Ad Fundum

Ad Fundum might very well be one of my all time favorite mining games. I downloaded the demo and had so much fun with it, I immediately had to get the full game. I probably clocked in around 9 to 10 hours and I found this to be the kind of game where the time just flew by. I also have to say that the developer of this game is really cool. The game has a great community and the developer has been working super hard to get rid of bugs and communicate with the community and they seem very open to suggestions too which is cool.

The End Of The Great War

One of the most surprising things about Ad Fundum was just how good the story and lore of this world is. There was a great war that has come to an end, but despite living in a time of peace. We know that any peace is on a knife-edge and that is why we must dive deep into the Earth to find valuable resources. This is not the “steam age” it is the “diesel age” and we are right in the thick of it. There are characters that you will meet and chat with, as well as stuff that you find underground that fleshes things out. In all, it is very well done and gave me enough to keep me invested.

Going Down, Down, Down

The gameplay loop of Ad Fundum is just so addictive and satisfying that I could play this for an hour nonstop and think that I had been playing for just ten minutes. You have this old busted up mech-like machine that you use to dive into the ground. You mine as far down as you can go, collecting resources that you can sell so that you can upgrade your machine and then go faster, and further and deal with the various threats that each of the different sections of underground has for you. It is a gameplay system that is so simple in theory, but it is so well done! The game has a few different difficulty levels for you too. Ranging from very hard, rogue-like difficulty to a more chilled and laid-back experience, that is the way I played this and it was great.

Ok, Just One More Run

The most addictive aspect of Ad Fundum for me was upgrading my rig. You can get different parts that will make your mech/machine better and it is almost like you are creating a “build” as different parts will give you different advantages. I cannot stress enough how epic it was when I would get a new part or when I would make a ton of money and be able to get something that at one point felt so unobtainable. It is kind of hard to explain, but the progression system in the game is so satisfying, you always think that if you just go a little bit deeper you will get something new, be it some resources to flip an extra bit of ancient lore or even a new hazard/enemy you have not encountered yet.

Charm Fueled By Diesel Power!

While Ad Fundum may have a style that makes it look very similar to other games that go for that retro pixel art stye. I feel that this game nails it when it comes to that perfect blend of style and substance. The gameplay is the real draw and star here, but the presentation has a ton of charm to it. The way your machine can change its appearance and how it can be all dirty when you come up from being underground just add a ton of charm to the game. Plus, the soundtrack here is awesome. I was honestly not expecting a soundtrack anywhere near this awesome!

Pros:

• This game just oozes charm
• I loved the setting and the world building
• The gameplay of mining, selling, and upgrading is very addictive
• If you like mining games, you will love this

Cons:

• Just a little bit more story would have been even more epic
• I guess it may be a hard sell if mining games are not typically something you enjoy