Key Preview Takeaways:

  • It's essentially Jacques Cousteau by way of The Adventures of Flapjack.
  • Nautus feels, in many ways, like a careful mash-up between Steamworld Dig and Subnautica.
  • Gameplay above the surface is cozy, but when you take your submersible under the sea, it becomes a Metroidvania-inspired survival-action game.

To be a cozy game is to embrace all things chill and atmospheric, finding comfort in routine and bonding with a growing community of characters, taking it one day at a time. With the upcoming Nautus from developer Magic Design Studios, it's bringing those chill vibes to a tropical island setting where the waters below hide long-held secrets, and some quirky friends will help you uncover them. It's a delightfully weird concept with some interesting ideas, all channeled in the style of a classic Cartoon Network animated show that brings the world to life.

Just ahead of Gamescom 2026 and the upcoming closed-beta launch, we got some hands-on time with Nautus and its offbeat aquatic world filled with deep-sea wonders. Along with some solid playtime, we also got to speak with game designer Damian Carmona about the making of Nautus, and how they're following up on Have a Nice Death's cutesy-gothic setting of the afterlife with a new world that's a bit more folksy and tropical and has many underwater secrets to uncover.

Within the opening missions I played, Nautus really leans into building up a community of quirky islanders while also powering up my submersible to reach depths below without it being crushed by pressure. Much like Steamworld Dig, the core focus in Nautus is to empower your protagonist's suite of tools and network of friends. With better tools, crafting skills, and people to lean on for insight and some witty one-liners, you'll become more of a capable explorer of the deep. One of my favorite characters was Umiko, the elderly mechanic who tasks you with repairing the submersible station and also gives you larger goals. She can be a bit aloof, but she's one of your best allies in the adventure, and once you help get her hearing aid back that sank into the waters below, then you'll get on her good side.

It was interesting to learn that, in addition to cartoons, the developers were also inspired by The Office TV series when it came to fleshing out a weird cast of characters orbiting your protagonist. Along with Umiko and Mitchell – a carefree islander who runs the undersea gear shop – you also get to meet the ancient island deity that will grant you the necessary upgrades to survive the depths below. Coming back to the surface after dives felt like returning to a safe but oddball haven where aloof inhabitants go about their chill lives, all while long, dark secrets lie hidden below. That's where Nautus' core gameplay takes a strange but interesting turn as it shifts into a survival experience.

From this early hands-on with Nautus, I couldn't help but be impressed with the interesting balance that developer Magid Design Studios is pulling off. Survival-crafting games can be somewhat challenging to find your groove with, especially for the long term, but I was really taken in by how chill and cozy Nautus' tone was. It's not just an expressive, cartoon-inspired world that feels inviting and fun to sit with; it also has some really clever, well-developed survival-action elements that feel exciting to get in step with.

  • If you're looking for a new survival-crafting game, then you won't have to wait too long, as the closed beta test will kick off on August 31, with sign-ups starting now on Steam. Nautus' cartoon world is a compelling adventure to take in, and I want to see more of it in the full release.

While you're here, check out these previews of other big upcoming games we've played recently!.