Steam Ocean Fest 2026 is live now with up to 90% off on 900+ ocean-themed games. From Subnautica to Skull and Bones, here are the deals you should not miss before May 25.
Steam Ocean Fest 2026 launched on May 18 and runs until May 25, offering discounts on over 900 games centred around the ocean. Valve’s themed event covers everything from deep-sea survival and underwater horror to pirate adventures and cosy coastal sims. Discounts reach as high as 90%, and several headline titles are available for under $3. Here is everything worth knowing before the sale ends.
What Is Steam Ocean Fest?
Steam Ocean Fest is one of Valve’s recurring themed sale events that spotlight a specific category of games. This one focuses on titles set in, on, or around the ocean, whether that means exploring alien underwater worlds, commanding naval fleets, or simply cleaning up oil spills from a little boat. The event runs for one week and features discounts, game demos, trailers, and a dedicated discovery hub on the Steam store homepage.
Unlike Steam’s massive seasonal sales (the next one is the Summer Sale starting June 25), themed fests are narrower in scope but often surface smaller indie titles that get lost in bigger events. Ocean Fest is part of Valve’s 2026 event calendar, which includes over a dozen themed festivals alongside the four major seasonal sales.
The Biggest Discounts at a Glance
The headline deals range from survival classics to simulation deep cuts. Here are the standout discounts verified during the event:
| Game | Regular Price | Sale Price | Discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skull and Bones | $23.99 | $2.39 | 90% |
| Port Royale 4 | $39.99 | $3.99 | 90% |
| Maneater | $39.99 | $5.99 | 85% |
| Subnautica | $20.99 | $5.24 | 75% |
| Subnautica: Below Zero | $20.99 | $5.24 | 75% |
| Still Wakes the Deep | $17.99 | $4.49 | 75% |
| SOMA | $14.99 | $3.74 | 75% |
| Ship of Fools | $21.99 | $5.49 | 75% |
| We Need To Go Deeper | $15.99 | $3.99 | 75% |
| Barotrauma | $20.99 | $10.49 | 50% |
| Stranded Deep | $19.99 | $9.99 | 50% |
| Flotsam | $12.49 | $6.24 | 50% |
| Stormworks: Build and Rescue | $12.49 | $7.49 | 40% |
| Spilled! | $3.59 | $2.29 | 36% |
| Abyssus | $12.49 | $8.11 | 35% |
| Voyagers of Nera | $14.99 | $9.89 | 34% |
| The Last Caretaker | $16.49 | $13.19 | 20% |
| Sea Power: Naval Combat in the Missile Age | $22.99 | $18.39 | 20% |
Why Subnautica Is the Star of the Show
Subnautica holds a 97% positive rating across more than 320,000 Steam reviews, making it one of the highest-rated survival games on the entire platform. At 75% off, both the original and its sequel Below Zero drop to just $5.24 each. If you have never tried underwater survival, this is one of the best entry points in all of gaming.
The game drops you into an alien ocean with minimal hand-holding. Crafting is simple but deep, survival mechanics are present without being punishing, and the world rewards exploration at every turn. Below Zero continues the formula with a frozen setting and a more narrative-driven structure.
Under $3: The Best Budget Picks
Several quality games are available for less than the cost of a coffee during this fest. Ubisoft’s Skull and Bones, the open-world pirate action game, sits at just $2.39 after a 90% cut. Spilled!, a cosy oil-cleanup boat game with a 91% positive rating, costs only $2.29. SOMA, Frictional Games’ acclaimed sci-fi horror title, comes in at $3.74.
Port Royale 4 is another standout at $3.99. It is a deep Caribbean economic simulation that trades combat spectacle for spreadsheet-level trade management. If you enjoy the economic side of games like Tropico, this is a compelling deal.
Genres Worth Exploring Beyond Survival
Ocean Fest is not just about surviving on a raft. The sale spans a surprising breadth of genres:
- Survival and exploration: Subnautica, Subnautica: Below Zero, Stranded Deep
- Horror and tension: SOMA, Still Wakes the Deep, Barotrauma, Dredge, Sunless Sea
- Naval combat and strategy: Sea Power: Naval Combat in the Missile Age, Skull and Bones, War on the Sea
- Simulation and management: Stormworks: Build and Rescue, Flotsam, Havendock, Moonglow Bay, Ships At Sea
- Cosy and relaxing: Spilled!, Summer in Mara, Voyagers of Nera, Critter Cove, Collector’s Cove
- Action and co-op: Maneater, Ship of Fools, We Need To Go Deeper
There are also visual novels, roguelikes, and puzzle games within the event’s catalogue. The Steam Ocean Fest hub page lets you filter by sub-genre, making discovery easier than scrolling the full list.
How Long Does the Sale Last?
Steam Ocean Fest 2026 ends on May 25, 2026 at 10:00 AM Pacific Time (6:00 PM BST / 7:00 PM CEST). This is a short, one-week window, not a month-long sale. Once the clock runs out, prices revert to normal, and the next comparable opportunity will not arrive until the Steam Summer Sale on June 25.
Tips Before You Buy
A few practical steps can make your purchase smarter during any Steam sale event:
- Check your wishlist first. Steam sends notifications when wishlisted games go on sale. If you have been building a wishlist all year, now is the time to review it.
- Verify price history. Tools like SteamDB let you check whether the current price is truly the lowest a game has ever been. Some Ocean Fest prices match all-time lows, while others have been cheaper during past events.
- Look at bundles. Some games are cheaper when bought as part of a bundle rather than individually. Always check whether a bundle option exists before adding a single game to your cart.
- Read recent reviews. A game may carry a high overall rating but a mixed recent rating. Steam’s review filters let you check recent feedback separately.
Loading Up Your Steam Wallet
If you prefer to have your balance ready before a sale, Steam wallet codes are the fastest way to load funds. For accounts set to the European region, an EUR wallet code option is also available. Codes are activated instantly by navigating to “Redeem Code” in your Steam client.
What Comes After Ocean Fest?
Valve’s 2026 event calendar is packed. After Ocean Fest wraps up on May 25, the next events include Steam Next Fest in June (for demos of upcoming games), the Bullet Fest from June 8 to 15, and then the massive Steam Summer Sale running from June 25 through July 9. Later in the year, the Autumn Sale is scheduled for October 1-8 and the Winter Sale from December 17 through January 4, 2027.
What Players Usually Ask
Are Ocean Fest discounts available globally?
Yes. All Ocean Fest discounts apply worldwide through the Steam store. Prices appear in your account’s local currency, but the percentage discounts are consistent across regions.
Are only ocean-themed games on sale right now?
The themed fest focuses on ocean games, but Steam also runs concurrent deals like Weekend Deals, Daily Deals, and Midweek Deals on unrelated titles. Check the SteamDB sales tracker for a full view of everything currently discounted.
Is this the cheapest Subnautica has ever been?
At $5.24 (75% off), this is among the lowest prices Subnautica has reached on Steam. SteamDB data confirms this matches its historical low range, making it an excellent time to buy.
Can I try games before buying during the fest?
Some games in the Ocean Fest catalogue offer free demos on their store page. Check individual game pages for a “Download Demo” button before committing to a purchase.
Is this sale only for PC?
Yes. The Steam Ocean Fest is a PC-only event. Some featured games may also be available on consoles, but the festival discounts apply exclusively through the Steam store.
