"Oxygen Not Included" Review: A Breath of Fresh, or Rather, Recycled Air
The challenges of building and sustaining life in space have never been more entertaining, detailed, or oddly humorous.
last updated Nov 18, 2023
'Oxygen Not Included' is like rocket science for the rest of us.
For Joyously Masochistic Micromanagers
You know a game is out to test your mettle when your meticulously designed water supply becomes a communal restroom in the blink of an eye. 'Oxygen Not Included' excels at making you feel like a genius and a dunce simultaneously, thanks to its complex, interlocking systems that require both a strategic mind and a flair for crisis management. The gameplay is a juggling act of satisfying the many needs of your Duplicants while keeping an ever-watchful eye on the encroaching chaos. Just when you think you have a grasp on your space rock life, the game laughs and throws you a curveball in the form of an exploding volcano. Or your Duplicants' inexplicable desire to turn the colony into an unsolicited swimming pool.
An Auditory Trip Through the Void
Sound design in 'Oxygen Not Included' isn't just there for ambiance; it's an unwritten narrator of your colony's story. From the telltale drips of a liquid system gone awry to the comforting hum of machinery, the game's audio clues are as crucial as they are delightful. The playful music compositions are the cherry on top, providing a juxtaposition of lighthearted tunes against the backdrop of potential oblivion. This audio-visual storytelling does wonders to keep you engaged, entertained, and occasionally on edge – because nothing spells out 'impending doom' quite like the sudden absence of reassuring mechanical buzz.
A Visual Space Odyssey with Inept Astronauts
Graphically, 'Oxygen Not Included' presents a charming, cartoonish take on space colony life. The adorable animations are expressively detailed, making even the grim reaper seem cute when your Duplicants inevitably meet their maker. While the performance delivers a generally smooth experience, busy late-game colonies can be a bit taxing on lower-end systems. But as you see the gears of your space haven (or hell) turning, you might be too mesmerized by the delightful chaos to care. However, do keep in mind that overly ambitious colonies could lead you to witness the game's interpretation of a slideshow - and not the PowerPoint variety.
Educational Mayhem and Communal Restrooms
Who needs engineering school when you have 'Oxygen Not Included' to teach you all about physics, chemistry, and the art of duct-taping a society out of raw space rocks? The game's learning curve is steep enough to be used as a plot point in a 'Mission Impossible' film, but conquering the mechanics is as rewarding as it is harrowing. Plus, it's probably the only game where irrigating crops with bathroom output is not only accepted but encouraged. Just remember, while the game may require the tenacity of a Ph.D. candidate, it does come with one added perk: no student loans.
Does Anyone Actually Graduate from the School of ONI?
Let's face it, 'Oxygen Not Included' isn't just a game; it's a degree program in survival instincts and creative problem-solving. With each failure, you learn, adapt, and inevitably make new mistakes - a cycle as intoxicating as it is frustrating. And just when you think you’ve mastered the basics, the game’s difficulty scales like an impossible course that only a select few can ace. If persistence is your middle name and you laugh in the face of insurmountable odds, welcome to the toughest school you'll ever love attending.
STEAM RATING
Developer & Publisher
Klei Entertainment
Release Date
July 30, 2019
The Verdict
Engaging, harrowing, and absurdly detailed, 'Oxygen Not Included' is like rocket science for the rest of us. Revel in the sadistic pleasure of watching your space colony teeter on the brink of disaster or flourish through sheer ingenuity. This is a game that demands intelligence, creativity, and a strange fondness for managing bodily fluids. The steep learning curve might turn away the faint of heart, but those who press on will find a wonderfully absorbing sim that hardly ever feels like the same game twice. 'Oxygen Not Included' is far more than a game – it's a labor of love, obsession, and the ultimate test of your mental fortitude.
