Dead Oil

About

Dead Oil is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Moonshine Muffin and was released on October 17, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

In Dead Oil, survive a brutal post-apocalyptic wasteland by defending your armored rig against endless waves of raiders while drilling deep for vital oil and rare metals. Command powerful defenses to fend off melee attackers, vehicles, and artillery, upgrading your gear to enhance weapons, armor, drills, and radar. Each run offers unique challenges and opportunities, blending intense combat with strategic resource management in a roguelike experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 34 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a unique gameplay loop that combines elements of resource management and action, providing a fun and engaging experience.
The art style is praised for its beauty, and the game runs smoothly with good graphics and music.
The developer is active and responsive to community feedback, which bodes well for future updates and improvements.

There are significant issues with controller support, as many players report that their controllers are not recognized by the game.
The game suffers from a lack of variety in enemies and upgrades, leading to repetitive gameplay and a feeling of blandness.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as the forced shooting controls and long run times, detract from the overall experience and pacing.

gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
The gameplay is generally praised for its engaging mechanics, particularly the oil-digging and fighting elements, which create a satisfying and fun loop. Players appreciate the unique experience and high replay value, though some suggest improvements to the user interface for a smoother experience. Overall, the game successfully combines enjoyable gameplay with a captivating atmosphere.
- “I enjoyed the gameplay and working through the higher difficulties.”
- “The fighting mechanic is very satisfying!”
- “Unique gameplay experience with lots of replay value.”
- “The gameplay loop is solid; I'd just try polishing the UI, as it can be better.”
- “The game has two main gameplay parts.”
- “Dead Oil is a first for me in the mining gameplay style.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their appealing art style and smooth performance, with users particularly enjoying the randomized color palette swapping. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the gameplay experience.
- “The graphics are great, and I love the randomized color palette swapping.”
- “I also believe that the graphics look very good.”
- “It runs smoothly, has good graphics, and good music.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect repetitive and tedious, often involving monotonous combat and the need to repeatedly engage in the same tasks, such as upgrading equipment with limited options.
- “You just repeat the same tedious combat over and over, grinding the same enemies into the ground while deciding which mediocre upgrade to choose first.”
- “The grinding feels endless and monotonous, making the game more of a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
- “I found myself stuck in a loop of repetitive tasks, grinding for resources that felt pointless and unfulfilling.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game lacks a narrative, with users noting that there is no story to engage with.
- “There's no story.”
- “The plot is completely predictable and lacks any depth.”
- “Character development is non-existent, making it hard to care about their journeys.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The music in the game is well-received, featuring smooth transitions and a dynamic gauge that signals changes in the soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience alongside its good graphics.
- “There's both a gauge and a change in music to let you know.”
- “It runs smoothly, has good graphics, and great music.”
- “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel monotonous after a short while.”
- “The soundtrack doesn't match the game's atmosphere, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The audio quality of the music is subpar, with noticeable distortion that pulls you out of the game.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers excellent replayability at an affordable price, with users highlighting its substantial content and unique gameplay experiences that encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “Great replay value for a great price.”
- “At $4, there is a lot of content and it is very replayable.”
- “Unique gameplay experience with lots of replay value.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability has improved since its buggy launch, with many players reporting only minor issues during gameplay. However, some still describe the experience as somewhat janky.
- “It's a little janky, and my understanding is that it was very buggy at launch, but I didn't really encounter too many while playing.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly engaging, effectively drawing players into its immersive world and enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- “A game with a fun gameplay loop and an atmosphere that sucked me right in.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-optimized, offering smooth performance alongside impressive graphics and a quality soundtrack.
- “It runs smoothly, has good graphics, and great music.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game to be engaging and enjoyable, particularly noting that once they grasped the upgrade system, it added to their overall amusement.
- “The upgrade system took me a little while to figure out, but once I did, I was away laughing.”