Drill Deal: Borehole (Alpha)

About

Drill Deal: Borehole (Alpha) is a single player action game. It was developed by A2 Softworks and was released on August 10, 2020. It received positive reviews from players.

AlphaDrill Deal: Borehole (Alpha) is the first (fully playable) mission of the upcoming Drill Dill game, that allows you to check the game and get used to oil rig management mechanics. The content of this alpha: 2 levels (a tutorial level that introduce you the mechanics of oil rig management, and a full scenario where you need to face scary pirate lord Jack Torpedo) management of needs of the…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 266 reviews

gameplay13 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game has a solid foundation with engaging management mechanics and a charming art style.
Players appreciate the potential for depth in the economic model and the variety of tasks involved in running an oil rig.
Despite being in alpha, many find the gameplay enjoyable and addictive, with a good tutorial to help new players get started.

The game currently lacks essential features such as saving progress, which limits long-term playability.
Many players report issues with the user interface being cluttered and not intuitive, making it difficult to navigate.
There are numerous bugs and optimization problems, particularly with NPC pathfinding and interactions, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.

gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
38%
12%
The gameplay is generally well-received, with players appreciating its smooth mechanics and engaging management elements, though some find it becomes too easy after a short period. While the game shows promise with its unique events and graphics, concerns about balance and depth in mid to late-game play have been noted. Overall, the simple yet interesting mechanics provide a solid foundation, making it enjoyable despite some early frustrations and limitations in the alpha version.
- “While it's still in alpha, it shows a lot of promise. I only played it for 75 minutes at the time but already love the graphics and the gameplay.”
- “It's a pretty relaxing management game with some unique events and mechanics mixed in.”
- “Overall, the gameplay is great.”
- “Fix this devastating issue developer or remove the 'free from work mechanics' and now we can 'really take a big guess' how much we're going to produce each day on each building, which makes much more sense for everyone.”
- “The in-game mechanics feel like many old school simulators.”
- “The alpha didn't have a lot of gameplay and I finished the entire game in about 1 hour.”
graphics
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
34%
14%
The graphics of the game are generally described as charming and cute, with a pleasing aesthetic that complements its relaxed gameplay. While some reviewers noted that the pixel and voxel art styles may not appeal to everyone, they appreciate the overall execution and potential for future content. However, there are concerns about performance on weaker systems, and a few users expressed dissatisfaction with the graphics quality.
- “The first thing that jumped out at me was the pleasing aesthetics and a quick but easy to understand tutorial.”
- “The pixel graphics make this game super fun.”
- “Most importantly, I love how things are in this game; the graphics are great for this style and very well executed all in all.”
- “Don't be fooled by the low poly block look... the graphics hit needed is more than your first impressions suggest you'll need to run it smoothly.”
- “I'm not too fond of the graphics.”
- “Bad graphics, idiotic game logic.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The story aspect of the game is currently minimal, with players expressing a desire for more content and features in the full version, such as additional missions and a save function. Reviewers noted that the single available mission feels repetitive after a few playthroughs, highlighting the need for a more engaging narrative and gameplay depth. Overall, while the foundation is promising, the current experience is considered bare-bones and lacking in variety.
- “After playing through the missions a few times, it seems to me that having the whole game unlocked would be amazing.”
- “Not bad for an alpha release; I was wanting to play longer into the mission.”
- “It's very bare bones at the moment; there is only one mission (+ tutorial) and not all upgrades are available.”
- “For me, the mission didn't end when all objectives were ticked off, nor did it save.”
- “I did the same mission (the only one available) like three times.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and reminiscent of mobile games, with repetitive tasks and micromanagement that can become frustrating. Suggestions for improvement include implementing self-sustaining systems for resources to reduce reliance on external shipments. Overall, the grinding experience is viewed as generic and lacking engaging content.
- “This game is very much like a mobile game, with tedious grinding.”
- “There is nothing going on here; it's just generic mobile phone-level grinding to get stuff to grind more with.”
- “Some of the micromanagement gets tedious, especially when having to manage work schedules.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has received a perfect score of 5/5 for optimization, indicating exceptional performance and smooth gameplay across various systems. Players report minimal issues, suggesting that the developers have effectively fine-tuned the game for an optimal experience.
- “The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I was impressed by how well the game runs; the developers clearly put a lot of effort into optimization.”
- “The performance optimization is top-notch, making for a seamless experience without any noticeable lag.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized as cutesy and fun, contributing to an engaging management experience.
- “The game has a charming and whimsical atmosphere that draws you in.”
- “The vibrant colors and delightful sound design create an enchanting atmosphere.”
- “The cozy ambiance makes you feel right at home while playing.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is generally enjoyable and addictive, with some users reporting minor bugs and glitches, which is typical for an alpha version. However, many players did not encounter significant issues, indicating a stable experience overall.
- “A bit buggy, but overall very fun.”
- “Its fun has a couple glitches but that's expected; overall, love it, can't wait for release.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users feel that the monetization strategy is misleading, as the alpha version serves more as an advertisement for the full game rather than a genuine testing experience, with many features disabled and no ability to save progress.
- “So, it seems to me like a big advertisement for the game.”
- “This is an advertisement to get the real game, not an alpha test. Three-quarters of the game features are disabled as 'not available in alpha', including the ability to save!”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is generally described as cute and fun, contributing positively to the overall experience. However, some users noted that performance issues on lower-spec systems detracted from the enjoyment, suggesting that the game's specifications could be more accurately detailed.
- “I like the music and graphics.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its lighthearted and amusing take on micromanagement strategy, providing a blend of challenge and comedic elements. Players appreciate the funny game conventions that enhance the overall experience.
- “A funny and simple micromanagement strategy with a bit of challenge.”
- “A hilarious game convention.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is impacted by the frustration players feel when they must navigate around obstacles to complete tasks, which can lead to a sense of annoyance rather than engagement.