For some gamers, there is nothing scarier than water in video games. Sure, games like Survive that gives you nothing but a camera to survive with is scary, and Lisa is haunting PT the corridors are chilly, but there's just something unsettling about being stuck in the sea. Regardless of whether it is The Witcher 3 or GTA 5there's an eerie feeling that a giant creature could appear at any moment to swallow you, even though it wouldn't make sense for a developer to code that in. And if it's a game that Subnautica where large, deadly sea creatures swim around looking for their next meal? Forget it, that's true horror right there, and what's to come Steam game Anchor will offer that type of game.
However, that is not all Anchor will offer. While its key art shows a hapless diver about to be eaten alive by a great white shark, said ocean explorer also aims a crossbow at another human. This artwork perfectly encapsulates what Anchor will be about. Because while Steam players can band together and treat the game as a co-op Subnauticabuild the biggest base they can, it also acts as one Rust-as. Naturally, sneaky players can be expected to make (and break) alliances, lay siege to bases, and hoard everything for themselves.
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Anchor features at a glance
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BUILD an underwater base, fortifying it to defend against attackers while customizing it to feel as homey as possible.
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FIGHT in large-scale PvP battles set within a massive 16km+ map full of caves, canyons and monuments.
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RAID enemy bases, blasting doors and windows to take the fight directly to other groups.
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AVOID predatory sharks as they search for food to survive, with an array of sea life found on each map.
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MANAGE armor, weapons and equipment to stay alive.
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RELAX in a co-op or solo sandbox mode, with only AI threats to contend with as opposed to real players from around the world.
Anchor is a large-scale multiplayer underwater 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 sea itself hunts you down.
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Underwater rust is coming soon, and it's going to be scary
While they fight and escape from the Leviathans in Subnautica is very scary, imagine having to contend with AI sea monsters AND groups of hostile players looking for more loot. That's exactly what will happen in Anchorbecause not only are there large creatures like white sharks and killer whales lurking around the environment waiting to pounce, but PvP is always an option. Yes, players can team up as in Rust to rule the sea, but there's no telling when someone will have the urge to betray their allies, attack suddenly, and steal all the loot for themselves. Alternatively, large raids and PvP battles can be organized, with plenty of battles to be played out on the massive 16km+ maps.
These maps won't just be empty seas, like just like Subnauticathere will be a lot to see. Ancient monuments and shipwrecks can offer loot, different biomes can contain new sights, sounds and wildlife, and you might discover some secrets in caves and canyons. While there will be plenty of dangers lurking beneath the waves, there's also the potential for rewards, so risk-takers can thrive while those hiding in their bases can fall prey to attackers at any moment.
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 weapons that work underwater, such as bows and anchor launchers, can be crafted, and will certainly be instrumental in fending off AI-controlled threats and other players. However, Anchor advertises that bases are not just a survival tool, but a home. Players can decorate and customize their underwater bases to their heart's content, making the underwater world they live in just a little less terrifying—that is, until someone tears down the home they've spent so much time creating just like in a Rust raid.
Sandbox Mode offers other Scaredy-Cats a way to enjoy anchors
For Anchor players who just want to build underwater bases by themselves or with some buddies without worrying about fighting other players on top of sharks, a sandbox mode will thankfully be available alongside the core, Rust-like experience. Without the pressure of PvP, this would be a great way for any nervous player to master all the mechanics of the game (like tough conditions, where things can be found, and so on) to prepare for fights against online users. With some distinct modes planned along with its combination of two beloved survival experiences, Anchor may end up on many fans' most anticipated 2027 playlist.
