The developers of Static Dread: The Lighthouse just announced something that will make fans of claustrophobic horror absolutely panic with excitement. Static Dread: The Submarine, announced on October 27, 2025, takes the Lovecraftian terror of the original and transplants it to a completely different setting: a modern submarine called the Ares operating in the Atlantic Ocean. A catastrophic aurora has swept the world, awakened something ancient in the depths, and your crew is isolated in steel corridors with failing systems and something that answers back from the deep. The psychological nightmare unfolds in first person as you navigate impossible choices with your dwindling crew.
From Lighthouse to Submarine: Same Universe, Deeper Terror
Static Dread: The Lighthouse was a psychological horror sim released earlier in 2025 that garnered critical acclaim for its commitment to Lovecraftian dread and tough decision-making. The Submarine takes place in the same post-aurora world but shifts the setting from an isolated lighthouse to an isolated submarine. The constraints are different—you’re not fighting gravity and wind; you’re fighting pressure and finite oxygen. The horror remains fundamentally similar: you’re isolated, something ancient has awakened, and you must make impossible choices to survive.
What makes this sequel distinct is that it completely reimagines the mechanics to match the submarine environment. Where The Lighthouse involved knocking on doors and exploring a static location, The Submarine features first-person exploration through narrow corridors, active sonar mechanics to navigate the ocean floor, and the constant pressure of a submarine’s systems failing around you. Different setting, same Lovecraftian dread.
The Sonar Mechanic That Haunts You
At the heart of The Submarine’s exploration is a unique sonar mechanic that defines the experience. You’ll use active and passive sonar to scan the ocean floor, reveal wrecks, trenches, and hopefully locate safe passage through black water. Except here’s the thing: sometimes things answer back. The sonar reveals wrecks, but it also reveals something ancient in places unmapped by human hands. Every ping is a risk. Every echo could be salvation or something far older than civilization itself.
This design choice creates psychological tension that traditional horror can’t match. You’re trying to see what’s out there, but revealing what’s out there means potential threats detect you. The sonar becomes simultaneously your best tool and your greatest vulnerability. Using it might save your crew. It might also wake something that’s been sleeping for geological epochs.
When Your Crew Dies, You Inherit Their Jobs
The Submarine’s most harrowing mechanic comes from its crew management system. Your submarine operates with multiple crew members, each with distinct roles. When someone dies—whether from the horror, system failures, or desperation—you inherit their duties. Your workload doesn’t diminish when crew members perish. You stretch yourself thin, taking on multiple roles, juggling responsibilities, trying to keep a dying submarine operational with fewer hands.
This creates genuine horror through resource management. It’s not about combat or jump scares. It’s about the slow realization that you’re overwhelmed, that the situation is spiraling, that maintaining the Ares with a skeleton crew becomes increasingly impossible. Each death isn’t just emotional loss. It’s mechanical pressure. The systems still need maintenance. The sonar still needs operating. Someone has to pilot the submarine. When your crew dies, you still have to somehow do everything.
Multiple Endings Determined by Your Choices
Static Dread: The Submarine features branching narrative determined by your decisions under pressure. Your route through the ocean, your priorities in crisis moments, and your acts when facing impossible choices all shape which ending you receive. This isn’t a game where every playthrough converges on the same conclusion. Different strategies, different crew priorities, different decisions about what to sacrifice lead to genuinely different outcomes.
Some crews might prioritize investigation, trying to understand what the aurora awakened. Others might focus purely on survival, steering toward the nearest port. Still others might take risks investigating the ruins on the seafloor despite the danger. Your approach shapes the narrative, and multiple endings reward different playstyles and ethical frameworks.
Closed Playtest Coming Soon
SolarSuitGames has announced that a closed playtest will arrive in a few months, allowing selected players to experience the submarine horror firsthand before full release. This measured approach mirrors what worked for The Lighthouse: gather community feedback, refine mechanics, ensure the final product delivers on the promise. The fact that the developer is confident enough to send an unfinished build to outside testers suggests genuine belief in what they’ve created.
The Steam page is live now for wishlisting. Players can add Static Dread: The Submarine to their libraries to receive notifications about the upcoming closed playtest and eventual release. The developer’s commitment to transparency and community engagement suggests someone who genuinely cares about the player experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Static Dread: The Submarine?
Static Dread: The Submarine is a psychological horror game developed by SolarSuitGames where you play as a crew member aboard the submarine Ares. After a catastrophic aurora event changes the world, you navigate the Atlantic ocean depths facing isolation, failing systems, and something ancient and terrifying.
When was Static Dread: The Submarine announced?
The game was officially announced on October 27, 2025. The Steam page went live immediately, allowing players to wishlist the game.
Is this a sequel to Static Dread: The Lighthouse?
Static Dread: The Submarine is a new entry in the Static Dread universe set in the same post-aurora world as The Lighthouse. It’s not a direct sequel but rather a spiritual follow-up exploring similar themes in a completely different setting.
When will Static Dread: The Submarine release?
A specific release date hasn’t been announced. A closed playtest is planned for “a few months” after the announcement. Full release will likely follow several months after playtest concludes.
What platforms will the game be on?
Currently, Static Dread: The Submarine is confirmed for PC on Steam. Console releases haven’t been announced.
What is the sonar mechanic?
The sonar mechanic involves using active and passive scans to explore the ocean floor, reveal wrecks and trenches, and navigate the submarine through dangerous waters. The catch is that active sonar might alert whatever lurks in the deep.
What happens when crew members die?
When crew members die or become unable to serve, you inherit their duties. This means your workload increases as crew size decreases. Maintaining the submarine becomes increasingly difficult with fewer hands available.
Are there multiple endings?
Yes. Your route, priorities, and decisions under pressure determine which of multiple endings you receive. Different playstyles and ethical choices lead to genuinely different conclusions.
Is this pure survival horror or does it have other elements?
Static Dread: The Submarine combines psychological horror with exploration, sonar mechanics, crew management, and resource management. It’s less action-horror and more tension-based strategic survival.
When can I play the closed playtest?
Sign-ups for the closed playtest aren’t live yet, but will be announced in the coming months. Check the Steam page for updates.
Conclusion
Static Dread: The Submarine takes the Lovecraftian psychological horror of The Lighthouse and transplants it into the claustrophobic nightmare of a submarine losing its fight against the deep. The sonar mechanic creates unique psychological tension. The crew management system makes every death mechanically impactful as well as emotionally devastating. The multiple endings reward different approaches and ethical choices. The Steam page is live now for wishlisting. When the closed playtest arrives in a few months, be ready to descend into absolute claustrophobic terror. The Ares awaits. The deep awaits. Whatever awakened in the aurora awaits. Prepare your crew and ready your sonar. Something ancient is answering back.