Aground Zero

Most base building and survival games take place in lush, vibrant worlds full of resources to exploit. Aground Zero from Fancy Fish Games offers a completely different take, stranding players underground after an apocalyptic event wipes out life on the surface.

As the lone survivor in an abandoned bunker, you must gather resources, construct a base, and uncover the secrets of what catastrophe befell humanity. With its charming art style, humorous AI companion, and addictive crafting loop, Aground Zero is a fresh new entry in the popular base building genre.

Endless Underground Exploration

The entirety of Aground Zero takes place in a sprawling system of procedurally generated underground biomes. As you dig deeper, you’ll encounter new environments like fungal forests, freezing caverns, and long-abandoned alien ruins. Resources are scarce at first, so you must constantly seek out coal, iron, and other vital ores if you hope to expand your base. The random maps provide tons of replayability and reward intrepid spelunkers.

Gathering resources is only half the battle. You’ll spend just as much time turning those hard-earned materials into a thriving underground settlement. As your base grows, you’ll unlock new crafting stations, power sources, and high-tech gadgets. Balancing resource consumption and production is key to success. Before you know it, you’ll be automating processes and optimizing supply chains like a post-apocalyptic Elon Musk. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch your small encampment blossom into a bustling subterranean town.

Quirky AI Companion Provides Humor and Guidance

Your loyal AI companion PAI injects some humor and personality into the desolate setting. She’ll frequently banter and make pop culture references that lighten the mood. PAI also provides tutorial guidance and outlines overarching goals to work towards. Her tips help new players acclimate while giving veteran builders the freedom to progress at their own pace. The charming writing brings PAI to life and makes her a companion you’ll never forget.

As you explore the procedurally generated depths, you’ll encounter cryogenically frozen survivors from before the apocalypse. You can build them small dwellings in your base and assign them jobs to bolster your capabilities. Each survivor has unique traits that make them more effective at certain tasks. Getting the right people for the right roles is key to prosperity. Plus, they provide some much-needed company to stave off loneliness!

Aground Zero features a cute, voxel-based graphical style. The environments and characters are visually simple but convey everything you need to know. This allows your imagination to fill in the blanks and envision your settlement coming to life. Despite the rudimentary aesthetics, seeing the bustling base you’ve architected from scratch is incredibly rewarding.

Final Score: 8/10

Aground Zero exceeds expectations by putting a creative spin on the well-worn base building genre. The setting provides a constant sense of mystery that will keep you digging for answers about the apocalypse. Balancing resource management, crafting, and base expansion is deliciously addictive and rewarding.

Pros:

• Addictive crafting and base building loop
• Procedurally generated underground biomes
• Quirky AI companion provides humor and guidance
• Unlock and recruit other survivors
• Simple but imaginative voxel art style

Cons:

• Can feel repetitive in the late game
• Environments lack details and textures
• Crafting mechanics could be more varied