Abstract: With the continuous growth in global energy demand, the exploration and development of tight oil and gas resources, as a crucial component of unconventional oil and gas, is increasingly gaining attention. Tight reservoirs have the characteristics of low permeability and complex pore structures, posing high demands on drilling fluid technology. This paper reviews the challenges and current research status of drilling fluid technology for tight oil and gas, elaborats on the action mechanisms and performance characteristics of water-based drilling fluids, oil-based/synthetic-based drilling fluids, and drilling fluid lost circulation prevention and plugging technologies, identifies critical issues in the current drilling fluid technology, and proposes future directions for the technology. For the water-based drilling fluid technology, attention should be paid to improving suspension and carrying capacity, enhancing borehole wall stability, and maintaining rheological stability. For the oil-based/synthetic-based drilling fluid technology, special focus should be paid on improving emulsion stability and wettability, enhancing plugging performance, and addressing issues of the resource utilization or harmless disposal of waste drilling fluids. For the drilling fluid lost circulation prevention and plugging technologies, efforts should be made to develop new materials applicable under various formation pressures and permeability conditions and improve the prediction accuracy of lost circulation location. As one of the key technologies for tight oil and gas exploration and development, the research and advancement of drilling fluid technology is critical for increasing tight oil and gas resources and ensuring national energy security.