Explore the Ocean’s Depths in Sub-Species
Independent studio Howling Hamster Entertainment has unveiled Sub-Species, a new 2.5D multidirectional shooter set far below Earth’s oceans after a catastrophic alien outbreak. Alongside the announcement, a debut trailer introduces players to a haunting deep-sea world shaped by retro arcade influences and modern sci-fi storytelling.
In Sub-Species, players command a heavily armed submarine built to rotate a full 360 degrees. Each mission pushes deeper into infected underwater zones where hostile lifeforms, collapsed facilities, and strange alien technology dominate the landscape. Survival depends on constant movement, careful positioning, and smart use of limited resources.
Exploration plays a major role throughout the campaign. Players navigate tight caverns, disable unstable reactors, and uncover the remains of failed expeditions lost to the depths. The game blends combat with navigation challenges and environmental hazards. This creates a steady sense of pressure as danger can emerge from any direction at any moment.
Creative Director Manus Burke describes the deep ocean as the closest thing Earth has to an alien world. The team aimed to capture both its strange beauty and its overwhelming sense of danger, pulling players in while constantly reminding them they do not belong there.
Inspired by classics such as Sub Terrania, Ecco the Dolphin, The Abyss, and The Blue Planet, Sub-Species balances retro-style precision with a cinematic underwater atmosphere. Each area feels mechanical, alien, and unpredictable, echoing a world collapsing under an unseen invasion.
Sub-Species is currently in development for PC via Steam, with a playable demo planned to launch soon on the platform.