resources — not to mention hunting for food, as there will be regular fish in addition to deadly behemoths — you’ll be able to craft new items. Armor and makeshift guns that work underwater, like bows and anchor launchers, can be made, and will surely be crucial to fending off AI-controlled threats and other players alike. However, Anchor advertises that bases aren’t just a survival tool, but a home. Players can decorate and customize their undersea bases to their liking, making the underwater world they inhabit just a tiny bit less terrifying — that is, until someone tears apart the home they’ve spent so much time crafting just like in a Rust raid.
Sandbox Mode Offers Fellow Scaredy-Cats a Way to Enjoy Anchor
For Anchor players who just want to build underwater bases by themselves or with a few buddies without worrying about fighting other players on top of sharks, a sandbox mode is thankfully going to be available alongside the core, Rust-like experience. Without the pressure of PvP, this would be a great way for any nervous players to master all the mechanics of the game (like harsh conditions, where things can be found, and so on) to prepare themselves for fights against online users. With some distinct modes planned alongside its combination of two beloved survival experiences, Anchor could find itself on many fans’ most anticipated games list come 2027.
