Running an oil empire in 1899
Turmoil is a simulation and strategy game set during the 19th century oil rush in North America. You start with nothing and work your way up from rags to riches as an oil entrepreneur. The core loop is simple: lease land at the town auction, search for oil using a dowser, mole or scanner, then build a rig and lay down an efficient pipe network to bring the oil up. Store it in silos and sell it at the right moment to maximize profits. Along the way you buy upgrades in town to deal with rock, gas and ice that get in the way of your drilling. As you make money, the town grows with you.
Playing with friends
You can take on computer opponents or challenge friends and random opponents in online multiplayer matches. The goal in competitive play is to outbid your rivals at the stock auction and acquire more town shares than them to become the new mayor. There is also a single game mode where you get one of millions of procedurally generated levels and try to earn as much as you can in one year. Steam Achievements, Badges, Trading Cards and Cloud Saving are included.
What to know before starting
The campaign is where you build your oil baron career and beat your rivals. You will meet the town's characters in the saloon and make shady business deals there. Dozens of upgrades and new tools are available to improve your oil mining operations, so expect to keep unlocking options as you go. Timing matters a lot: selling oil at the best times is how you maximize profits, and you can use natural gas to boost the oil price. The game has a tongue-in-cheek, visually charming style inspired by the era, and the tags suggest a relaxing pace with time management and resource management at its heart.