Oxygen Not Included Spaced Out vs Rain World Black Friday 2026

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Quick answer

Key takeaways

  • Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! is an expansion, so you need the base game to play it.
  • Rain World is the strongest pick for atmospheric survival and demanding creature-focused exploration.
  • RimWorld and Dwarf Fortress deliver deep colony simulations with very different learning curves.
  • Compare each game’s core loop and add-on requirements before choosing a Black Friday 2026 pick.

Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! vs Rain World is a choice between building a fragile space colony and surviving a hostile ecosystem. Both reward patience and curiosity, but they scratch very different gaming itches. Spaced Out! expands Klei Entertainment’s colony simulator; Rain World asks you to read the environment, evade predators and find your way through a vast world.

I researched and compared specs, reviews and owner feedback to build this Black Friday 2026 guide around what each game actually offers. The list also includes colony-sim alternatives and Rain World’s major expansion. Here's the bottom line: choose by core loop first, then check whether a pick is a standalone game or requires its base game.

How We Picked

  • Compared each game’s central loop, including colony management, exploration, survival and settlement building.
  • Checked which entries are standalone games and which require a separate base game.
  • Prioritized distinct strengths, such as world exploration, colony depth and replayable runs.
  • Used product descriptions, published specifications, reviews and owner feedback to shape the recommendations.
  • Included alternatives for players who want more than a direct Oxygen Not Included versus Rain World comparison.

Comparison Table

Product Best for Players Format Core structure
Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included First-time colony-sim players 1 Standalone game Asteroid colony
Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! More complex ONI colonies 1 Expansion; base game required Connected planetoids
Videocult Rain World Exploration-focused survival 1 Standalone game Interconnected regions
Videocult Rain World: Downpour More Rain World campaigns 1 Expansion; base game required 5 additional slugcats
Ludeon Studios RimWorld Emergent colony stories 1 Standalone game 3 storytellers
Bay 12 Games Dwarf Fortress Complex fortress simulation 1 Standalone game Procedurally generated world
Eremite Games Against the Storm Run-based city building 1 Standalone game Repeated settlement runs

Best Picks Reviewed

#1

Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included

The Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included is the best colony-building starting point for players who want a systems-driven space base, with 1-player management across a procedurally generated asteroid.

Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included

Best for: First-time colony-sim players

Players
1
World type
Procedurally generated asteroid
Core focus
Oxygen, heat and resource management
Pros

  • Interlocking survival systems
  • Creative base layouts
  • Strong foundation for Spaced Out!
Cons

  • Steep learning curve for new colony managers

Is Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included worth buying on Black Friday 2026?

Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included is worth buying for players who enjoy planning, troubleshooting and building a colony one system at a time. The single-player base game stands on its own and is required for the Spaced Out! expansion.

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#2 · Top pick

Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out!

The Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! is the best expansion for established colony managers who want multi-asteroid logistics, with 1-player play across connected planetoids.

Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out!

Best for: Oxygen Not Included players wanting more colony scope

Players
1
Format
Expansion; base game required
World structure
Multiple connected planetoids
Pros

  • Adds new exploration and transport systems
  • Expands colony planning
  • Builds on the base game’s simulation
Cons

  • Not playable without Oxygen Not Included

Is Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! worth buying on Black Friday 2026?

Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! is worth buying if you already own Oxygen Not Included and want more complex colony planning. The expansion adds multiple planetoids and rocketry, while keeping the base game’s survival-management core.

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#3

Videocult Rain World

The Videocult Rain World is the best atmospheric survival pick for players who want an unforgiving ecosystem, with 1 player navigating a huge interconnected world as a slugcat.

Videocult Rain World

Best for: Exploration-focused survival players

Players
1
Playable character
1 slugcat in the original campaign
World structure
Interconnected 2D regions
Pros

  • Distinctive creature-driven world
  • Exploration rewards observation
  • Atmospheric presentation
Cons

  • Punishing survival can frustrate newcomers

Is Videocult Rain World worth buying on Black Friday 2026?

Videocult Rain World is worth buying for players who enjoy learning a dangerous world through exploration rather than direct instruction. The Videocult Rain World's single-player campaign centers on survival, stealth and navigation, with a demanding pace that rewards persistence.

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#4

Videocult Rain World: Downpour

The Videocult Rain World: Downpour is the best Rain World expansion for returning survivors who want more campaigns, with 5 additional slugcats and their own storylines.

Videocult Rain World: Downpour

Best for: Rain World veterans seeking new campaigns

Additional slugcats
5
Format
Expansion; Rain World required
Core addition
New campaigns and regions
Pros

  • Five distinct playable characters
  • Adds substantial campaign variety
  • Includes new areas and challenges
Cons

  • Requires the Rain World base game

Is Videocult Rain World: Downpour worth buying on Black Friday 2026?

Videocult Rain World: Downpour is worth buying for Rain World owners who want fresh campaigns and playable characters. The expansion adds 5 slugcats with distinct storylines and abilities, making it a strong follow-up for players who know the original world.

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#5

Ludeon Studios RimWorld

The Ludeon Studios RimWorld is the best story-rich colony sim for players who want emergent drama, with 1-player management shaped by three selectable storyteller AI settings.

Ludeon Studios RimWorld

Best for: Players who enjoy unpredictable colony stories

Players
1
Storytellers
3 selectable storytellers
Core loop
Colony building and survival
Pros

  • Flexible story pacing
  • Deep colony customization
  • Highly replayable scenarios
Cons

  • Dense systems take time to learn

Is Ludeon Studios RimWorld worth buying on Black Friday 2026?

Ludeon Studios RimWorld is worth buying for players who want colony management with unpredictable character-driven stories. Three storyteller options shape the pace of events, while the single-player structure gives you room to build, adapt and set your own goals.

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#6

Bay 12 Games Dwarf Fortress

The Bay 12 Games Dwarf Fortress is the best colony sim for detail-obsessed players who want sprawling histories, with 1-player fortress management in a procedurally generated world.

Bay 12 Games Dwarf Fortress

Best for: Systems-focused players who enjoy complex simulations

Players
1
World generation
Procedurally generated history and terrain
Core focus
Fortress management and simulation
Pros

  • Remarkable simulation depth
  • Worlds develop layered histories
  • Many routes to fortress success
Cons

  • Complex systems demand patience

Is Bay 12 Games Dwarf Fortress worth buying on Black Friday 2026?

Bay 12 Games Dwarf Fortress is worth buying for players who enjoy complex simulations and emergent stories. The single-player fortress sim generates a detailed world before you begin, then challenges you to manage a settlement through interconnected systems.

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#7

Eremite Games Against the Storm

The Eremite Games Against the Storm is the best pick for players who want shorter settlement-building runs, with 1-player strategy built around repeated city-building expeditions.

Eremite Games Against the Storm

Best for: Strategy fans who prefer run-based settlement building

Players
1
Core format
Run-based city builder
Settlement focus
Multiple species and resource chains
Pros

  • Runs create clear short-term goals
  • Settlement systems reward adaptation
  • Good alternative to one endless colony
Cons

  • Less focused on individual character stories

Is Eremite Games Against the Storm worth buying on Black Friday 2026?

Eremite Games Against the Storm is worth buying for strategy players who want settlement building in replayable runs. The single-player structure emphasizes adapting to changing conditions and balancing resource chains rather than maintaining one permanent colony.

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Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! vs Rain World: which should you buy?

Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! is the better pick for players who want to build systems, while Rain World is better for players who want to explore a hostile world. Both are single-player games, but their moment-to-moment decisions feel completely different.

Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! expands a colony-management game with multiple planetoids and additional logistics. Rain World centers on a vulnerable slugcat navigating regions full of predators, shelter and scarce resources. Choose Spaced Out! if you enjoy planning oxygen, heat and supply chains. Choose Rain World if discovery and survival tension sound more exciting. Remember: Spaced Out! requires Oxygen Not Included.

Does Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! require the base game?

Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! requires Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included, so the expansion is not a standalone purchase. The base game supplies the core colony systems; Spaced Out! adds a broader planetoid and rocketry framework.

New players should start with the base game and learn how duplicants, oxygen, food and temperature fit together. Returning players who understand those systems get more from the expansion’s multi-world management. Check your library before buying an add-on, and match the expansion to the exact platform and edition you play.

Is Rain World or Rain World: Downpour better for a first purchase?

Videocult Rain World is the right first purchase for newcomers because Videocult Rain World: Downpour requires the base game. The original introduces the slugcat, ecosystem and survival rhythm before the expansion adds more campaigns.

Start with the base game if you want to learn how to navigate, hide and read creature behavior. Choose Downpour when you already own Rain World and want 5 additional playable slugcats with distinct stories. The expansion is a content upgrade, not a replacement for the original campaign.

Which colony sim is best: Oxygen Not Included, RimWorld or Dwarf Fortress?

Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included is best for engineering-focused survival, Ludeon Studios RimWorld is best for character-driven colony stories, and Bay 12 Games Dwarf Fortress is best for simulation depth. Each is a single-player management game, but the learning experience and priorities differ.

Oxygen Not Included pushes players to solve practical base problems such as oxygen and heat. RimWorld uses 3 storytellers to shape event pacing around a settlement. Dwarf Fortress builds a procedurally generated world and asks players to manage a fortress within it. Pick the one whose central challenge sounds fun, not simply the one with the longest feature list.

Are Black Friday 2026 game picks better on PC or console?

Platform fit matters more than genre labels: check each game’s store listing for supported hardware, controls and edition details before choosing. This guide focuses on the games’ core experiences, while exact platform availability and add-on compatibility depend on the version you plan to play.

Colony sims often involve frequent menus and detailed management, so confirm that the controls suit your setup. Rain World’s precise movement also rewards comfortable input. If you are shopping for a console, handheld or PC library, verify that the base game and any expansion match the same platform. A DLC purchase for the wrong version will not extend your game.

Buying Guide

Choose the core loop first

Pick colony management for planning and optimization, or Rain World for exploration and survival. Against the Storm suits players who want settlement strategy in repeated runs.

Check base-game requirements

Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! requires Oxygen Not Included. Rain World: Downpour requires Rain World. Buy the base game first if it is missing from your library.

Match the learning curve

RimWorld and Dwarf Fortress reward patience with complex systems. Rain World is demanding in a different way: learning creature behavior and navigation is part of the challenge.

Think about replay style

Choose a simulation that supports long-term colony goals, or a run-based game such as Against the Storm. Rain World’s expansions add more campaigns for players ready to return.

Verify platform and edition

Check the storefront listing for your platform, supported controls and compatible edition. Confirm that an add-on matches the base game already in your library.

FAQ

Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! vs Rain World: which is better?

Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! is better for colony builders who enjoy resource chains and multi-planetoid management. Rain World is better for players who want exploration, stealth and survival in an interconnected ecosystem. Spaced Out! requires the Oxygen Not Included base game.

Is Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! a standalone game?

Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! is an expansion, not a standalone game. Klei Entertainment Oxygen Not Included is required to play it. The expansion adds multiple planetoids and new logistics to the original colony-management experience.

Do I need Rain World before buying Downpour?

Yes. Videocult Rain World: Downpour requires Videocult Rain World. The expansion adds 5 playable slugcats with distinct campaigns, but it does not replace the original game. Start with Rain World if you do not own the base game.

What is the best game like Oxygen Not Included?

Ludeon Studios RimWorld is a strong alternative for players who want colony management shaped by emergent stories. Bay 12 Games Dwarf Fortress is a better fit for players who prioritize simulation depth, while Eremite Games Against the Storm focuses on run-based settlement building.

Which game is best for a beginner: Rain World or RimWorld?

Ludeon Studios RimWorld is the better fit for players who want adjustable story pacing through 3 storytellers. Videocult Rain World is better for players who enjoy learning through exploration and survival pressure. Both reward patience, but their challenges are very different.

What should I check before buying a game on Black Friday 2026?

Check the game’s platform, edition, supported controls and library requirements before buying. Confirm that expansions match the base game and platform you own. For Oxygen Not Included: Spaced Out! and Rain World: Downpour, the corresponding base game is required.