Black Gold: Oil Drilling Simulator

Black Gold: Oil Drilling Simulator is a first-person management game in which the player takes on the role of a prospector building an oil business from the ground up. Rather than purchasing a finished rig, the player clears land, cuts timber and processes raw materials in order to construct their first derricks by hand. The setting draws on early 1900s technology, which can be researched as the operation grows.

Machinery maintenance forms a central part of play. Pumps and engines require ongoing attention, with the player expected to replace worn gears and deal with rust in order to keep equipment running. Alongside this, the player hires a workforce to take on heavier tasks, trains workers to improve efficiency and upgrades the home base, as better living conditions raise morale and unlock further ways to organise the business.

Selling barrels of crude generates funds that can be reinvested into research, expanding drilling territory and replacing older components with more advanced industrial equipment. The game is now released on Steam and, having passed 100 user reviews, currently holds a Mixed rating.