A Cute Game for Don’t Starve and Fallout Shelter Fans
Don't Starve and Fallout Shelter might seem like a bizarre combo to mix, but they actually work pretty well together. Oxygen Not Included is a cute little game that combines elements from both games. With the adorable goth-chibi aesthetic that Don't Starve is known for and the base-building resource management mechanics of Fallout Shelter, Oxygen Not Included is a unique game that can be both familiar and fresh at the same time.
Background and Gameplay
Oxygen Not Included is a space-colony simulation game. Your objective in the game is to survive the harsh alien environment that you and your crew have found yourself into. Like Don’t Starve, Oxygen Not Included requires good resource management skills as you have to scavenge for resources and use them wisely to avoid meeting an untimely end for your colony. Being able to eat, drink, and breathe isn’t the only thing you have to look out for in Oxygen Not Included. You also have to keep yourself mentally healthy. As in real life, if you don’t take care of your psychological well-being and let the stress get to you, you will end up as an emotional wreck and may get violent if you don’t find something to amuse yourself with.
The game also has base-building mechanics where you must build a base capable of maintaining your colony. You must learn how to effectively cultivate crops, allocate water, maintain a livable temperature, and more. Of course, above all of these things, you have to make sure that your colony has air to breathe.
Aesthetics
Oxygen Not Included was developed and published by Klei Entertainment which is why it features an aesthetic that's very similar to Don't Starve. It is presented in a 2D style with very Gothic elements. Despite its washed-out gothic color palette, Oxygen Not Included combines it well with the adorable cartoon character graphics. In terms of music and sound design, Oxygen Not Included veers decidedly towards the futuristic which is appropriate considering Oxygen Not Included is a space colony simulation game.
Difficult, But Rewarding
Building a space-colony base is not an easy task, so it should come as no surprise that Oxygen Not Included is a bit on the difficult side. This game has very high replay value, and players who get easily frustrated by hard games might want to give this game a skip. However, if you love a good challenge then Oxygen Not Included won’t disappoint you. With its procedurally generated worlds filled with new obstacles to overcome for each playthrough, players will find themselves sinking hundreds of hours into Oxygen Not Included. Manage your time and resources wisely to create a sustainable base where your colony can survive and thrive.
