Oxygen Not Included is Klei Entertainment's colony survival sim where you manage a group of Duplicants trapped inside a procedurally generated asteroid. Every breath of oxygen, calorie of food, and degree of temperature must be meticulously managed through complex piping, ventilation, and power systems. The Spaced Out! DLC adds multi-asteroid colonies and interplanetary rocket logistics. With hundreds of hours of depth in thermodynamics, gas physics, and liquid mechanics, ONI rewards systems-thinking players who enjoy solving cascading engineering puzzles.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key synergies |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Starting Biome
Key resources: Oxylite, Mealwood Seeds, Algae, Sandstone, Copper Ore Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for SPOM System upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Caustic Biome
Key resources: Natural Gas Geyser, Bleach Stone, Gold Amalgam, Fossil Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for SPOM System upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Frozen Biome
Key resources: Wheezeworts, Wolframite, Ice, Sleet Wheat Seeds Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for SPOM System upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Oil Biome
Key resources: Oil, Lead, Diamond, Abyssalite Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Electrolyzer max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Space Surface
Key resources: Solar Power, Rocket Launch Pad, Space Research, Regolith Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Electrolyzer max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Starting Biome — Caustic Biome)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on SPOM System once accessible
Mid Game (Frozen Biome)
- Push SPOM System to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Electrolyzer
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Oil Biome — Space Surface)
- Max out Electrolyzer — this is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary equipment for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment — Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials — Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear — Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Frozen Biome farming — This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early — Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Build a SPOM (Self-Powered Oxygen Module) by cycle 30 — one Electrolyzer, two Gas Pumps, a Gas Filter, and a Hydrogen Generator in a sealed room provides oxygen for 8 Dupes with zero external power.
- Farm Frozen Biome during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build — some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Oxygen Not Included Guides
- Oxygen Not Included Oxygen Not Included Overview
- Oxygen Not Included Best Builds
- Oxygen Not Included Tier List
- Oxygen Not Included Walkthrough
- Oxygen Not Included Beginner's Guide
- Oxygen Not Included Tips & Tricks
- Oxygen Not Included Weapons Guide
- Oxygen Not Included Combat Guide
- Oxygen Not Included Boss Guide
- Oxygen Not Included Maps & Locations
- Oxygen Not Included Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Oxygen Not Included, check out these related guides:
- Stardew Valley Crafting Guide — simulation game with similar mechanics
- Satisfactory Crafting Guide — simulation game with similar mechanics
- The Sims 4 Crafting Guide — simulation game with similar mechanics
