OGame Beginner Guide: Mines, Energy and Your First Colony

OGame has been running for over two decades, and its core is beautifully simple: build mines, power them, research technology, launch fleets. The details, however, decide whether you thrive or become someone’s farm.

The three resources

Resource	Produced by	Used for
Metal	Metal Mine	Almost everything
Crystal	Crystal Mine	Research, ships, advanced buildings
Deuterium	Deuterium Synthesizer	Fuel for fleets, advanced research

All three mines consume energy, which comes from the Solar Plant (and later from other sources like Solar Satellites and the Fusion Reactor).

A simple early build order

A classic opening alternates mines and power so nothing runs without energy:

1. Solar Plant → Metal Mine → Metal Mine
2. Solar Plant → Crystal Mine → Metal Mine
3. Keep rotating: metal slightly ahead of crystal, deuterium a little behind crystal.
4. Upgrade the Solar Plant whenever your energy goes negative.

If energy drops below zero, all mines produce less – always check the energy number before ending a session.

First research

Build a Research Lab, then start with:

• Energy Technology – unlocks many other technologies.
• Combustion Drive – faster small ships for early raiding and transport.
• Espionage Technology – lets you scout before you attack.
• Computer Technology – more fleet slots.

Your first ships

Small Cargo ships let you move resources and raid inactive players. Espionage Probes let you check a target before attacking. These two ships carry the early game.

Founding a colony

Research Astrophysics to unlock colonisation, then build a Colony Ship. A good colony spot:

• Is close to your home planet (shorter flights, easier defence).
• Has a large number of fields – more fields means more buildings.
• Has a temperature that suits your plans (colder planets produce more deuterium; hotter ones get more from solar satellites).

Golden rule: protect your resources

Resources sitting on a planet attract attackers. Spend them, or move them with your fleet. The next guide on fleet saving covers exactly how.