Oxygen Not Included (2019)

Developer: Klei Entertainment
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Genres: Indie, Simulation
Rating: 4.8 of 5, 142,589 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 62 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A tense, meticulous dance of life support systems where every resource counts and one wrong move can cascade into disaster.

survivalresource managementsimulationcomplexpunishingstrategicsci-fibuilding

What players say

Players praise the depth of its thermodynamics and automation systems, but split sharply on the developer. Many with hundreds of hours love the challenge, while others accuse Klei of nerfing base-game Pacu to push the Aquatic Planet Pack DLC, and some object to content locked behind an online data collection opt-in. The steep learning curve and weak tutorials come up repeatedly.

Screenshots

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This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.