Oxygen Not Included: A Masterclass in Physics-Driven Survival Simulation
The Premise Developed by Klei Entertainment (creators of Don’t Starve ), Oxygen Not Included tasks players with managing a colony of "Duplicants" in an alien asteroid’s subterranean depths. Survival hinges on mastering real-world physics: gas diffusion, thermal dynamics, fluid mechanics, and ecosystem cycling—all while battling suffocation, starvation, and psychological breakdowns 2 6 9 . Core Gameplay: Where Science Meets Desperation The Oxygen Paradox : Oxygen management is the linchpin. Early-game algae-based oxygen generators deplete rapidly, forcing a shift to electrolysis (splitting water into O₂ and H₂). However, hydrogen floats upward, CO₂ sinks, and misplaced vents can suffocate your colony. This gas-layer simulation isn’t just aesthetic—it’s a matter of life and death 1 3 7 . Resource Juggling & Sustainability : Every resource is finite. Water fuels farms and oxygen machines; coal powers generators but emits CO₂; waste pollutes water. The genius l...