Review · Strategy · PC · macOS · Linux
Oxygen Not Included
Reviewed: 01 May 2026
PC · macOS · Linux
Klei Entertainment · 2017
Ludograph rating
A
Recommended
68 /100
Oxygen Not Included is a complex strategy simulation game that fosters problem solving, spatial awareness, and strategic thinking through resource management.
Growth (BDS)
52
Risk (RIS)
0
Daily limit
120min
Age guidance
7+
Developmental benefits
| B1 | Cognitive | 0.90 | |
| B2 | Social-emotional | 0.17 | |
| B3 | Motor | 0.10 | |
Oxygen Not Included is a highly engaging and complex colony simulation game that excels at fostering advanced cognitive skills. Players are constantly challenged to solve intricate problems related to resource management, thermodynamics, gas and liquid flow, and power grids. It demands strategic thinking, critical analysis, and spatial awareness to design efficient and sustainable bases, while also encouraging creativity in overcoming environmental challenges. The game provides continuous adaptive challenges through its procedurally generated worlds and dynamic systems, making learning and transfer of knowledge a core mechanic.
Design risks
| R1 | Compulsion-loop pressure | 0.00 | |
| R2 | Monetization | 0.00 | |
| R3 | Social risk | 0.00 | |
The primary risks associated with Oxygen Not Included stem from its inherent complexity and the potential for extended engagement due to its deep simulation mechanics. While the game is free from manipulative compulsion loops, aggressive monetization, or social risks, its demanding nature can lead to players spending significant time optimizing their colonies. The constant threat of colony collapse due to resource scarcity or environmental hazards, though a core gameplay element, could be a source of frustration for some players.
Content (not in risk score)
| R4.1 | Violence Level | 0.00 | |
| R4.2 | Sexual Content | 0.00 | |
| R4.3 | Language | 0.00 | |
| R4.4 | Substance References | 0.00 | |
| R4.5 | Fear / Horror | 0.33 | |
Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.
Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: meets criteria·GDPR-K — Assessed: meets criteria·ODDS — Assessed: meets criteria
- DSA:What Ludograph checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects: plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes.: Estimated from review data. No dark pattern or child-targeting concerns found.
- GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.: Estimated from review data. No privacy or child-targeting concerns found.
- ODDS:What Ludograph checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea.: Estimated from review data. No paid random-reward mechanics found, so drop-rate disclosure requirements do not apply.
These reflect Ludograph's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria, not a legal compliance determination.