Turmoil turns the nineteenth-century North American oil rush into a playful business simulation. Players lease land at town auctions, search for deposits with tools such as a dowser, mole or scanner, then build rigs and pipe networks to bring oil up for storage. The goal is not simply to drill: selling at favorable moments and managing the growing operation are central to building an oil fortune.
Its economic decisions extend beyond extraction. Natural gas can boost oil prices, while upgrades help operations contend with rock, gas and ice. Players also compete for town shares, outbid rivals at stock auctions and encounter local characters in the saloon, where shady deals add a mischievous note to the otherwise practical cycle of prospecting, production and sales. A campaign follows a rags-to-riches career, while a single-game mode offers procedurally generated levels and a one-year earning challenge.
