Oxygen Not Included

About

Oxygen Not Included is a single player survival strategy game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Klei Entertainment and was released on April 30, 2017. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Oxygen Not Included" is a space colony simulation game where players manage a crew of duplicants, building and maintaining a sustainable underground base. Resources are limited and must be managed carefully, including oxygen, water, and power. The game features complex systems and challenges, requiring players to balance the needs of their duplicants with the constraints of their environment.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 42,473 reviews

gameplay1k positive mentions

grinding379 negative mentions

gameplay
3,077 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
65%
2%
The gameplay of "Oxygen Not Included" is characterized by its intricate mechanics and deep resource management systems, requiring players to master various elements such as gas dynamics, temperature control, and automation to ensure the survival of their duplicants. While the game offers a rewarding experience for those willing to invest time in understanding its complexities, many players find the steep learning curve and lack of in-game tutorials challenging, often relying on external resources to navigate its multifaceted gameplay. Overall, the combination of charming visuals and engaging mechanics provides a unique and addictive experience, appealing to fans of simulation and strategy games.
- “The gameplay keeps you on your toes with a plethora of mechanics to consider at any given moment, turning the management of basic resources into an engaging, sometimes harrowing, experience.”
- “The learning curve is steep, but the satisfaction of mastering the mechanics and creating a thriving colony is incredibly rewarding.”
- “Oxygen Not Included is a captivating simulation game that combines base-building mechanics with resource management challenges, offering hours of enjoyable gameplay.”
- “The game mechanics are easy up to a point, then they become insanely hard with really not any explanation.”
- “It's so complicated that a lot of its mechanics are either poorly explained or completely unexplained by the game.”
- “The mechanics are very technical, so the reasons for failure can be tracked down to a single overloaded wire, which caused the water sieve to stop functioning, leaving the toilets without any water.”
graphics
1,943 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
50%
1%
The graphics of "Oxygen Not Included" are characterized by a charming, cartoonish art style that many players find endearing, reminiscent of Klei's previous titles like "Don't Starve." While some players appreciate the unique and whimsical visuals, others feel the art style may appear simplistic or childish, potentially misleading newcomers about the game's complexity. Overall, the graphics are praised for their creativity and attention to detail, contributing to an engaging and immersive gameplay experience.
- “I love the unique art style that you really don't see much other places.”
- “The graphical style of 'Oxygen Not Included' is charmingly cartoonish, with animations that are simple yet brilliantly executed.”
- “The graphics and sound design further enhance the experience, creating a visually stunning and cute atmospheric world.”
- “The graphics look crisp and clean, but jeez, is this where the video game industry is going, lazy art?”
- “I really hate that cartoon graphic design in a video game; it's like interactive Cartoon Network.”
- “I thought I'd like the graphics, but I've failed too.”
humor
612 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Oxygen Not Included" is a standout feature, characterized by its quirky animations, clever writing, and the often absurd situations that arise during gameplay. Players appreciate the blend of dark humor and lightheartedness, as they watch their "duplicants" navigate the challenges of survival in a comedic fashion, often leading to hilariously disastrous outcomes. The game's charming art style and the developers' signature wit contribute to an engaging experience that keeps players entertained, even amidst the frustrations of managing a colony.
- “Funny, clever, and extremely complex mix of management simulator and survival game that manages to make abject failure almost as entertaining as success.”
- “If you're ready to bid farewell to your spare time and embark on a rollercoaster of hilariously disastrous endeavors, Oxygen Not Included awaits, ready to whisk you away into a whirlwind of perplexing joy.”
- “The quirky and humorous characters and situations that you will encounter throughout the game will keep you entertained and engaged for hours on end.”
- “The humor in the game feels forced and often falls flat, making moments that should be funny feel awkward instead.”
- “I expected a lot of laughs, but the jokes are stale and the comedic timing is off, leaving me more confused than amused.”
- “The attempts at humor often miss the mark, resulting in a game that feels more tedious than entertaining.”
replayability
570 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
1%
The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with players noting that each playthrough offers unique challenges due to randomly generated maps and diverse strategies. Many reviews highlight the game's depth and complexity, allowing for endless experimentation and optimization, making it a favorite among fans of colony management and simulation genres. Regular updates and a supportive modding community further enhance its replay value, ensuring that players remain engaged long after their initial experiences.
- “The replayability of this game is incredible.”
- “This game has endless replayability if you would enjoy an ant colony management game with the freedom to use thermodynamics and chemistry to achieve spaceflight.”
- “The game is endlessly replayable, with a wide range of different approaches to take and challenges to overcome.”
- “The replayability diminishes as players feel they have explored everything the game has to offer.”
- “After a few times trying and trying again I realized the replay value was poor... why would I restart playing?”
- “It's hard to make a game with as much replayability that Oni has.”
story
480 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
76%
11%
The story aspect of "Oxygen Not Included" is generally viewed as minimal and often secondary to the gameplay mechanics, with many players noting that it lacks a traditional narrative or structured campaign. While there are elements of lore and backstory that can be uncovered through exploration, such as logs and environmental clues, the game primarily focuses on survival and resource management rather than storytelling. Players seeking a rich narrative experience may find the game lacking, but those who enjoy emergent storytelling through gameplay may appreciate the unique situations that arise during their colony management.
- “With a deep and complex gameplay loop, an engaging story, and charming pixel art graphics, Oxygen Not Included is a game that will keep you entertained for hours on end.”
- “The game also features an engaging story, centered around the mysterious Nisbet, a duplicant who has been sent back in time to prevent a catastrophic event from occurring.”
- “There's a story you uncover as you expand and grow, that has you wanting to keep pushing forward to learn more.”
- “The story/lore is very dull; a bunch of pointless emails and diary entries to read.”
- “The other issue I have with Oxygen Not Included is its story, or rather how flimsy it feels and how little there is of it.”
- “It feels very much like an afterthought, as the whole story is conveyed through loose emails and text documents you can discover inside the game, which provide the occasional joke or minute insight into how the duplicants of the game came to be, but that seems to be it so far.”
grinding
424 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
10%
89%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, with many players feeling overwhelmed by the extensive micromanagement required for resource management, farming, and base building. While some enjoy the complexity and find it rewarding, others feel that the game becomes excessively grindy and frustrating, particularly in the late stages where progress can feel slow and repetitive. Overall, players suggest that those who appreciate detailed management simulations may find enjoyment, but it may not appeal to everyone due to its demanding nature.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “Your lifetime of grinding.”
- “The game starts out fun and charming but it gets way too tedious and throws problem after problem at you with no simple solutions.”
- “You'll have to spend a lot of time on tedious micromanagement, so the game becomes a huge time sink if you want to progress in it.”
- “The tedious progression and poor design around strategy resource management makes this game really dull, and also your run could be bricked and you'll have no idea and sink 20 hours into a dead run.”
optimization
311 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
66%
14%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, particularly in the late game as colony size increases. While some updates have improved performance, stuttering and lag remain prevalent, especially on lower-end systems, leading to frustration for players who enjoy complex automation and optimization. Overall, while the game offers engaging mechanics, its optimization challenges can detract from the experience, particularly for those with less powerful hardware.
- “Really scratches that optimization itch.”
- “If you're into any sort of colony management, automation, or optimization games, this will be right up your alley.”
- “The game has a lot of interesting systems, from the logistics of moving resources around your asteroid to even producing the power required to energize your machines; you'll expand and grow your duplicant family to ensure that everything runs smoothly.”
- “The game is unplayable past the mid-game because of how poorly optimized it is.”
- “The performance drops considerably in the late game.”
- “I absolutely love this game and its very fun but unfortunately this game needs a lot of performance fixes as placing pipes or anything with a liquid input/output causes the game to freeze and spend a good 20 seconds trying to manage the new item that has been placed, so that the game does not crash.”
music
297 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
46%
1%
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and immersive qualities, effectively complementing the gameplay and enhancing the overall atmosphere. While many players find the soundtrack catchy and enjoyable, some express a desire for more variety, noting that it can become repetitive over extended play sessions. Overall, the sound design, including quirky sound effects, contributes to a charming and engaging experience that keeps players coming back.
- “The game's soundtrack, composed by Vince De Vera, complements the gameplay perfectly, with soothing tunes to alleviate the stress of colony management.”
- “The music is cheerful and engaging, while the sound effects that your duplicants make are adorable and interesting.”
- “The audio design is equally impressive, with a soothing yet engaging soundtrack that adapts to your colony's state.”
- “However, some players might find themselves craving a bit more variety in the music selection.”
- “But it really suffers from a poor interface, repetitive music, sound cues that don't tell you anything, and other problems that just stop the game from being as fun as it could be.”
- “Don't expect any halo-like theme music; the current music fits the game but it's just so you don't play in complete silence. I'd rate it maybe 3/10 as it gets very repetitive after a while.”
stability
158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The game's stability has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting frequent crashes, lag spikes, and various bugs that disrupt gameplay. While some users have experienced minimal issues, others describe it as a "buggy mess" that can lead to frustrating gameplay, especially in late-game scenarios. Overall, the game shows potential but requires further optimization and bug fixes to enhance the player experience.
- “The game looks beautiful, and has run completely bug free over the entire time I've played.”
- “It has a lot of potential and is as bug free as an early access game can get.”
- “The content available is bug free (at least to my experience) and fully playable.”
- “Overall, I really do like this game, but I am a Mac player and with the new update, I lost the ability to play. When I try to launch it, everything goes as planned, but when I try to load my saves, it says my saves are unfindable, and when I try to make a new game, it freezes.”
- “The game is a bit of a buggy mess that tends to crash now and then, and occasionally a bug pops up that prevents you from playing anymore. But when it is working, it's really fun.”
- “Unfortunately, the game was released in a pretty buggy state where the release update was mostly content and balance tweaking, where bug fixes and performance improvements were desperately needed.”
atmosphere
151 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a charming and visually appealing art style, complemented by immersive sound design and atmospheric music that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique challenge of managing complex atmospheric systems alongside basic survival needs, creating a blend of stress and enjoyment. While the game offers a cute and quirky aesthetic, it also presents deep simulation mechanics that can lead to tense situations, making for a captivating and engaging gameplay experience.
- “The graphics and sound design further enhance the experience, creating a visually stunning and cute atmospheric world.”
- “The artwork is charming and detailed, while the sound design is immersive and atmospheric.”
- “The game has a very charming atmosphere that can keep you entertained for hours.”
- “The attempt to create an industrial atmosphere ends up as a cheap and flimsy rattling and clanging; a droning, tense, migraine-inducing racket.”
- “While the game has a charming art style and atmosphere, everything about it feels like the developers were trying to imitate mechanics of games like Factorio or Space Station 13 without actually understanding what makes those click.”
- “Klei delivered yet another stress-inducing masterpiece where you spend the entire day worrying about the health and safety of dumb, ineffective squeaker toys that make music sounds in a cartoon atmosphere full of messed up situations disguised as quaint.”
emotional
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The emotional aspect of the game is a profound roller coaster, eliciting feelings of joy, frustration, and heartbreak as players navigate the challenges of managing their colonies. Many reviewers express a deep attachment to their characters, often feeling a mix of pride and despair as they witness their duplicants thrive or perish due to mismanagement. The game's charming visuals and sound design enhance the emotional experience, making it both heartwarming and gut-wrenching, leaving players with lasting impressions that can be both rewarding and devastating.
- “I laughed, I cried.”
- “It's really satisfying to watch your colony grow and thrive, but it's equally heartbreaking to see it fall apart due to poor planning or bad luck.”
- “You get really attached to your dupes...don't get too attached, though...because if they perish, it's heartbreaking.”
- “So elegantly driven and emotional that you cry.”
monetization
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
24%
62%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players praising the absence of DLC and microtransactions, highlighting it as a refreshing change in an industry often plagued by exploitative practices. However, recent updates have sparked controversy due to perceived unethical advertising and content that some players find objectionable, leading to calls for better transparency and support from the developers. Overall, while there are no in-game purchases, the game's direction and marketing strategies have raised concerns among its community.
- “Kiel Entertainment doesn't sell you DLC or microtransactions.”
- “It is a breath of fresh air to see a developer with some moral fiber in these days of miserable sheisters and microtransactions in early access games.”
- “There are no in-game purchases to tempt you to spend more money, and you unlock skins as you play the game.”
- “I will not recommend this game anymore due to its recent update ('Song of the Moo') advertising 'dairy milk' and even depicting and making it sound like there's nothing wrong with the exploitation of a sentient being to the point that it causes immense suffering. It's unconceivable how the people responsible for the company behind this game will stand behind such an industry and add content that suggests similar practices to be 'ok' in a game.”
- “This game has... ads in it now... what in the world.”
- “Klei has decided to sell their studio to the publisher Tencent, who has already purchased multiple studios in the past and influenced them into the direction of microtransactions and extensive and unsolicited data collection.”
character development
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
Character development in the game is highlighted by unique and charming character designs that enhance the overall atmosphere, complemented by detailed environments and animations. While the characters possess endearing traits, their development is primarily reflected through the management mechanics and the impact of their negative traits, rather than deep narrative arcs. Overall, the artistic quality and character attributes contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it both visually engaging and enjoyable to play.
- “The animations are charming, and the character designs for the duplicants are unique and endearing.”
- “Artistically, this is a wonderful game for the level of detail that goes into every facet, whether it is character designs, the procedural element of world building, or the tiny little animations that come with any given machine in the world - it's all pretty characteristic of all of Klei's other wondrous works.”
- “Well balanced, with a well-developed tech tree requiring different resources and conditions, and not to mention the endearing character designs and attributes, are some of the highlights of this side-scrolling base management game.”
- “Between the randomness of the character designs and the challenge of managing everything, and I do mean everything, it's just great.”
- “The most character development you get from them is when one of their negative traits trigger.”
- “Well balanced, with a well developed tech tree requiring different resources and conditions, and not to mention the endearing character designs and attributes, are some of the highlights of this side-scrolling base management game.”

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130h Median play time

315h Average play time

90h Main story

441h Completionist

23-450h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 368 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Oxygen Not Included is a survival strategy game with science fiction theme.

Oxygen Not Included is available on PC, Mac OS, Steam Deck, Windows and others.

The main story can be completed in around 90 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 441 hours to finish. On average players spend around 315 hours playing Oxygen Not Included.

Oxygen Not Included was released on April 30, 2017.

Oxygen Not Included was developed by Klei Entertainment.

Oxygen Not Included has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Oxygen Not Included is a single player game.

Similar games include Banished, Stationeers, Satisfactory, Surviving Mars, Rise to Ruins and others.

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