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Watch trailer on Steam ↗S.O.N.A.R. - Submarine Operators Not Actually Ready
Abylight Barcelona · Published by Abylight Studios
Last updated 28 Sept 2026
S.O.N.A.R. (Submarine Operators Not Actually Ready) is a 1–4 player online co-op submarine sim where teamwork is essential, panic is inevitable, and sinking is always just one wrong button away. Pilot, fight, repair, and pray your friends know what to do.
Indie, Simulation, Casual · More free games
Dive into S.O.N.A.R. for a thrilling 1–4 player online co-op adventure that tests your piloting skills and coordination. In this indie simulation, sink or swim together as you repair, pilot, and navigate the perils of the deep with friends.
About this game
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About the Game
S.O.N.A.R. is a 1–4 player online co-op submarine simulator where teamwork is essential, panic is inevitable, and sinking is always just one wrong button away. Coordinate with your crew to operate a cutting-edge submarine through combat operations, stealth infiltrations, and treasure recovery missions. Repair catastrophic malfunctions, recalibrate complex systems, and desperately hope that the person sitting next to you isn't just randomly pressing buttons.
UNDERWATER MISSIONS
The oceans are under enemy control. Gather a team of highly trained specialists (or at least people who claim they know what they're doing) and complete dangerous missions beneath the waves.
- Locate hostile vessels and send them to the bottom of the sea. Preferably before they do the same to you.
- Protect valuable cargo ships. Because apparently the military couldn't find anyone else to babysit them.
- Hunt for treasures. Search the ocean floor for lost riches, forgotten artifacts, and evidence of previous crews' poor decisions.
- Slip past enemy destroyers undetected. Stay quiet. Stay hidden. And whatever you do, don't sneeze.
COOPERATION
Up to four crew members must work together to manage nine critical stations, including navigation, diving, sonar, periscope operations, engineering, and damage control. When the sub catches fire or starts taking on water from twelve different holes at once, communication is the only thing standing between you and becoming fish food.
Use proximity voice chat to:
- Shout urgent orders.
- Warn everyone about imminent disaster.
- Explain why the catastrophe is definitely someone else's fault.
And if a crewmate starts reading the manual during a torpedo attack, give ’em a friendly slap back to reality!
Nothing says "successful mission" quite like a victory dance while all hell breaks loose.
CUSTOMIZATION
In S.O.N.A.R. every character is unique. Choose from dozens of uniforms, hats, and questionable fashion choices. Customize your equipment before deployment and unlock new gear as you level up. If you're going to make terrible decisions underwater, you should at least look good doing it.
SURVIVAL
Machines aren't the only things that break down. Humans do too.
Manage your crew's food supplies, rest schedules, and overall well-being. Neglect them for too long and they'll become exhausted, seasick, delirious, or mysteriously incapable of following simple instructions.
Health Tip: You really, really don't want to be vomiting inside your diving helmet when it's your turn to load the torpedoes.
Trust us on this one.
System Requirements
Will my PC run this? →Minimum
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Intel i5-2300/AMD FX-4300
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 or equivalent
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 4 GB available space
Recommended
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Intel i7-4770/AMD FX-8350
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 6GB or equivalent
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 4 GB available space
Supported Languages
Latest news
AnnouncementsOfficial
S.O.N.A.R. OST. The return of legendary composer Alberto “McAlby” González
All hands on deck! We have a new and exciting announcement regarding S.O.N.A.R. Submarine Operators Not Actually Ready development. We are proudly confirming our beloved composer Alberto J. González “McAlby” will be returning for the original soundtrack.With a career spanning over three decades since entering the video game industry in the late 1980s, McAlby is one of the most prolific figures in European game audio history, having contributed to more than 100 titles. As a co-founder of both Bit Managers and Abylight Studios, his legendary 8-bit and 16-bit compositions defined an era, crafting iconic soundtracks for classic European hits such as North & South, The Smurfs, Tintin in Tibet, and Asterix.McAlby is particularly celebrated for his masterful work on the original Nintendo Game Boy, where his signature style pushed the sound chip to its absolute limits, compositionally touching roughly 2% of the entire global library for the system.In recent years, he has continued to shape modern indie audio pipelines, serving as Executive Music Producer for Abylight’s critically acclaimed management and strategy titles, One Military Camp and Citadelum. With S.O.N.A.R. (Submarine Operators Not Actually Ready), McAlby steps back into the spotlight to deliver a rich, immersive musical experience tailored specifically for the dynamic atmosphere of submarine operations.In Alberto’s own words: To compose the main theme for S.O.N.A.R., I started from clear requirements set by the creative director: the music needed to convey a certain element of tension, in line with the nature of the game. However, I always find it difficult to resist the temptation of creating a catchy melody.Starting from a preliminary idea, I envisioned the complete track as a journey through three distinct sections, orbiting around a sonar ping. The first is a suspenseful introduction aimed at building anticipation before the mission begins. The second gives way to a more melodic, two-part heroic section, de...Read full article on Community Announcements (Víctor)AnnouncementsOfficial
S.O.N.A.R. Behind the scenes and submarine tour
Ever wondered how realistic submarine games actually are? Join Abylight’s Creative Director Miguel García Corchero and Marketing Lead David Martínez for an exclusive tour inside the Spanish Navy's legendary S-61 Dolphin submarine!We walked through the cramped corridors, torpedo rooms, and command centers of a real life submarine to compare it side by side with our upcoming coop sim, S.O.N.A.R. Submarine Operators Not Actually Ready. Discover how true to life naval engineering directly inspires our core gameplay mechanics, from sonar operations to crew survival… or toilets.What You'll See in This Video:Real Submarine Mechanics: See how real naval systems translate directly into S.O.N.A.R. gameplay.S-61 Dolphin Secrets: Explore the authentic living quarters, engine rooms, and combat systems of the Spanish Navy’s iconic vessel.Behind the Scenes Insights: Miguel and David share how authentic submarine physics and layout design shape our experience.Watch the Full Video on YouTubeJoin the Community Discussion! What detail surprised you the most about the S-61 Dolphin layout? Drop your thoughts in the Community Hub comments. You can get exclusive info and WIP materials in our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/QPxArHGsBvDon't forget to Wishlist and Follow S.O.N.A.R. on Steam to get notified about our next playtests, demos and more.Read full article on Community Announcements (Víctor)AnnouncementsOfficial
S.O.N.A.R. Developer Interview
Attention, crew!We have an exciting deep dive for you today. Get access to an exclusive interview with the core developer behind S.O.N.A.R. Submarine Operators Not actually Ready!Miguel García Corchero, Creative Director at Abylight Barcelona, sat down with us to pull back the curtain on the game's development. Here is a sneak peek at what we cover in the video:The Core Inspiration: What sparked the idea for a chaotic, co-op submarine simulator?Key Gameplay Mechanics: How teamwork, crisis management, and submarine maintenance tie together.Missions & Objectives: What you and your crew will actually be doing underwater to survive (and thrive).And much more!Check out the full interview to see new footage, learn about future plans, and discover what it takes to keep a submarine running when no one is actually ready.🎬 Watch the Full Interview HereWhat feature are you most excited to try out with your crew? Let us know in the comments below, and don't forget to Wishlist and Follow S.O.N.A.R. on Steam to stay updated on future development logs!Read full article on Community Announcements (dmrobles77)AnnouncementsOfficial
Playtest #2 Recap
Attention all crew members!Playtest #2 for S.O.N.A.R. Submarine Operators Not Actually Ready has officially come to an end. Thank you for joining in this amazing adventure, Mission Accomplished! ⚓️After an exciting weekend of testing out our newest features, it’s time for us to head back into full development, there’s still much to do. But before we dive deeper into production, we need your help!How can you support us?💬 Join our Discord: Drop in and share all your feedback, bugs, and wild ideas with the team! Find your crew for next playtests. Help us with localization to your language. 💙 Wishlist S.O.N.A.R. on Steam: Adding us to your Wishlist helps more players discover the game. Hit that button, it means a lot for us. 🔔 Follow our page: Stay in the loop and be the first to get the latest news and updates.📢 Spread the word. Tell your friends about S.O.N.A.R., grow our community. Thank you so much for playing, crew. Outstanding work out there!Read full article on Community Announcements (Víctor)AnnouncementsOfficial
New mission incoming. Playtest #2 is starting soon
All hands on deck! A new transmission just came in from HQ. First of all, a massive, heartfelt thank you for making our first playtest round such a blast. You have surpassed all our expectations! Because of that success, and because we hate leaving anyone stranded at the docks, we’ve decided to launch a second playtest round for everyone who missed the boat the first time around. The best part? You won't have to twiddle your thumbs for long. This second test is happening tomorrow: starting July 31st and running until August 3rd. If you haven’t done it yet, claim your spot right here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4096830/SONAR__Submarine_Operators_Not_Actually_Ready/ CHANGELOG {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/46215334/36dd0404a8387fcd0380623bab08670932462bdf.gif Improvements & New Mechanics: Filters & CO₂ Added a new Snorkel station, allowing the crew to draw in air while surfaced, store it in a tank, and use it later while submerged. CO₂ filters can still be used underwater as a strategic backup once the Snorkel air supply runs out, perfect for those moments when surfacing feels like a particularly bad idea. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/46215334/87f57cf4dbab4d5f5a3588596c235e28a0ea7164.jpg Sonar Active sonar can now be switched off. Without sonar pulses, you’ll be sailing blind and unable to detect nearby contacts, but enemy vessels will also have a much harder time locating you. Silence can be a very effective weapon. 🤫 {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/46215334/573810c2cc3d4242fb039f3f85e959f8ff2a63fc.png Engines Engine noise is now based on the actual RPM instead of the throttle lever position. More speed means more noise, and more opportunities for enemy ships to notice your questionable decisions. Added multiple engine power modes: Silent Running, Cruise Speed, and Force Engine. That last one is not exactly recommended due to the risks involved unless you’re trying to break a leaderboard record. 😉 {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/46215334/1f15545237c706c390709b257da2ea6a4e7df172.jpg Periscope Added zoom to ...Read full article on Community Announcements (Víctor)
