GAME
OF THE
DAY
OIL
An ocean of oil under our feet
‘Battleships meets There Will Be Blood’ is how the maker of OIL describes its debut game.
It’s not the most obvious fusion of influences, but it really works. And OIL is all the more impressive when you consider it’s the debut game from Wee Door, a Dundee duo who’ve only just graduated from university.
You’ve got a grid, a limited number of turns and a thirst for oil. Each square tapped sends your cowboy scurrying off digging for the black stuff, and just like in Battleships, you’re digging blind to begin with. The more turns you take, the better grasp you'll get of where that liquid gold is lurking.
Thankfully, there are subtle cues to nudge you towards the right grid squares. And given the amount of time you'll agonise over where to tap next, it helps that OIL is so handsome; its clean lines and bold colours are complemented beautifully by the minimal soundtrack gurgling along in the background.
Played solo it’s great, but OIL really comes alive when played with a friend (or indeed foe). So it's best to think of this as a digital boardgame; passed between two players taking turns, we’ve no doubt you’ll dig OIL’s hunt for black gold.
