Set beneath the irradiated ice of Jupiter’s moon Europa, Barotrauma casts a submarine crew into an alien ocean where survival depends on both navigating hazards and keeping the vessel working. Its 2D co-op survival-horror format mixes ragdoll physics, sea monsters and existential dread, while missions send players exploring, fighting or fleeing threats, and investigating the ruins of an alien civilization.
Much of the tension comes from running the submarine as a team. Crew members operate systems including sonar, the nuclear reactor, weapons, engines and pumps, and communication matters as those duties overlap. Six classes, from Captain and Engineer to Medic and Security Officer, bring different skills and tasks; crafting, medical systems and configurable wiring add further ways to prepare and respond. The crew can cooperate toward its objectives, but betrayal is also part of the design: players may befriend or oppose one another, with faction choices and reputation shaping their standing in Europa’s world.
Procedurally generated missions and multiple game modes support varied expeditions, with play available in single-player or multiplayer and bots able to supplement the crew. Submarine, character and animation editors, alongside Steam Workshop mod support, extend the game’s creative side. The player-count context is unusually crew-focused: a submarine supports up to 16 players, with bots available when needed, so the figure relates directly to coordinating roles aboard one vessel rather than simply assembling a conventional combat team.
