The player assumes control of a female bull shark who must evolve and survive in an open world so she can take revenge on a fisherman who disfigured her as a pup and killed her mother.

Set after the main story, it follows the shark as she travels to a mysterious experiment site and confronts a radioactive monster causing chaos around Port Clovis.

[3] The shark needs to hunt and consume other aquatic wildlife such as fish and turtles in order to obtain nutrients, namely proteins, fats, minerals and rare mutagenics.

Players can attack humans by wreaking havoc along the coast, destroying yachts and ships, and knocking people off jet skis.

[4] As the player gains enough nutrients, the shark must enter underwater grottos to unlock abilities and increase in size, which allows it to take on larger and deadlier creatures.

[8] A film crew for a reality television show follows experienced shark hunter Pierre "Scaly Pete" LeBlanc (Carlo Mestroni) and his son Kyle (Raphael Grosz-Harvey) as they hunt for an adult bull shark with a harpoon in its side owned by Scaly Pete's father.

The infant shark grows larger over time by eating fish, aquatic mammals and reptiles, humans, and apex predators.

He repairs and arms his father's old patrol boat with military-grade firepower, attacks the film crew when they attempt to talk him out of it, and sets out to kill the shark, which has by now evolved into a megashark, measuring 10 m (33 ft) in length.

Having survived its battle with Scaly Pete, the shark senses the presence of another, more sinister apex predator that threatens its current status.

Discovering radioactive chemicals left behind by the unknown predator around Port Clovis, the shark ventures to Plover Island, also known as "Site P", which is said to be an off-the-books experimental station.

[11] The combat system was inspired by Punch Out and Dark Souls, as the player needs to think tactically and discern an opponent's attack pattern.

[12] Maneater was announced in June 2018 by Tripwire's newly formed publishing division which provided funding, marketing and additional development for the game.