Have you ever dreamed of becoming a space architect, crafting intricate underground colonies teeming with quirky colonists? Do complex resource management systems and unexpected disasters make your gaming heart beat faster? If so, Oxygen Not Included might just be the ticket to satiate your insatiable appetite for strategic challenges.
Developed by Klei Entertainment, renowned for their indie gems like Don’t Starve and Mark of the Ninja, Oxygen Not Included plunges players into a captivating sandbox experience set in an unforgiving asteroid. Your mission: establish a thriving colony of Duplicants – adorable yet surprisingly flawed characters with unique quirks and personalities.
But building a successful colony isn’t simply about constructing rooms and assigning tasks. It’s a delicate dance of balancing oxygen levels, managing temperatures, cultivating food sources, and dealing with the ever-present threat of disaster. From raging slime infestations to unexpected meteorite showers, Oxygen Not Included throws curveballs your way, demanding quick thinking and adaptable strategies.
Understanding the Duplicants: Your Quirky Crew
One of the most charming aspects of Oxygen Not Included lies in its diverse cast of Duplicants. Each character boasts a unique set of traits, both positive and negative. A Duplicant might possess exceptional digging skills but suffer from chronic germophobia, requiring you to carefully consider their assignments.
Managing these personality quirks adds an intriguing layer of complexity to the gameplay.
Will you pair the meticulous chef with the germophobe for a spotless kitchen? Or risk assigning the lazy but strong Duplicant to crucial infrastructure projects? The choices are yours, and they directly impact the success (or hilarious failure) of your colony.
Trait | Effect |
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High Dig Speed | Excavates faster |
Germophobic | Requires spotless work environment |
Strength | Carries heavier loads |
Slow Learner | Takes longer to master new skills |
Clumsy | Prone to accidents |
Resource Management: A Balancing Act of Life and Death
Oxygen Not Included’s core gameplay loop revolves around resource management – the lifeblood of any successful colony. From harvesting precious oxygen from polluted water to cultivating algae farms for sustenance, every action requires meticulous planning and execution.
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Oxygen: The most crucial resource. Duplicants need it to breathe, so ensuring a steady supply is paramount. This involves utilizing electrolyzers to split polluted water into hydrogen and oxygen or setting up algae terrariums that generate oxygen through photosynthesis.
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Food: Keeping your Duplicants well-fed requires establishing sustainable food production systems. Algae farms provide a consistent source of early-game nutrition, while advanced farming techniques like hydroponics allow you to cultivate a variety of crops.
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Water: Water is vital for various processes, including cleaning and cooling. Purifying polluted water using filtration systems or tapping into natural underground reservoirs are key strategies for ensuring a steady supply.
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Power: Your colony’s operations depend on electricity generated by generators fueled by various sources such as coal, hydrogen, or geothermal vents.
Overcoming Challenges: Expect the Unexpected
Oxygen Not Included delights in throwing unexpected challenges your way. Be prepared to face:
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Slime infestations: These voracious creatures can quickly decimate resources and spread throughout your base if not contained.
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Meteor showers: Sudden meteor impacts can damage structures, create fires, and even bury crucial resources beneath debris.
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Temperatures fluctuations: Maintaining a comfortable temperature for your Duplicants is essential. Extreme heat or cold can lead to discomfort, illness, and even death.
Successfully navigating these challenges requires adaptability, quick thinking, and a healthy dose of humor.
Exploring the Asteroid: Unraveling its Mysteries
The game world of Oxygen Not Included unfolds on an asteroid teeming with hidden secrets.
Through exploration and careful excavation, you’ll uncover new biomes, discover valuable resources, and encounter intriguing anomalies.
- Volcanic Biome: Home to molten lava flows and geothermal vents that can provide a sustainable source of power. However, managing heat and avoiding fiery disasters is crucial in this volatile environment.
- Swamp Biome: A humid environment with abundant plant life, perfect for establishing large-scale algae farms. But be warned: swamp biomes also harbor dangerous creatures like the “Splithog,” requiring careful pest control measures.
A Sandbox Experience Like No Other
Oxygen Not Included’s sandbox nature allows for endless experimentation and creativity.
Want to build an elaborate automated system that transports resources across your colony? Go for it!
Keen on exploring the intricacies of gene-editing to enhance your Duplicants’ abilities? The game provides the tools to make it happen! The only limit is your imagination – and perhaps a touch of sanity, depending on the complexity of your designs.
Conclusion: Embark on Your Spacefaring Adventure
Oxygen Not Included offers an addictive blend of strategic resource management, challenging environmental puzzles, and quirky humor that will keep you hooked for hours on end.
So gather your Duplicants, prepare to face the unexpected, and embark on a spacefaring adventure that will test your ingenuity and leave you with countless stories to tell (or perhaps lament over).