Drill Deal Oil Tycoon is a business simulation game developed by A2 Softworks and published by Manager Games S.A. and Red Dev Studio S.A. on March 9, 2022. It sets you as a manager of a small oil rig in the oceans that you can expand with more platforms. There are different levels and environments, each more challenging than the other.
While there are a few fun elements to the game, it certainly is challenging. You’ll need to be strategic with the economic aspects while fending off dangers from the seas. Read more about what it’s like to play in the Drill Deal Oil Tycoon review below.
Drill Deal Oil Tycoon story
The heart of Drill Deal Oil Tycoon is the campaign. It takes you through various levels you’ll need to complete to unlock others. Each one has a set mission, but let’s look at what the theme is like overall.
Drilling for Oil
The primary storyline features you as the manager of an oil rig in the middle of the ocean. You’ll need to drill for oil, place it in barrels, and then sell it to the highest bidders. However, you’ll need to keep different aspects running smoothly, striking a balance between all of them for fear of failing.
You’ll start small, but eventually, you can build several platforms with pipes and tunnels between them. There are also obstacles and opponents to deal with, such as mines, bad weather, and pirates. The only way to win is to survive the tide and become the best business strategist on the high seas.
Trading is the way of life
You’ll need money if you want to succeed while keeping your employees satisfied. There are several contracts you can engage with, with a distinction between short and long-term contracts. Your priority is to ensure that you have the goods available so that there’s a daily income to cover your expenses.
As part of Drill Deal Oil Tycoon’s story, you gain and lose reputation based on if you can meet the contract requirements. Should you fail to deliver to the trade ships, you’ll lose reputation points. It means that other companies won’t want to do business with you until you raise it to a specific level.
Keeping your workers happy
The drill platforms will come to a standstill if your employees are unhappy. Part of being the manager is ensuring that all their needs are met. When you’re in the middle of an ocean with a hardy crew that wants some entertainment, it can be challenging to fulfill. It can be easy to lose in Drill Deal Oil Tycoon if you neglect this aspect.
How long to play Drill Deal Oil Tycoon
The tutorial takes about 20 minutes, but the other stages take much longer. Also, it depends on how well you manage your platform, trades, buildings, and employees. It can easily stretch between 10 and 20 hours.
Drill Deal Oil Tycoon gameplay
With the general idea presented to you, let’s head to the gameplay mechanics of this Drill Deal Oil Tycoon review. I’ve already hinted at a few of them, but it’s essential that I go into more detail so you can see how complicated it is.
Learning how to play Drill Deal Oil Tycoon
Fortunately, Drill Deal Oil Tycoon is a business simulator that starts with a tutorial. Trust me; you’re going to need it. There are so many elements you need to focus on, it will become daunting at first. It’s similar to TV Empire Tycoon and Two Point Hospital, specifically regarding how much you’ll need to plan to succeed.
Even with one playthrough, I was slightly confused about how to proceed with the first level and failed almost instantly. It’s not the tutorial’s fault, though. It shows you everything you need to know. It’s the strategy — behind mastering the various elements–that’s challenging.
Different levels and modes
There are mainly two different modes in Drill Deal Oil Tycoon. You’ll begin with the Campaign mode as the only one available for the time being. When you reach one of the later maps, you’ll unlock Sandbox mode where you can build and trade to your heart’s desire.
Each map serves as a stage. As you progress through the maps, the challenges and missions become harder to achieve. It will also take longer to complete. Within the game, you can level up the platform by adding and upgrading buildings, which unlocks new tech.
A challenging beginning
Going back to the difficulty in my Drill Deal Oil Tycoon review, the first level will push your strategic thinking to its limits. The main reason is that it’s a new game you need to become used to. There are so many aspects to manage from the start already, and it only becomes more challenging after that.
As soon as you have a handle on one element, the next thing goes wrong. You’ll need to stay on your toes every step of the way to ensure the business runs smoothly. The most challenging aspect is making sure you make more money than you lose while keeping your staff happy.
Technological trees
One aspect I loved in Drill Deal Oil Tycoon is the technological research. There are four divisions, and you’ll sometimes stress about which one to focus on first. The categories include production, maintenance, employee care, and employees. You’ll need funds to unlock research, but there may also be platform-level limitations.
Various buildings
You’ll find three categories of buildings available in your construction hub. They deal with production, social interaction, and other types of facilities. There’s limited space on your platform at first in Drill Deal Oil Tycoon, but you’ll have more in later stages. Also, you’ll need to repair them, as daily use wears them down.
I did find some buildings to be out of place. For instance, the workshop was in the social panel, which I would think should either go to the production or other tabs. Other than that, I enjoyed unlocking the facilities and learning how to use them.
Staff performance
Managing your staff is probably one of the more challenging aspects of Drill Deal Oil Tycoon. Firstly, you’ll need to check what skills they have when you hire them so you know where you can assign them. There are spots in buildings for day and night shifts, which is quite innovative, I feel.
You’ll need to watch the requirement meters, much like in Sims 4. They’ll become tired, hungry, and bored. There are specific buildings that can help fulfill these needs, such as sleeping quarters, a buffet station, and cinemas or other entertainment buildings.
One element I loved when it came to the employees are the names. You can tell they’re based on real people, such as Clint Westwood for Clint Eastwood. It was good for a chuckle, at least.
User interface
The developer did an incredible job making the user interface neat and easy to use. When you first see all the panels on the top, bottom, and sides, you may frown in confusion. Play for a few hours, and you’ll know exactly where to click for your actions. The tutorial helps learn the basics, but you’ll master all of them soon enough.
Combat mechanics
You’ll be surprised to hear that there’s some form of combat in Drill Deal Oil Tycoon. You’ll face pirates, mines, and other obstacles in different stages. As you advance, you’ll unlock turrets and other platform weapons you can use to shoot at them. The weapons do most of the work for you, but you’ll need to be prepared for when they arrive.
Gameplay performance
Drill Deal Oil Tycoon doesn’t use too many system resources, and the minimum and recommended requirements are quite low compared to other games published this year. Here’s what you’ll need:
- OS: Windows 7 // Windows 10
- Processor: Intel i5 // Intel i5+
- Memory: 2 GB // 4 GB
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT or AMD Radeon HD 6450 // Nvidia Geforce GT520 or AMD Radeon HD
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 1 GB
I played Drill Deal Oil Tycoon for this review on Windows 11 and can confirm that it runs smoothly without any lag. The textures and effects are in high definition, and even connecting it to a 65” television screen doesn’t cause it to lose any quality.
Drill Deal Oil Tycoon visuals and sound
Finally, I’ll run through the graphics for my Drill Deal Oil Tycoon review. There were quite a few elements I like, but overall, it’s enjoyable.
Overall graphics
The graphics in Drill Deal Oil Tycoon are similar to the pixelated shapes you’d find in Roblox, Minecraft, and LEGO Worlds. There are plenty of colors to enjoy, so you won’t have a dull moment while drilling oil in the ocean. You’ll also enjoy the effects, especially when there’s a massive storm and your employees run for their lives on the platform.
Character and building designs
The developer could have gone for a standard appearance for the employees. Instead, they put in some effort and gave each one a unique look. The facilities may appear basic at the start, but they become more intricate and stunning to behold at later stages. There are even sea creatures to observe in the waters around you.
Sound
While the characters won’t do much talking, there are still some sound elements to enjoy. Mostly, it consists of the seas and the operations on the platform, while you’ll hear alarms when you’re under threat of attack. It’s the sound of the storms I loved the most.
Final verdict of Drill Deal Oil Tycoon
Who would have thought that a simulation game about the drilling of oil in the oceans could be so much fun? Drill Deal Oil Tycoon takes what sounds like a dull game and turns it on its heels with hilarity and strategy. Sure, you may swear a few times with how challenging it is, but you’ll get the hang of it soon enough.
If you enjoyed this guide, be sure to check out my Minecraft and Shadow Warrior 3 reviews.
Pros
- Excellent game performance
- Entertaining characters and visuals
- Hilarious employee names
- Challenges strategic thinking
- Several buildings and research elements
- Easy-to-use interface
- Detailed tutorial
Cons
- Can be incredibly challenging at the start
- Sandbox mode only available at a later stage
- No multiplayer mode
Developer: A2 Softworks
Publisher: Manager Games S.A., Red Dev Studio S.A.
Game Modes: Campaign, Sandbox
Platform reviewed: Windows 11 – Steam
