Hey there, space explorers! Ready to dive into the quirky, challenging, and utterly addictive world of Oxygen Not Included? This awesome base-building sim from Klei Entertainment (the folks behind Don't Starve) throws you headfirst into the depths of an asteroid, where you're tasked with keeping a colony of adorable, yet demanding, Duplicants alive and thriving. This Oxygen Not Included walkthrough will be your trusty companion, guiding you through the initial struggles, the resource management madness, and the eventual triumph over the harsh realities of space. So, buckle up, grab your spom (more on that later!), and let's get started!

Getting Started: The Basics of Oxygen Not Included

Alright, first things first: let's get you grounded (pun intended!) in the basics. Oxygen Not Included can seem daunting at first, but fear not! We'll break it down into manageable chunks. The core gameplay loop revolves around these key elements:

• Duplicants: These are your colonists! They have unique stats, skills, and quirks. Managing their needs (oxygen, food, sleep, sanitation, and recreation) is paramount. Each Duplicant has traits that will affect their performance. Be mindful of these, as you want to make the best decisions for the colony as a whole. Pay attention to their stress levels, too, as a stressed Duplicant is an unproductive one! They can also be a danger to themselves and the colony. The choice of Duplicant at the start of the game is essential. You want Duplicants who are not too demanding and who have decent starting skills. If you have the DLC, you can create your own Duplicants with the skills and traits you want for your colony.
• Oxygen: Obviously, you need to breathe! Maintaining a breathable atmosphere is your top priority. Early on, this means finding or creating oxygen sources (algae terrariums are your best friend early on). As your base grows, you'll need more advanced methods, such as electrolyzers, which split water into oxygen and hydrogen.
• Food: Your Duplicants gotta eat! Different foods provide different levels of nutrition and morale boosts. Cooking is essential, but it requires resources and infrastructure. Start simple with meal lice or liceloaf and work your way up to more complex and efficient food sources like mushroom farms or hatches.
• Water: Essential for food production, oxygen generation, and sanitation. Water is a precious resource. You will need to manage it carefully. Find a source of water, usually in a geyser or a natural reservoir. You will need to filter and purify the water before using it. This is a critical factor for the colony's long-term survival.
• Power: You'll need power for everything from lights to oxygen production. Early on, you'll rely on manual generators. But as your base grows, you'll need to develop more sustainable power sources, such as coal generators, natural gas generators, or even renewable sources like solar panels and steam turbines. This can be challenging for beginners.
• Base Building: Designing a functional and efficient base is crucial. Consider airflow, plumbing, wiring, and the location of different buildings (food, bedrooms, research, etc.). Good base design minimizes travel time and maximizes efficiency. Start small and expand strategically, always keeping an eye on resource availability. You'll need to know where to place items, how to manage power lines and plumbing. It's a key part of the gameplay.
• Research: Unlock new technologies to improve your colony's efficiency and capabilities. Prioritize technologies that address your immediate needs, such as oxygen production, food production, and power generation. Use the research station to begin.

The Early Game: Surviving the First Cycles

The first few cycles are often the most challenging. You're scrambling to secure resources, establish basic infrastructure, and keep your Duplicants alive. Here's a breakdown of what you should focus on during the early game:

1. Exploration: Send your Duplicants out to explore the surrounding area. Uncover the map, locate resources, and identify potential hazards (like polluted oxygen pockets and natural gas vents).
2. Oxygen Production: Your initial oxygen source will likely be the starting oxygen diffuser. Supplement this with algae terrariums. Build them as soon as possible and load them with algae. This ensures that your Duplicants have air to breathe. Monitor the oxygen levels in your base and adjust your oxygen production accordingly.
3. Food Production: Start with basic food sources like meal lice or liceloaf. Set up a farm for mealwood and learn how to cook. These are not the most efficient foods, but they will keep you alive. Eventually, you will need to expand to better food sources, such as hatches and mushroom farms.
4. Base Layout: Dig out a basic living area, including bedrooms, a mess hall, and a lavatory. Consider the placement of key buildings, such as the research station, the oxygen diffuser, and the outhouse. Your initial base does not have to be perfect, but you need to prioritize essentials. Good base design is a key element for success in the long term.
5. Power: Build a manual generator to power your early-game needs. Be mindful of the amount of power it produces, as it is limited. Eventually, you'll need to transition to more efficient power sources like coal generators.
6. Sanitation: Build a latrine and assign a Duplicant to the task of emptying it. This is important to avoid the spread of germs and diseases. Also, make sure that your Duplicants can wash their hands.
7. Research: Prioritize research that addresses your immediate needs. This will help you keep the colony going. Get the research station up and running quickly. It is an important element of the game.

Mid-Game Mastery: Expanding and Automating Your Colony

Once you've survived the initial struggles, it's time to expand and automate your colony. This phase involves more complex resource management, automation, and the development of sustainable systems. The mid-game is where Oxygen Not Included truly shines, offering a wealth of strategic choices and satisfying engineering challenges.

Expanding Your Base: Strategic Base Design

• Base Layout: Your base layout can make or break your colony. Consider designing your base in a way that minimizes travel time, and maximizes efficiency. Use different sections for different purposes, and use airlocks to separate areas with different atmospheres. Place things where they make the most sense. For example, place your food production near the mess hall. You want to make sure your Duplicants are not wasting time traveling all over the map.
• Automation: Automating tasks frees up your Duplicants to focus on other things. Set up automation circuits to control doors, lights, and other systems. Implement automated systems for power management, resource collection, and even oxygen production.
• Atmosphere Control: Controlling your base's atmosphere is crucial. Use airlocks to separate areas with different gases and temperatures. Build cooling systems to regulate the temperature of your base. Your goal is to keep the base at a comfortable temperature for the Duplicants. This will affect their stress levels.
• Resource Management: As your base grows, resource management becomes more critical. Implement systems for efficiently gathering, storing, and distributing resources. This includes managing water, food, power, and oxygen.

Automation and Resource Management

1. Automation: Implement automated systems to control doors, lights, and other systems. Use sensors and logic gates to create complex automation circuits. Automate your power management. This will save you a lot of time and hassle. You can also automate the collection of resources and the transportation of items.
2. Power Management: Manage your power consumption and generation efficiently. Use smart batteries to store excess power and release it when needed. Automate your power systems to turn on and off based on demand. Build different power generators. Each one has its own benefits and drawbacks.
3. Food Production: Develop advanced food production methods, such as ranching hatches for meat or setting up a mushroom farm. Optimize your food production efficiency. Your goal is to provide a balanced diet for your Duplicants and to minimize food waste.
4. Water Management: Implement water recycling systems to conserve this precious resource. Use water sieves to purify polluted water. You'll need to find and tap into water sources, then filter and store the water safely. You'll want to recycle the water to ensure you have enough.
5. Gas Management: Manage the different gases in your base, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and polluted oxygen. Separate your living areas from areas with dangerous gases. Use scrubbers to remove polluted oxygen from the atmosphere. Ensure adequate ventilation in the base.
6. Waste Management: Implement a proper waste management system to handle the disposal of waste products, such as polluted dirt and polluted water. This will help avoid the spread of germs and disease.

Late Game Challenges: Thriving in the Face of Adversity

The late game in Oxygen Not Included is all about facing new challenges. You'll be dealing with complex systems, advanced technologies, and environmental hazards. This is where you put your skills to the test and strive for long-term sustainability.

Advanced Technologies and Strategies

1. Space Exploration: Once you've established a stable base, it's time to venture into space. Build rockets to explore other asteroids and gather resources. Space exploration provides access to new resources, technologies, and challenges. Send your Duplicants to other worlds to explore. This will help you get access to new resources. However, you need to set up the proper equipment and infrastructure for these missions.
2. Advanced Power Systems: Develop advanced power systems, such as steam turbines and solar panels. These systems will provide you with a more sustainable and efficient power supply. You'll need to figure out how to generate a lot of power. This can be difficult, but essential in the long run.
3. Cooling and Heating Systems: Implement advanced cooling and heating systems to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout your base. This is important to ensure your Duplicants stay alive. You will need to build systems that can regulate the temperature in your base.
4. Advanced Gas Management: Implement advanced gas management systems to handle the different gases in your base. Use scrubbers, filters, and other technologies to control the atmosphere. You must create systems to control the gases in your base. This requires careful consideration.
5. Sustainable Resource Management: Strive for long-term sustainability in all aspects of your colony. Recycle resources, minimize waste, and implement efficient production systems. Recycling and minimizing waste are critical elements of the game.
6. Colony Optimization: Continuously optimize your base design, automation, and resource management to maximize efficiency and productivity. Tweak your systems and base layout to achieve optimal performance. The better you can design and run your base, the more success you will have.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

• Oxygen Depletion: Always monitor your oxygen levels. Increase oxygen production capacity as needed, and make sure that you have enough plants for oxygen. Expand your oxygen production system as your base grows. Oxygen is essential for your Duplicants to survive.
• Food Shortages: Maintain a consistent food supply. Develop various food sources and ensure a balance of nutrition for your Duplicants. Expand your food production capabilities as the colony grows. You must ensure that your Duplicants have enough food. Expand your food production. Make sure your Duplicants are not eating bad food.
• Power Outages: Build a reliable power grid and incorporate backup power sources. Manage power consumption and generate enough power to meet your needs. Build more power generators or backup power sources. You need to supply your base with enough power to meet its demands.
• Temperature Issues: Implement effective cooling and heating systems. Regulate the temperature of your base to avoid extreme heat or cold. This is key to ensuring that your Duplicants live. Regulate the temperature of your base and make sure it is safe for your Duplicants.
• Duplicant Stress: Address Duplicant stress levels through recreation, comfortable living conditions, and appropriate work assignments. Provide recreation and relaxation. Keep your Duplicants happy. A happy Duplicant is a productive Duplicant.
• Germs and Diseases: Maintain a clean and sanitized environment. Implement proper hygiene practices. Manage your base in a way that minimizes the spread of germs. Wash hands and other hygiene practices. Ensure that your base is clean to avoid germs.

Tips and Tricks for Oxygen Not Included

• Prioritize Research: Research essential technologies early on. Focus on oxygen production, food production, and power generation. Use the research station to get started. You need to keep up with research to help expand your colony.
• Plan Ahead: Design your base with expansion in mind. Consider airflow, plumbing, and wiring. This will help you in the long run. Plan everything, from how your base will grow to where to place the items.
• Automate Tasks: Automate repetitive tasks to free up your Duplicants. Use automation circuits to control doors, lights, and other systems. Automate everything that you can. This will give you more time to do other things.
• Conserve Resources: Manage your resources carefully. Recycle resources whenever possible. Recycle and reuse resources. This will help you conserve them.
• Manage Stress: Monitor your Duplicants' stress levels. Provide recreation and a comfortable living environment. If they are stressed, then they won't be as productive. Monitor your Duplicants' stress levels and provide recreation.
• Experiment: Don't be afraid to experiment with different base designs and technologies. Try different things. You need to learn as you play. Try different things and see what works best.
• Learn from Mistakes: Every colony faces challenges. Learn from your mistakes and adapt your strategies. Don't worry if things don't go according to plan, and see what you can do to fix it.
• Enjoy the Game: Oxygen Not Included is a challenging, but rewarding game. Enjoy the process of building and managing your colony. Embrace the chaos. It is a fun game. Take the time to enjoy what the game has to offer.

Conclusion: Your Journey Begins!

There you have it, folks! This walkthrough is designed to get you started. Remember, Oxygen Not Included is a game of experimentation and adaptation. Embrace the challenges, learn from your mistakes, and most importantly, have fun! With a bit of planning, strategic resource management, and a whole lot of ingenuity, you'll be well on your way to building a thriving colony. Good luck, and happy exploring!