AquaNox

2001 Massive Development Action

Windows 11With a fix

MacNot sold

LinuxPlatinum

Steam DeckPlayable

Gamicality score

Metacritic 674

OpenCritic Not rated

Steam players 671

How it’s combined

Playability today

Runs today3.5/5

Design today2.5/5

Steam user reviews

Mostly Positive

71%

372 reviews1

Get it on Steam Watch the trailer

Facts checked November 1, 2026

Does AquaNox run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?

Windows 11With a fix

Runs with a fix. See the steps below.1

Mac (Apple Silicon)Not sold

No Mac version is sold.

LinuxPlatinum

Through Proton. ProtonDB: Platinum, runs perfectly out of the box.3

Steam DeckPlayable

Playable, as rated by Valve. May need some setup.1

Played AquaNox lately?

One click, no account, so the next player knows. How we check where it runs

How to get AquaNox running today

Install SilentPatch by extracting it into the game folder to fix stuttering or unresponsive mouse and keyboard input on high polling rate mice (Silent's Blog, PCGamingWiki).
If the screen flickers with black frames, turn off lag compensation in the graphics options (PCGamingWiki).

Synopsis

AquaNox is a first-person submarine combat game set in a future where humanity lives in cities on the ocean floor. You play Emerald Flint, a mercenary pilot taking contracts between factions, fighting enemy subs and escorting convoys through deep-sea canyons. Between missions you talk with your crew and other characters and upgrade your ship with new weapons.

Developer: Massive Development
Released: 2001
Genre: Action
Where to get it: Steam

Reception

Critics at release praised the detailed underwater graphics but found the action simple and repetitive, and fans of the predecessor missed its depth, for a Metascore of 67. Steam players today enjoy the setting, atmosphere and soundtrack. Common complaints are erratic mouse aiming on modern mice, long stretches of dialogue and uneven voice acting, frustrating escort missions and no checkpoints. Online multiplayer is gone, so only LAN or VPN play remains.

Trailer from Steam

Playability today

The average of two parts, each from 1 to 5. Tap a check to see why. How it works

Runs today

3.5/5

Sold or given away today by an official source
Needs fan patches to run well on Windows 11
?Not confirmed yetSingle-player works without an internet connection
No source covers the current version yet, so this check counts as open, not passed. Played it lately? Tell us
Some content no longer works (servers, DLC, unlocks)
Online multiplayer is no longer available after GameSpy shut down, leaving LAN and direct IP play (PCGamingWiki, Steam Community).
No proper support for modern resolutions and widescreen
PCGamingWiki lists widescreen, ultrawide and 4K as hackable only (PCGamingWiki).
Full controller support or remappable controls
PCGamingWiki lists controller support with remapping, and an Xbox 360 pad works well, though triggers cannot be bound (PCGamingWiki).
Steam Deck Verified or Playable
No intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
No known game-breaking bugs in the current version
PCGamingWiki lists only an inconsistent crash during one mission intro, and players report no blocking crashes (PCGamingWiki, Steam Community).

Design today

2.5/5

Controls feel awkward on a modern controller or mouse and keyboard
Out of the box, mouse aiming stutters or stops registering on modern high polling rate mice, and players need a fan patch, a gamepad or lower sensitivity to steer properly. Source: silentsblog.com, steamcommunity.com, steamcommunity.com.
Menus, text or interface are hard to read on today's screens
Widescreen, ultrawide and 4K only work through hacks, windowed mode is stuck at 640×480 without a workaround, and subtitles cannot be turned off. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.
Saving is harsh: few saves or checkpoints, progress gets lost
Missions have no checkpoints, so failing near the end of a long escort or battle means replaying the whole mission. Source: steamcommunity.com, steamcommunity.com.
It teaches itself: no guide needed to make progress
Missions are linear with clear briefings and objectives given by the crew, so progress needs no outside help. Source: steamcommunity.com.
Pacing drags: grind, filler or forced backtracking
Players call the dialogue between and during missions excessive, and escort missions and uneven mission length drag the campaign down, though dialogue can be skipped. Source: steamcommunity.com.
Camera and movement never fight the player
The view stays in the submarine cockpit, with dedicated keys for rising and sinking, so there is no camera to fight once the mouse works properly. Source: steamcommunity.com, pcgamingwiki.com.