Quick answer
What to do first
Research needs an available capable researcher, the right project and a usable bench. It is normally long-term work, not a task you force with a right-click. If ordinary research works but one project does not, inspect that project’s bench, prerequisite and DLC requirements.
Match your symptom
| Symptom | Likely cause | Check | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannot prioritize by right-click | Research is long-term work | Check selected project and Research work priority. | Allow a capable pawn work time and an accessible bench. |
| Pawn does other work instead | Other jobs take precedence | Inspect manual priorities, schedule and current task. | Create a workable research window without neglecting urgent care. |
| One project is unavailable | A project-specific gate is missing | Read prerequisites and required facilities. | Meet the named requirement rather than replacing every bench. |
| Mech research does not start | Biotech qualification is missing | Check mechanitor status and required technology. | Use a qualified mechanitor and the appropriate research setup. |
Find the missing research requirement
Select a project before diagnosing pawn behavior. Then inspect the researcher’s work capability and whether they can reach the bench. A busy colony can keep a researcher occupied with other work indefinitely even though Research is enabled.
Separate no work from slow work
Long-term work and an unavailable task are different. Give the pawn time and a sensible priority, then observe what they choose. Do not interpret the absence of a force-work option as a corrupted save.
Check the DLC requirement
For slow work, inspect the researcher and research environment instead of assuming the project is blocked. For no progress on a particular project, read its prerequisites and equipment requirements. Advanced facilities and project restrictions are not interchangeable with ordinary bench access.
Do not reset the research tree
DLC systems can use different gates. Biotech mech research can require a mechanitor; Anomaly study is not simply ordinary research at a bench. Follow the relevant DLC task when the project belongs to that system. This page does not turn the whole research tree into a fixed universal order.
Version & sources
Sources & what may change
- Applies to
- Core · PC 1.6.4850. Optional branches: Biotech, Anomaly.
- Last verified
- 2026-09-04
- When to check again
- Recheck after a relevant game patch, DLC change or source correction. Mods can change these conditions.
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