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Oxygen

Oxygen offers an interesting twist on many City-Builder staples, especially when it comes to the setting. Unfortunately, the originality is not enough for the game to stand on its own, and I have trouble recommending it when titles like Frostpunk and Terra Nil exist.
Oxygen Game Cover
63%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
story, grinding
68% User Score Based on 287 reviews
Critic Score 40%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Oxygen Game Cover

About

Oxygen is a single player survival strategy game. It was developed by Turquoise Revival Games and was released on April 7, 2023. It received negative reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"Oxygen" is a strategy game where players must manage the Oxygen Center, a critical facility that generates oxygen through electrolysis of underground water, powered by coal. With the world's oxygen levels critically low due to a natural disaster, players must sustain humanity by producing and distributing oxygen while transitioning to more sustainable energy sources. The game offers good game mechanics and impressive graphics, ensuring an engaging and visually appealing experience for players.

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Oxygen screenshot
Oxygen screenshot
Oxygen screenshot
Oxygen screenshot
Oxygen screenshot
Oxygen screenshot
Oxygen screenshot
Oxygen screenshot
Oxygen screenshot
Oxygen screenshot
Oxygen screenshot
+14
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68%
Audience ScoreBased on 287 reviews
gameplay23 positive mentions
story7 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique and engaging concept of managing a colony in a post-apocalyptic world where oxygen is scarce, providing a fresh take on the city-building genre.
  • Gameplay is relaxing yet challenging, requiring players to balance resources and manage their colony effectively, which can be rewarding when done successfully.
  • The visuals and atmosphere are appealing, with a well-designed interface and a pleasant soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • The pacing can be slow, especially in the mid to late game, leading to periods of inactivity where players may feel bored or disengaged.
  • There are several bugs and issues with the game's mechanics, such as problems with task management, resource allocation, and AI behavior, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • The game lacks a clear end goal or narrative progression, making it feel repetitive and less engaging over time, especially after achieving all available tasks and objectives.
  • gameplay
    75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a blend of survival and management mechanics, with a strong thematic focus on resource preservation and oxygen management. While the core mechanics are solid and engaging, players have noted issues with pacing, depth, and the overall design of levels, leading to a mix of enjoyment and frustration. Despite some criticisms regarding repetitive gameplay and a lack of innovative features, many players appreciate the challenge and strategic elements involved in building and sustaining a colony.

    • “Every decision revolves around preserving the most basic necessity of life, and from that premise emerges a game that is both thematically compelling and mechanically challenging.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly fun and addictive, with a perfect balance of challenge and reward.”
    • “The combination of managing resources, building a sustainable colony, and dealing with the harsh realities of surviving on an alien planet make for a thrilling and satisfying gameplay experience.”
    • “Although the game introduces new challenges over time, the sense of urgency that defines the opening hours can taper off, leading to periods where gameplay feels passive.”
    • “Then what I thought was a barebones tutorial map with assets slapped down here and there to demonstrate game mechanics turns out to be the actual level of map design present in the game itself; it's something I would expect from a badly modded map, but it's what they actually went with.”
    • “There's honestly not much to it, and the pool of gameplay elements is shallower than a kiddie pool.”
  • story
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of depth and structure, with many reviewers noting that it offers little beyond an introductory cutscene and no overarching narrative or campaign. While some appreciate the environmental storytelling and potential for a richer narrative, the consensus is that the game feels incomplete without a compelling storyline or clear objectives, making the gameplay repetitive and less engaging. Overall, players express a desire for a more developed story to enhance the experience, similar to other titles like Frostpunk.

    • “In addition to its engaging gameplay, Oxygen also boasts a rich storyline that adds an extra layer of depth to the experience.”
    • “With its immersive atmosphere, innovative gameplay mechanics, and captivating storyline, it's a journey that will keep you coming back for more.”
    • “The game's storyline is engaging and thought-provoking, with various choices and consequences that keep the player invested in the game.”
    • “But... this one is not finished. No storyline, no goal... just building stuff until you get tired of the same cycle again and again.”
    • “There is no campaign, no story to follow.”
    • “The major flaw is in the fact this game has no campaign and no story; the map pool is low and they don't really offer anything unique besides new landscapes.”
  • graphics
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the stunning visuals and attention to detail that enhance immersion, while others criticize the low-budget aesthetic and simplistic design. Many players appreciate the art style and how it complements the game's themes, though some feel it lacks the polish of higher-budget titles. Overall, the graphics are seen as functional and fitting for the indie genre, but not groundbreaking.

    • “The visuals are stunning, with breathtaking landscapes and intricate details that make every moment feel like an adventure waiting to unfold.”
    • “The graphics are stunning and really immerse you into the game world.”
    • “Good visuals which make the settlement look very 'scrap mechanic' in construction yet not looking like it is about to break down on the first dust-storms, matches nicely with the theme.”
    • “The complaints: first of all, this game wouldn't win any graphics award, even if the year was 2010.”
    • “The color scheme really puts a damper on things, and the sudden appearance of clip-art style symbols are an eyesore.”
    • “On top of that, the game's visuals are low budget; there's no redeeming qualities in 2D or 3D design. I dare say the game is ugly.”
  • grinding
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many expressing frustration over the slow pace of resource gathering and research, particularly in the late game. While the initial gameplay can be engaging, it quickly devolves into a chore, lacking meaningful endgame content and replay value. Overall, the micromanagement and resource prioritization contribute to a sense of stagnation that detracts from the overall enjoyment.

    • “I gave it a fair shot, but it's just tediously slow, micromanage-y and feels like it goes nowhere.”
    • “At first, it seems really interesting, forces you to balance things around weather etc., set your priorities and keeps you entertained, but... it gets repetitive really quickly, from something fun it becomes something repetitive and tedious.”
    • “The pace is too slow, especially the research, and day-to-day gets tedious fast.”
  • music
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally described as pleasant and soothing, contributing positively to the overall experience, though some reviewers find it repetitive and reminiscent of older styles. While the soundtrack is appreciated for its relaxing qualities, there are mixed opinions regarding its originality and depth, with some noting a lack of variety. Overall, the music enhances the game's atmosphere, despite some criticisms.

    • “Simply put, this is a great game with fantastic graphics and a soothing soundtrack that I will play a lot more of.”
    • “The music is pleasant, the game is challenging but not frustrating.”
    • “The soundtrack is very good and the interface is straightforward and uncluttered.”
    • “The music, though skillfully made, is repetitive, and some tunes use samples that sound 20 years old.”
    • “The music is lackluster.”
  • atmosphere
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a dystopian setting following an ecological disaster, creating a sense of constant environmental pressure and scarcity. Players are immersed in a world where oxygen is a precious resource, enhancing the survival city-building experience with innovative gameplay mechanics and a captivating storyline. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its depth and ability to engage players, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “Overall, Oxygen is a thoughtful and well-executed take on survival city building, one that focuses more on atmosphere, scarcity, and resilience than on grand construction or high-speed development.”
    • “With its immersive atmosphere, innovative gameplay mechanics, and captivating storyline, it's a journey that will keep you coming back for more.”
    • “Following an ecological disaster that poisoned the atmosphere and left the world gasping for breath, the game puts players in charge of a struggling settlement where oxygen is no longer taken for granted.”
    • “What sets Oxygen apart from more traditional city builders is the atmosphere of constant environmental pressure.”
    • “In our game, the earth is in chaos again and now the atmosphere is full of poisonous gases, so you need to ensure the continuity of oxygen.”
  • replayability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with players noting that once the initial content is completed, there is little incentive to return. The limited number of maps and minimal differences between them contribute to a feeling of monotony, making the gameplay experience feel tedious and unengaging over time.

    • “This game is just boring and has zero replayability.”
    • “The game comes with 5 playable maps, no random maps or anything, so this part feels a bit weird. When you start playing, you realize that the game does not offer much replayability after the first map, since you notice that the map itself barely makes any difference.”
    • “Game has no replay value at all really, as it is an inane tedious chore to get your 'town' started and not have it die out.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is generally criticized, particularly for players with less powerful PCs, as it requires low settings to achieve acceptable performance, especially in densely populated areas that can cause significant CPU bottlenecks. However, some users note that the overall optimization is decent for the price, with only minor issues like camera performance needing improvement.

    • “Oxygen may not be a perfect game, but when I look at the price/performance ratio and compare it to other similar games, all I can think of is that it's much better.”
    • “At first glance, everything is very good; the optimization is very nice.”
    • “Settlement that can fill your screen is going to bog down your performance big time with a huge CPU bottleneck.”
    • “Only the camera in the game needs some more optimization.”
  • stability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is mixed, with some users reporting significant bugs and low-quality voice acting, while others note only minor glitches and a generally smooth experience. Overall, it appears that while there are issues, the game can still be enjoyable for many players.

    • “The game seems buggy, and all of the human voices sound like they were created with low-quality AI or text-to-speech.”
    • “Turquoise Revival Games released this incredibly buggy game, abandoned it, and then released basically the same game but with penguins.”
    • “There are a couple of glitches, one of which makes it difficult to determine if the gas crack is going to blow up in your face or not.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by a memorable moment where a child humorously declares they are "ready to work" upon leaving the hospital, showcasing a blend of innocence and absurdity that resonates with players.

    • “It's hilarious when a child comes out of the hospital and says, 'I'm ready to work!'”
    • “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever jokes that keep you laughing.”
    • “I love the witty dialogue and absurd situations that make every moment entertaining.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game effectively conveys emotional stakes through its narrative of striving to sustain a community in a dying world, allowing players to derive personal meaning from the ongoing struggle for survival. While additional gameplay elements exist, they are not essential to experiencing the core emotional impact.

    • “The stakes are inherently emotional—the struggle to keep a community alive in a dying world is a powerful narrative on its own, and the game trusts players to find meaning in the day-to-day fight for survival.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy has been criticized for incorporating intrusive advertising directly on the main menu, obscuring the menu buttons and negatively impacting user experience.

    • “They added advertising to the main menu and made it sit on top of the menu buttons.”
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40%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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12h Median play time
14h Average play time
10-24h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Oxygen is a survival strategy game.

Oxygen is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 14 hours playing Oxygen.

Oxygen was released on April 7, 2023.

Oxygen was developed by Turquoise Revival Games.

Oxygen has received negative reviews from players and negative reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

Oxygen is a single player game.

Similar games include Endzone: A World Apart, Aquatico, Aven Colony, Cliff Empire, New Cycle and others.