When a city-building game trades concrete for coral, innovation naturally rises to the surface. Life Below, the upcoming reef-builder from Megapop and published by Kasedo Games, invites players to dive beneath the waves and restore an ocean on the brink. Far from a typical simulation, Life Below blends authentic marine science with imaginative world-building to create one of 2026’s most compelling new strategy titles.
Set in a living underwater ecosystem shaped by real ecological research, Life Below challenges players to rebuild fragile coral environments, revive biodiversity, and outsmart the natural disasters that threaten the deep. With release planned for 2026 and a Steam wishlist already open, this ocean-rich adventure has quickly surfaced as one of next year’s most anticipated PC games.
A Reef-Building City Builder Grounded in Real Marine Science
Megapop developed Life Below with intensive guidance from marine biologists, ensuring the game’s core systems accurately reflect how coral reefs function in the real world. From coral regeneration to predator-prey cycles and water-quality shifts, players will experience firsthand how delicate and interconnected marine ecosystems truly are.
“We wanted Life Below to feel alive in a way that mirrors real ocean ecology,” says Lise Hagen Lie, Game Director at Megapop. “Every algae bloom, every temperature surge, every shift in water conditions is inspired by actual ecological principles. It’s a game built on realism, with a gameplay twist.”
For Megapop and its scientific partners, Life Below became a digital experiment in ecological balance. Karin Raamat, Marine Ecologist, explains the philosophy behind it: “In life everything has a purpose. The ecosystems only function with all the small parts doing their work. If you remove or change one little thing, the whole ecosystem can collapse.”
These real scientific truths shape many of Life Below’s most engaging challenges. Invasive species like lionfish can destabilize fish populations if ignored. Rising acidity threatens coral structures across different reef biomes. Algae blooms can de-oxygenate water, forcing players to act quickly before marine life begins to suffocate. Natural ocean disturbances, Karin notes, inspired many of the game’s most inventive crisis scenarios. “Discussing disasters brought up many creative ideas,” she says—and those ideas now form dynamic gameplay moments that test both strategy and stewardship.
Where Ocean Fantasy Meets Scientific Authenticity
While Life Below is rooted in marine science, Megapop also embraces myth and imagination to enrich the player experience. You play as Thalassa, guardian of the reef, mentored by the wise Pontus, as you work to restore harmony beneath the waves. At the heart of every coral environment lies the reef heart, a powerful core that must be protected to keep the ecosystem thriving.
“Our aim isn’t to develop a totally accurate reef simulation,” Lise explains, “but we do hope players come away with a deeper appreciation for the ocean and the delicate systems that sustain it.”
This blend of science and fantasy gives Life Below a distinctive identity in the city-building space: a game where ecosystems are not merely resources, but characters, environments, and narratives intertwined. Karin believes this perspective can make a meaningful difference. “I believe that a game such as Life Below will have a positive impact on marine life and protect the already changing world,” she says. “It is not so easy to bring people underwater, but it is a lot simpler to bring marine life to people through gaming.”
By transforming coral reefs into thriving, evolving cities, Life Below highlights both the beauty and fragility of the ocean—and why safeguarding it matters.
A Fresh Take on City-Building Coming in 2026
Life Below launches next year for Windows PC, published by Kasedo Games and developed by Megapop. With its unique combination of ecological strategy, world-building, and underwater exploration, it stands poised to make a splash in the growing wave of science-inspired games.
Players can wishlist Life Below now on Steam as anticipation builds for its 2026 debut.
Game Information
Title: Life Below
Platform: Windows PC
Genre: City Builder (Reef Builder)
Release: 2026
Price: TBA
Publisher: Kasedo Games
Developer: Megapop
