Sludge Life is based on the efforts of a graffitist to be recognized by his peers. Set in a fictional 1990's-era oil rig/shipyard, the main character, you, spends time meeting inhabitants, exploring, and spray-painting tags and murals. Exploring the rig and talking to other characters can reveal some of the world's backstory, including secrets about the megacorporation Glug, and revealing a strike against Glug protesting the death of the corporate mascot, Ciggy.