Assemblage of base building mechanics and narrative in Subnautica

Sammanfattning: The goal of this thesis is to answer the question of how does Subnautica (Unknown Worlds Entertainment, 2018) incorporate base building mechanics into its narrative progression? This research was conducted using a close reading methodology for the purpose of closely examining the key points of interest. The two authors conducted individual playthroughs of the game where they looked at the base building mechanics and narrative in Subnautica (Unknown Worlds Entertainment, 2018) using a lens constructed from theories of cognitive narratology, emergent narrative, and narrative gameplay mechanics. This lens used assemblage theory prominently as well to bridge the gaps between the previously mentioned theories. The results of the research describe in detail the inner workings of Subnautica’s (Unknown Worlds Entertainment, 2018) approach to base building mechanics and how it affects the different forms of narrative in the game. This research is beneficial for researchers and game developers that seek a deeper understanding of the impact that the integration of base building mechanics and narrative progression has on survival games.