UBOAT
Released Aug 2024
UBOAT is a simulator of a submarine from WWII era. It is a survival sandbox with crew management mechanics while its primary theme is life of German sailors. The boat is their home, but it can become their grave at any time.
83% positive · 27K reviews
Not yet
Released, but still in active development
High confidence
Active Development
Not yet
Released, but still in active development
High confidence
Active Development
Where to buy
Steam $29.99 IndieGala Steam key $29.99
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Evaluation
UBOAT launched out of Early Access on August 2, 2024, having spent several years in Early Access before that. Since its 1.0 release, Deep Water Studio has maintained a steady stream of updates: Update 2025.1 (January 20, 2025) delivered a major rework of the enemy ship damage model, career statistics, and other systems; Update 2025.1.1 (March 26, 2025) added a reworked deck-awash mode and adjustable realism settings; and on April 17, 2026, the studio released both the paid "Type IX: Distant Coasts" DLC and the large free "Update 2026.1," which together added three new U-Boat variants, an entirely new Indian Ocean theater with new ports and missions, new ship models, flotilla headquarters, weather forecasts, and substantial graphical improvements.
The April 17, 2026 launch post explicitly notes that the new ships added in Update 2026.1 are "the first batch — there's more in the pipeline, and new ships will continue to be a focus in upcoming updates." This signals that the studio considers development to be ongoing rather than concluded. Following the DLC launch, the studio has continued issuing bug-fix patches, with the most recent on May 22, 2026 — roughly five weeks before today's date of June 27, 2026.
Both paid DLC listed in the store are now fully released. However, the developer's own post-release statement about ships being only a "first batch" with more planned indicates continued development intent. The studio has demonstrated a consistent pattern of shipping significant content updates, and there is no statement from the developer indicating that development is winding down or complete.
Evidence
Type IX: Distant Coasts DLC and free Update 2026.1 launched, adding three new U-Boat variants, the Indian Ocean theater, new ships, flotilla headquarters, weather forecasts, and major graphical improvements. The post states the new ships added are 'the first batch — there's more in the pipeline, and new ships will continue to be a focus in upcoming updates.'
Type IX: Distant Coasts DLC released, the most ambitious paid expansion to date adding new U-Boat classes and an entire new theater of war.
Content
2 of 2 released · no outstanding content
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
PlayWay S.A.
Achievements
51
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player
About this game
UBOAT
UBOAT is a simulator of a submarine from WWII era, yet different than all you have seen so far. It is a survival sandbox with crew management mechanics while its primary theme is life of German sailors. The boat is their home, but it can become their grave at any time.
In UBOAT you control the crew in order to control the boat. You look after their physical and mental health, because if the sailors are hungry, tired and their spirit is low, there’s no chance of winning even a skirmish.
Survival
The extensive damage system is a foundation of the game's survival elements. Unprecedented situations are bound to happen as the effect of received damage, testing player's creativity and ability to stay calm. You can try to save the whole crew or leave someone behind, to save the others.
While your ship travels through the open seas, you will often find yourself being on your own. Use your management skills to spend resources taken on the trip optimally and in special cases try to recover them on the sea, by asking your allies for the help... or by looting wreckages of enemy ships.
- Disable unnecessary devices, to keep your accumulators running for longer.
- Tell your crew to stay in their bunks to preserve oxygen.
- If crew's morale is low - play with them a session of Skat or play music from nearby radio stations, to fortify their hearts.
Kriegsmarine career
During the playthrough you will receive assignments from the Kriegsmarine headquarters. They are never linear and you may receive additional orders during them or face unexpected problems.Brave completion of assignments from the headquarters is rewarded with additional budget for the unit under your command and with acceptance of your growing reputation as an u-boat's skipper. You will need that, to upgrade your ship and keep up with enemy's technological advances.
- Upgrade your boat for the rewarded funds.
- Receive additional permissions for the reputation points.
- Buy new equipment - new torpedo types, sonar decoys, CO2 absorbers and much more.
- Send your officers on special tasks in the headquarters to, among other things, speed up a research of new technologies.
Accurate simulation
Game's simulation elements are very realistic, but that never comes at a cost of gameplay quality. Despite extensive simulation elements, UBOAT can be played like a regular game and complex matters can be learned later to become a better skipper for the commanded unit.Even small things like the influence of ballast in each compartment on the ship's trim (tilt) or Earth's curvature are faithfully reproduced in the game.
Perfection can be achieved in many ways. Prove your management skills and swiftly assign work to your officers to speed things up. If, on the other hand, you think that if something needs to be done, it's better to do that on your own - sit behind the periscope, hydrophone or 88 mm deck gun and take matters in your own hands!
Last evaluated Jun 27, 2026
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