
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,843
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Satori
- 1–4 players
- 25–100 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 2023

2016
Rules assistance for Oilfield
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Oilfield is a board game released in 2016 for 2–5 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Paco Yanez and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Area Majority / Influence, and Simultaneous Action Selection.
Texas, 1933 — a new day dawns for the brave pioneers of the American West, like yourself. Under the burning sand, the black gold awaits for your arrival, so what are you waiting for? Get a government lease in one of the richest oil reservoirs, build towers, drill the resources, trade and invest wisely! Only the most audacious amongst you, using a smart strategy, will be able to surpass your competitors and become a true oil tycoon. In Oilfield, you take the role of an American businessman striving for wealth in the early 1930s, who will try to exploit the rich reservoirs in Texas, trading with natural gas and oil in the most profitable markets. Naturally, you will not be alone as other risky entrepreneurs like yourself will try to obtain riches and wealth with their own investments. The goal of the game is to be the player with the largest number of investments (victory points) at the end of the game. You can perform two actions each round of the game: a public action and a secret action. The number of VP you acquire during the game depends on how wisely you manage these actions. ••• Texas, 1933, un nuevo día amanece para los intrépidos pioneros del oeste americano como tú. Bajo las ardientes arenas del desierto, el oro negro espera pacientemente tu llegada... ¿a qué esperas? ¡Consigue una concesión del gobierno en alguna de las zonas de extracción más ricas, construye torres, extrae el petróleo, comercia e invierte con cabeza! Sólo siendo el más audaz en los negocios y con una inteligente estrategia conseguirás superar a tus competidores y convertirte en un auténtico magnate del petróleo en Oilfield. RESUMEN: En Oilfield, te meterás en la piel de un hombre de negocios de la América de los años 30 que, ávido de riquezas, tratará de explotar los ricos yacimientos de Texas y comercializar el gas y el petróleo de la forma más rentable posible. Por supuesto, no estás solo, otros arriesgados emprendedores tratarán de obtener a la vez que tú, la mayor rentabilidad de sus inversiones. El objetivo es ser el jugador con el mayor número de inversiones (PV) al final de la partida. Tendrás la oportunidad de realizar 2 acciones en cada ronda de juego, una pública y otra privada. Estas acciones incluyen la obtención de concesiones sobre terrenos para explotarlos, la construcción de torres para extraer petróleo y gas, así como ampliaciones de refinerías y almacenes, la venta de los productos a los mercados local y nacional, inversión en el mercado de inversiones, etc. De cómo gestiones estas acciones dependerá la cantidad de inversiones (puntos de victoria) que consigas.
Oilfield supports 2–5 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 Oilfield 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 Oilfield for ages 12 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.
Oilfield has a complexity rating of 2.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Oilfield belongs to these categories: Economic, Negotiation, and Industry / Manufacturing. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Area Majority / Influence, and Simultaneous Action Selection. 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 credited designers of Oilfield are: Paco Yanez. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Oilfield 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.