Ad Fundum

About

"Ad Fundum" is a game set in the Age of Diesel, where you pilot a massive drilling mech to mine valuable resources in the Earth's depths. Sell minerals for profit, manage your mech's fuel and temperature, and avoid hazards to fund the restoration of your base. The game offers enhanced mining performance and base rebuilding, with the threat of conflict looming in the background.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 298 reviews

story30 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

Ad Fundum is a well-crafted spiritual successor to Motherload, enhancing the original gameplay with new mechanics and a satisfying upgrade system.
The game offers a nostalgic experience with engaging gameplay, diverse biomes, and a solid balance of challenge and exploration.
Players appreciate the meaningful upgrades and the fun, addictive nature of the digging mechanics, making it a great choice for fans of mining games.

The game suffers from some frustrating mechanics, such as misleading controls and a lack of clarity in certain gameplay elements, which can detract from the overall experience.
Many players found the story and dialogue to be poorly executed, with awkward grammar and uninteresting plot points that do not enhance the gameplay.
Some users reported issues with grindiness in the later stages of the game, as well as a lack of replayability and variety in challenges.

story
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
57%
4%
The story in the game is generally described as simple and linear, with some players appreciating its decent quality and branching endings, while others find it trite and uninteresting. Many reviews suggest that the narrative serves as a light backdrop to the gameplay, which is the main focus, and while some players enjoyed the lore and character interactions, others felt the dialogue and storytelling needed significant improvement. Overall, the story is seen as a bonus rather than a central feature, appealing mainly to those who enjoy casual mining games with a bit of narrative.
- “Amazing game, I finished it in one session because the gameplay loop was so addictive, without any frustrating mechanics and the story was great too.”
- “A very fun mining game with an interesting story that kept my attention from start to finish.”
- “With its captivating retro-futuristic atmosphere, management gameplay, and an intriguing storyline, Ad Fundum offers a thrilling experience for players seeking a unique and immersive indie game.”
- “The music was nothing special, nor was the story, which was pretty trite and uninteresting, but that's not necessarily a bad thing for a game like this, where the primary purpose is to mindlessly dig deeper and deeper.”
- “The opening, the info dump, the storytelling, the writing for the characters… it’s all terrible.”
- “The story I was not interested in at all.”
gameplay
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
58%
5%
The gameplay is generally praised for its fun and addictive mining mechanics, reminiscent of classic titles like Motherload, with a solid gameplay loop and varied biomes that keep the experience fresh. However, some players noted issues with certain mechanics, such as the earthquake feature feeling more like a chore, and a lack of adequate sound cues for low fuel or health. Overall, while the game offers a captivating experience with rewarding exploration and upgrades, some mechanics could benefit from further refinement.
- “Amazing game, I finished it in one session because the gameplay loop was so addictive, without any frustrating mechanics and the story was great too.”
- “The multiple biomes and mechanics keep the gameplay fresh for a dozen hours.”
- “I really like the story, the gameplay is basically perfect, the upgrades are exciting and reward exploration.”
- “I never got the final upgrades as they just stayed locked out despite buying all prior upgrades. The earthquake mechanic is more of a chore than a feature, as it usually went off for me just as I was close to the next elevator or I'd just entered the mine, meaning I didn't get enough resources to justify the loss of fuel and hull damage.”
- “I feel a few mechanics weren't fleshed out enough, and it piled up to a game that felt more like a chore to play than a fun experience.”
- “I found the tutorial pretty bare bones, and I felt like I had to fend for myself with some mechanics.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
44%
19%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some find it repetitive and unremarkable, others appreciate its thematic quality and how it enhances the atmosphere. Notably, the music's integration with gameplay elements, such as gravity changes, adds a surprising layer of depth. Overall, many players enjoy the music's nostalgic feel and its ability to convey the right tone throughout the experience.
- “The music reminded me a lot of the original and conveyed the right tone at the right places.”
- “The miner feels good to use, the upgrades actually feel very meaningful, the music is thematic and enjoyable, and it has tried to stick to the artistic theme while making use of more pixels.”
- “So far so good, loving the music and atmosphere.”
- “The music was nothing special, nor was the story, which was pretty trite and uninteresting, but that's not necessarily a bad thing for a game like this, where the primary purpose is to mindlessly dig deeper and deeper.”
- “Repetitive music and bad dialogue/story, fine.”
- “The music was nothing special, nor was the story, which was pretty trite and uninteresting, but that's not necessarily a bad thing for a game like this, where the primary purpose is to mindlessly dig deeper and deeper.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a significant amount of grinding, particularly in the early stages and the last third, which some players found excessive. However, the introduction of new tools and abilities, along with an elevator system, helps alleviate the tedium and keeps the gameplay engaging. Overall, while grinding is a core element, it may appeal to those who enjoy casual gaming with a bit of story.
- “Got a bit too grindy in the last third of the game, and then showered you in resources when you didn't need them anymore.”
- “Some parts of it can certainly seem grindy at times, but that's pretty central to the gameplay - you're picking up rocks to sell to get better at picking up rocks.”
- “Early game might be a little bit slow and grindy, but after that it goes faster.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
The graphics are generally described as solid and decent, with some reviewers noting a nostalgic 32-bit feel. The varied biomes enhance the visual experience, each presenting unique aesthetics and challenges that complement the gameplay. Overall, the graphics effectively support the engaging mechanics of the game.
- “Good graphics back some really solid motherlode-esque gameplay.”
- “Really solid graphics, writing, and controlling the mech is extremely fun.”
- “You go through several different biomes as you mine deeper and deeper, all of which have unique things about them such as enemies & hazards, different temperatures so you must make sure you do not overheat or overcool, limited visibility, and other things, and of course different aesthetics.”
- “Graphics felt like a 32-bit game.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, the game has limited replayability, with many players noting a lack of engaging content and a bland ending. While there are some worthwhile Steam achievements, the general consensus is that it does not offer enough incentive for multiple playthroughs.
- “However, from the perspective of a 2024 hit game, there is some feedback: the game's replayability, as of writing, is not great.”
- “The ending is kind of bland, and there is not much replayability.”
- “Not too much replay value, but worthy Steam achievements.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The atmosphere of "ad fundum" is characterized by a captivating retro-futuristic aesthetic that enhances its management gameplay and intriguing storyline. Players appreciate the immersive experience, highlighted by well-crafted music and a strong sense of atmosphere that effectively captures the essence of the game.
- “With its captivating retro-futuristic atmosphere, management gameplay, and an intriguing storyline, ad fundum offers a thrilling experience for players seeking a unique and immersive indie game.”
- “The motherlode atmosphere and gameplay loop are very well captured here.”
- “So far so good, loving the music and atmosphere.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users highlight that the game offers an excellent price-to-performance ratio, indicating that it runs well and provides good value for the investment.
- “Great ratio of price to performance.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The humor in the game is characterized by its lighthearted and amusing take on the concept of a robot digging adventure, providing players with a fun and entertaining experience.
- “This game features a hilarious robot digging for treasure, and the humor is spot on!”
- “The witty dialogue and quirky characters make this robot dig game a laugh-out-loud experience.”
- “I love how the game combines clever puns with the absurdity of a robot digging for gold!”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the game experiences some stability issues, particularly when using a controller, indicating a slightly buggy performance in that regard.
- “The game is a bit buggy when using a controller.”
- “The game is a bit buggy when using a controller.”