Oxygen Not Included: A Hilarious and Challenging Deep-Space Colony Simulation!

Buckle up, space cadets! Prepare for a journey into the absurdly wonderful world of Oxygen Not Included (ONI), where you’re tasked with creating and managing a self-sustaining colony deep beneath an alien planet. Developed by Klei Entertainment, the studio behind other critically acclaimed titles like Don’t Starve and Mark of the Ninja, ONI throws you headfirst into a universe teeming with quirky challenges, ingenious solutions, and plenty of slapstick moments courtesy of your Duplicants - adorable but incredibly fallible colonists who are perpetually on the verge of starving, suffocating, or setting themselves ablaze.

The premise is deceptively simple: establish a base in an asteroid’s cavernous depths, providing for the basic needs of your Duplicants – oxygen, food, and water – all while navigating the perils of a harsh, subterranean environment. But don’t let simplicity fool you! ONI delves into surprisingly intricate systems management and resource allocation.

From Humble Beginnings to Elaborate Underground Empires

Your initial colony starts with a handful of Duplicants and minimal resources. You’ll need to prioritize tasks efficiently: digging out living spaces, setting up generators for power, refining raw materials into usable components, and, crucially, figuring out how to generate breathable oxygen in an environment devoid of it.

The game provides a variety of tools and technologies to tackle these challenges. From basic O2 diffusers that convert polluted water into breathable air to complex algae terrariums that produce both oxygen and food, ONI encourages you to experiment with different strategies and optimize your colony’s infrastructure for maximum efficiency.

Think Tetris meets SimCity in zero gravity – ONI demands meticulous planning and spatial awareness. Each room requires specific temperature and pressure settings. Pipelines need to be carefully routed to transport resources without leaks or blockages. And let’s not forget the ever-present danger of polluted oxygen, disease outbreaks, and Duplicants spontaneously combusting due to stress! (Seriously, they can literally burst into flames if overworked).

Duplicants: Your Quirky Crew

The heart of ONI lies in its charming Duplicants, each possessing unique traits and skills. Some are born farmers with a knack for cultivating crops, while others are gifted researchers who excel at unlocking new technologies. Managing their morale, hunger levels, and sleep schedules is crucial for maintaining a productive colony.

You’ll need to assign them tasks, construct sleeping quarters and mess halls, and even cater to their individual preferences (some Duplicants adore slime, others can’t stand it). Observing their quirks and personalities as they bumble through their daily routines provides endless amusement.

Charting Your Course Through the Abyss

ONI is not a game with a set endpoint or “win condition.” Instead, it thrives on exploration and experimentation. You’ll delve deeper into the asteroid, encountering new biomes, resources, and hazards.

As you progress, the game challenges you to adapt your colony’s design and technology to cope with new environmental threats.

Will you delve into geothermal power generation by harnessing the heat from volcanic vents? Or will you cultivate algae farms deep within the cavernous depths, utilizing bioluminescence for illumination? The choices are yours, limited only by your ingenuity and willingness to embrace (sometimes hilarious) disasters along the way!

Mastering the Art of Sandbox Shenanigans

ONI’s true appeal lies in its sandbox nature. It provides a playground for emergent gameplay and allows players to express their creativity through intricate base designs and unconventional solutions.

Want to build a massive oxygen farm powered by genetically modified slimes? Go for it!

Dreaming of crafting an elaborate system of conveyor belts to transport resources across your colony? Why not!

ONI encourages experimentation and rewards those who dare to push the boundaries of what’s possible. There are no right or wrong answers, only the constant pursuit of optimization and a good dose of laughter along the way.