- BGG rank
- BGG #7,689
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Fief: France
- 3–6 players
- 120–180 min
- Complexity 3.9/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,203
- BGG rating
- 6.1
King Oil
1974
Rules assistance for King Oil
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- 9+
- Complexity 1.7/5
Rules assistant for King Oil
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
King Oil is a board game released in 1974 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 9 and up. Its main mechanics are Take That, Player Elimination, and Trading.
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About the game
This MB game comes with a plastic "board". Its size is dictated by the three randomizing discs embedded in its base, which are used to generate a new playing area every time (there are 1,728 (12^3) different setups possible). You buy properties, drill for oil, link properties with pipelines so as to collect royalties and try to be the richest player. Event cards complicate matters. Drilling is resolved with a little rig whose plunger is pushed up if it doesn't go through the hidden disc; if it pushes through all three, the well is dry. Deeper holes cost more, of course. Pipelines can be bought once you have 4 producing oil wells on a property; they reach across that property's boundary to another player's property, and are used to siphon royalties from him every turn. This is a clever mechanic that accelerates bankruptcy and keeps total playing time within reasonable limits. Once all players but one are pushed into bankruptcy, the remaining one is the winner.
Categories
Mechanics
Publishers
- Milton Bradley
- MB Spellen
- MB Spiele
- MB Jeux
Questions and answers
King Oil supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for King Oil is 60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists King Oil for ages 9 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
King Oil has a complexity rating of 1.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
King Oil belongs to these categories: Economic and Industry / Manufacturing. Its main mechanics are Take That, Player Elimination, and Trading. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists King Oil as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.