If you’ve ever wanted the relaxing vibes of a tropical island SIM paired with the white-knuckle thrills of deep-sea exploration, your next gaming obsession has arrived.

Arc Games—the powerhouse publisher of AA and indie hits—has teamed up with Magic Design Studios (the brilliant minds behind Have a Nice Death and Unruly Heroes) to announce their next major project: NAUTUS.

Described as a charmingly quirky island adventure, NAUTUS flips the typical indie loop on its head. Above water, the surface acts as your cosy sanctuary. Below the waves? Well… the ocean floor is a whole different beast.

Here’s everything you need to know about this dual-layered, offbeat adventure!

The Mystery of NAUTUS Station

The story kicks off when you receive a strange, unsettling radio transmission from your uncle, Bernard Torpedo. Following the signal, you arrive at the remote N.A.U.T.U.S. research station only to find a very peculiar crisis unfolding:

The resident scientists have completely lost their memories and developed an intense, paralysing phobia of the ocean.

As the only person willing to face the watery depths, it’s up to you to pilot an upgradable submarine, plunge into dangerous underwater trenches, battle bizarre mutant marine life, and recover mysterious artefact stones. Only by piecing together these artefacts can you restore the locals’ memories and uncover the truth behind your uncle’s sudden disappearance.

A Tale of Two Worlds: The Gameplay Loop

What makes NAUTUS stand out is its clever blend of relaxing life-sim mechanics and action-packed deep-sea survival.

Cosy Above: Build & Unwind

When you’re on land, you can take a breather. The island surface is your safe space to:

• Customise & Expand: Transform a secluded tropical outpost into a bustling home base. Set up machinery, process rare resources, and craft vital gear.
• Befriend the Locals: Meet a delightfully eccentric cast of amnesiac islanders—including a tanning-obsessed diver and a quirky expedition chief.
• Restore the Island: Complete quests to cure the inhabitants of their marine phobias and bring their true personalities back.

Dangerous Below: Plunge Into the Abyss

When you step into your customizable submarine, the game transforms:

• Deep Sea Exploration: Navigate uncharted trenches, glowing coral reefs, and eerie sunken pirate shipwrecks.
• Mutant Monsters: Combat and capture strange, mutated sea creatures that guard hidden treasures.
• Tech & Upgrades: Harvest rare materials to upgrade your submarine’s hull, weapons, and specialised dive modules, allowing you to venture into even deeper, more hostile environments.

Play Solo or Dive In with Friends!

Whether you prefer solitary deep-sea dives or chaotic group expeditions, NAUTUS has you covered. The game features 4-player online co-op, allowing you and up to three friends to team up, manage your tropical base together, and brave the ocean depths as a squad.

When Can You Play?

NAUTUS is set to launch in Steam Early Access in 2027.

Given Magic Design Studios’ stellar track record with Have a Nice Death, this unique blend of cosy island management and sub-aquatic horror-lite action is definitely one to keep on your radar.

Head over to Steam today to add NAUTUS to your Wishlist, and prepare to dive deep into the unknown!

What do you think of NAUTUS? Are you excited to pilot your own submarine, or will you stick to the cosy surface? Let us know in the comments below!

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