This is a main game released on July 30, 2019, available on Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), and Mac. It falls under the Simulator and Strategy genres, developed by Klei Entertainment. The core experience revolves around managing a colony of duplicants deep within an asteroid. Players must guide their crew to master scientific principles, overcome alien flora and fauna, and utilize advanced space technology to ensure survival and potentially foster growth. The game presents a complex simulation where every decision impacts the delicate ecosystem of your underground base.

The Core Challenge: Survival and Expansion

The primary objective is to establish and maintain a self-sufficient colony. This involves managing essential resources like oxygen, food, water, and power. Duplicants have individual needs and skills, requiring careful assignment to tasks such as farming, research, construction, and plumbing. The environment itself is a constant challenge, with fluctuating temperatures, gas pressures, and the presence of hazardous materials. Players will need to design intricate systems to manage these elements, from complex ventilation networks to sophisticated waste processing.

Mastering Complex Systems

A defining characteristic of this simulation is its deep and interconnected systems. Players don't just build structures; they engineer entire ecosystems. For instance, managing heat is crucial. Waste heat from machinery can overheat living quarters, requiring players to design cooling systems, often involving complex liquid or gas loops. Similarly, producing oxygen is not a simple button press; it involves managing algae farms, electrolysis, and gas filtration, all while dealing with the byproducts like polluted oxygen. The game encourages experimentation and learning through trial and error, rewarding players who can create efficient and sustainable solutions.

Resource Management and Duplicant Needs

Each duplicant has unique traits, skills, and needs, including stress levels, health, and even specific anxieties. Keeping them happy and productive is as vital as managing the base's infrastructure. Players must balance their workload, provide adequate living conditions, and ensure they have access to food and recreation. Neglecting these needs can lead to decreased productivity, accidents, or even mutiny.

Research and Technological Advancement

Progress is driven by research. Players unlock new technologies that enable more advanced construction, better resource extraction, and improved quality of life for their duplicants. This progression system allows for a gradual increase in the complexity of the colony and the challenges faced.

Available Additional Content

In addition to the base game, there is one downloadable content (DLC) and three expansions available, offering further depth and new challenges to the simulation experience.