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.
Oxygen Not Included features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order — what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Starting Biome | Cycles 1-50 | Oxylite, Mealwood Seeds, Algae, Sandstone, Copper Ore | Farmer |
| 2 | Caustic Biome | Cycles 30-80 | Natural Gas Geyser, Bleach Stone, Gold Amalgam, Fossil | Farmer |
| 3 | Frozen Biome | Cycles 40-100 | Wheezeworts, Wolframite, Ice, Sleet Wheat Seeds | Researcher |
| 4 | Oil Biome | Cycles 80-150 | Oil, Lead, Diamond, Abyssalite | Researcher |
| 5 | Space Surface | Cycles 150+ | Solar Power, Rocket Launch Pad, Space Research, Regolith | Researcher |
Starting Biome — Starting Area
The temperate starting area contains Oxylite for initial oxygen, Mealwood seeds for food, and Algae for early Oxygen Diffusers. Temperature stays around 25-30C, which is comfortable for Dupes. Prioritize securing water access and building basic infrastructure here before expanding.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Cycles 1-50 |
| Key Rewards | Oxylite, Mealwood Seeds, Algae, Sandstone, Copper Ore |
| Recommended Build | Farmer |
| Key Equipment | SPOM System |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of gas management — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Caustic Biome.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Caustic Biome — Early Game
A hot biome (40-50C) filled with Chlorine gas, Bleach Stone, and natural gas geysers. Chlorine kills germs, making it useful for sanitization rooms. The natural gas geysers here provide reliable fuel for Natural Gas Generators. Don't dig in without Atmo Suits.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Cycles 30-80 |
| Key Rewards | Natural Gas Geyser, Bleach Stone, Gold Amalgam, Fossil |
| Recommended Build | Farmer |
| Key Equipment | SPOM System |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering pipe systems — it's critical from this point on.
- Farm for SPOM System if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Frozen Biome.
Frozen Biome — Mid Game
Sub-zero temperatures (-20 to -40C) with Wheezeworts, Ice, and Wolframite. This biome acts as a natural heat sink — smart players route hot pipes through it for free cooling. Wheezeworts provide 12kDTU/s of cooling without power. Rich in Wolframite for high-temperature-tolerant builds.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Cycles 40-100 |
| Key Rewards | Wheezeworts, Wolframite, Ice, Sleet Wheat Seeds |
| Recommended Build | Researcher |
| Key Equipment | SPOM System |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Electrolyzer becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
- Master duplicant skills for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Oil Biome — Late Game
The deep, hot biome (70-90C) containing Oil Reservoirs and Leaky Oil Fissures. Oil is refined into Petroleum for generators and Plastic for advanced buildings. This biome also contains Lead for radiation shielding. You need Atmo Suits and heat-resistant infrastructure to work here.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Cycles 80-150 |
| Key Rewards | Oil, Lead, Diamond, Abyssalite |
| Recommended Build | Researcher |
| Key Equipment | Electrolyzer |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Electrolyzer should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- space exploration mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Space Surface.
Space Surface — Endgame
The asteroid surface is a vacuum exposed to meteor showers and solar radiation. Build Bunker Tiles and Bunker Doors to protect solar panels and telescopes. Regolith from meteors must be cleared by Robo-Miners. This is where you launch rockets and harvest solar power.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Cycles 150+ |
| Key Rewards | Solar Power, Rocket Launch Pad, Space Research, Regolith |
| Recommended Build | Researcher |
| Key Equipment | Electrolyzer |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Suit Wearer for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order — Starting Biome → Caustic Biome → Frozen Biome → Oil Biome → Space Surface. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner — Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment — Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough — Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush — Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two 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 Crafting Guide
- Oxygen Not Included Classes & Characters
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