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Turmoil similar games & best alternatives

Turmoil

PC (Microsoft Windows), Atari 2600, Commodore C64/128/MAX, MSX, Atari 8-bit, Commodore VIC-20 • 2016

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Quick resume

Drill for oil like it's 1899! Turmoil offers players a visually charming, tongue-in-cheek take on the simulation genre inspired by the 19th century oil rush in North America.

Global score

93/100

Genres

Indie, Simulator, Strategy, Shooter, Arcade

Similar games

    Pros

    • Easy to learn, hard to master gameplay
    • Relaxing and addictive
    • Good value for price
    • Charming art and music
    • Active developer support and dlc

    Cons

    • Limited long-term replayability
    • Some repetitiveness
    • Ai opponents can be weak
    • Lack of multiplayer depth
    • Minor bugs and ui quirks

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Status, Story, Expression. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Leadership, Domination. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Expression.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players freely choose land to bid on, upgrades to buy, and strategies for drilling and selling oil, showing high control over decisions."

    • Competence
      3

      "Game is easy to learn but hard to master, requiring skillful management of resources, timing, and upgrades to maximize profits."

    • Competition
      3

      "Players compete against AI and others in auctions and stock buying, with leaderboards and multiplayer modes enhancing competition."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Many players report habitual play and 'just one more round' feeling, indicating desire to keep playing despite some repetitiveness."

    • Cooperation
      -4

      "Gameplay is primarily single-player or competitive; cooperation is minimal or absent."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Players customize strategies and upgrade paths, but game structures and maps are predefined with limited creative building."

    • Domination
      2

      "Players aim to dominate market and become mayor, exerting superiority over AI opponents, though interactions are limited."

    • Escapism
      3

      "Relaxing gameplay and immersive setting provide stress relief and distraction from real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment, not obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players try different upgrade combinations and strategies to optimize profits and overcome challenges."

    • Exploration
      2

      "Players discover oil pockets and secrets on procedurally generated maps, though environments are limited in variety."

    • Expression
      -3

      "Limited character or environment customization; mostly standardized presentation with minor personalization."

    • Fantasy
      -2

      "Set in a plausible historical Wild West setting with realistic economic mechanics, minimal fantasy elements."

    • Fellowship
      -3

      "Primarily single-player experience with limited social interaction; multiplayer exists but is niche."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players learn and improve strategies over time, mastering game mechanics and optimizing play."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention during timed drilling periods; not suitable for idle or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No evidence of forming close relationships or emotional sharing within the game."

    • Leadership
      2

      "Players lead their own oil company and make strategic decisions, but no evidence of leading others in social groups."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong progression through unlocking upgrades, buying land, and accumulating wealth and shares."

    • Relaxation
      4

      "Many reviews highlight relaxing, zen-like gameplay with a good balance of challenge and flow."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Pleasant visuals and music provide sensory enjoyment, though not intense or highly stimulating."

    • Status
      2

      "Players gain recognition through leaderboards and becoming mayor, though social status is limited."

    • Story
      1

      "Some lore and narrative elements exist, but story is minimal and mostly context for gameplay."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Game requires strategic planning, resource management, and problem solving to maximize profits."

    • Thrill
      1

      "Some tension from timed drilling and market fluctuations, but overall a calm experience."

    • Value
      4

      "Players report good value for money, especially on sale, with several hours of engaging gameplay."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No combat or destruction; gameplay focuses on constructive resource management."

    • Survival
      1

      "Players manage risks like market prices and oil spills but no life-or-death survival elements."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026