Independent studio Howling Hamster Entertainment has lifted the veil on Sub-Species, a 2.5D multidirectional sci-fi shooter that plunges players into the deepest, most hostile corners of Earth’s oceans. The reveal lands alongside a brand-new trailer, giving us our first glimpse at the game’s eerie underwater world and the alien infestation spreading through it.
Inspired by classics like Sub-Terrania, Ecco the Dolphin, and cinematic deep-sea thrillers such as The Abyss, Sub-Species is shaping up to be an atmospheric blend of exploration, arcade precision and sci-fi mystery; the kind that makes your stomach drop as much as your submersible.
Descending into the unknown
In Sub-Species, you pilot a heavily armed submarine with full 360-degree rotation, letting you respond to threats from any direction. And you’ll need it: the ocean floor has been overrun by mutant lifeforms, rogue technology and remnants of doomed expeditions.
Each mission sends you deeper into contaminated zones where navigation puzzles, environmental hazards and claustrophobic tunnels force you to stay alert. One moment you’re defusing an unstable reactor, the next you’re trying to survive an ambush in a collapsed naval wreck.
Creative Director Manus Burke describes the experience perfectly:
“The deep ocean is the closest thing we have to an alien world on Earth. We wanted players to feel that tension, the beauty that pulls you in, and the fear that reminds you you’re not supposed to be there.”
Sub-Species key features
- Full 360° combat: Rotate freely and fire in any direction as enemies swarm from all sides.
- Strategic tools: Deploy flares to scout ahead, lay mines to trap enemies, and use dodge bursts to avoid danger.
- Evolving missions: From rescuing stranded subs to exploring alien caverns, every run introduces new threats and surprises.
- Handcrafted environments: Navigate naval ruins, flooded research labs and pulsating extraterrestrial hives.
- Two play modes: A story-driven campaign and a local competitive mode for those who want to test their skills head-to-head.
Coming soon
Sub-Species is currently in development for PC, with a Steam demo “coming soon”. Players can wishlist the game now to keep up with updates as the mystery beneath the waves continues to unfold.
If you’ve ever wanted a tense, retro-inspired shooter wrapped in a cinematic sci-fi deep-sea setting, this one might just hook you.
For even more gaming news, click right here.