ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery)

About

ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery) is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Krzysztof Dycha and was released on November 16, 2015. It received positive reviews from players.

"ADOM " is a complex and challenging roguelike game with grid-based movement and turn-based combat. The game features a large, varied world to explore, with numerous monsters, items, and quests to discover. Its deep mechanics, including character development, magic, and environmental interactions, provide a rich and immersive experience for fans of the genre.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery) screenshot

+16

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,269 reviews

graphics66 positive mentions

grinding26 negative mentions

ADOM is a classic roguelike with incredible depth and replayability, offering a wide variety of character classes and races.
The game has been continuously updated and improved over the years, making it more accessible to new players while retaining its challenging nature.
The graphics and user interface enhancements in the Steam version provide a more enjoyable experience compared to the original ASCII version.

The steep learning curve and complex controls can be overwhelming for new players, requiring extensive use of wikis and guides to understand the mechanics.
The game can feel punishingly difficult, with many unfair deaths caused by random encounters or traps that are not well explained.
Performance issues and bugs, particularly on certain systems, can lead to crashes and frustrating gameplay experiences.

graphics
284 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
72%
5%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the updated tile graphics that enhance accessibility and gameplay, while others criticize them as simplistic and reminiscent of early 90s aesthetics. Many long-time fans prefer the original ASCII graphics for their charm and nostalgia, arguing that the new visuals do not significantly improve the experience. Overall, while the graphical enhancements are seen as a positive step for new players, they may not satisfy those seeking modern graphical fidelity.
- “The graphics upgrade is actually good.”
- “The graphics are reasonably middle-of-the-road, being simplistic enough for everything to appropriately stand out from the environment, but are subtly animated and overall very appealing.”
- “The new graphics, soundtrack, and new options have made this gem new again, and I look forward to playing it for years to come.”
- “Graphics won't load correctly; I can't see the map, can't see my character, and text won't scroll correctly.”
- “Super bad graphics, not even 3D, no ray-tracing, just child-like graphics that look like they were drawn by a 6-year-old.”
- “The graphics are practically early-90s, the sound likewise.”
gameplay
178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
72%
5%
The gameplay of *ADOM* is characterized by its deep and complex mechanics, offering a challenging and often unforgiving experience that rewards players who invest time in mastering its intricacies. While the game features a rich world with high replayability and numerous character options, it is also criticized for its dated mechanics, lack of clear instructions, and occasional frustrating design choices. Overall, *ADOM* is a classic roguelike that appeals to those who appreciate depth and complexity in gameplay, despite its steep learning curve and some technical shortcomings.
- “If you like depth of gameplay and replayability, this is it.”
- “Unlike many modern games that opt for simplicity and accessibility, ADOM proudly embraces complexity, offering players a rich tapestry of gameplay systems to explore and master.”
- “With its rich mechanics, dynamic world, and endless possibilities, it continues to captivate players old and new alike, cementing its status as one of the greatest games of all time.”
- “Adom has some game-breaking bugs that show up here and there, and I find some of its mechanics frustrating to interact with.”
- “The core gameplay loop of Adom remains the 'gotcha' style gameplay that permeated roguelikes in the 90s but has not aged particularly well into the modern gaming era.”
- “The mechanics are too opaque for me, and the deck is stacked against the player a little too much.”
story
152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
78%
3%
The game's story is characterized by a mix of depth and randomness, offering players a variety of quests and character options that evolve based on their decisions. While some players appreciate the intricate lore and the potential for unique narratives in each playthrough, others criticize the lack of a cohesive overarching plot and the repetitiveness of certain quests. Overall, the game provides a rich, albeit sometimes chaotic, storytelling experience that can be both rewarding and frustrating, depending on player choices and gameplay mechanics.
- “Great storylines and incredible character options!”
- “The story is also surprisingly good; make sure you talk to any named characters you meet. There is a whole lot of interesting lore to be discovered beyond the main story, and multiple endings are possible.”
- “Adom combines the randomness and wonderment of most roguelikes with a story you can follow and relate to.”
- “The narrative is non-existent, the quests suck, there's an infamous exclusivity of quests in the first settlement you find, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense from neither the gameplay nor narrative standpoint, which ties into the bigger problem of feeling like the game just wants to screw you over.”
- “The graphics are overly simplistic, the story didn't catch my attention in the slightest.”
- “There is no real story involved.”
replayability
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
49%
4%
The game *adom* is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, attributed to its deep gameplay, rich world, and procedurally generated content that ensures no two playthroughs are the same. Players appreciate the variety of races and classes, which contribute to a unique experience with each attempt, making it a must-play for fans of challenging roguelikes. Despite its complexity and steep learning curve, the game's replay value is considered immense, offering countless hours of engaging gameplay.
- “Its deep gameplay, rich world, and high replayability make it a must-play for fans of challenging games.”
- “And with its procedurally generated dungeons and endless replayability, ADOM promises countless hours of thrilling adventure for those bold enough to embrace its challenges.”
- “The randomly generated dungeons offer infinite replayability.”
- “However, the reason I'm a long-time player is because the game offers replayability like few others and is just downright enjoyable.”
- “Though there is a great level of complexity and depth to this game, and replayability, a lot of the game is based highly around text.”
- “15 euros can buy you more recent, visually impressive, or (to be honest) more streamlined games after all, but adom takes time to master, and beating it once is nothing, considering the endless replayability the genre itself has to offer.”
music
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
59%
8%
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the dungeon-crawling experience. While some players find the soundtrack to be excellent and fitting for various in-game scenarios, others criticize it as mediocre or unpleasant. Overall, the music is generally seen as a positive aspect that contributes to the game's immersive atmosphere, despite occasional technical issues like audio cutting out.
- “The music matches all the atmospheres that the player could be in.”
- “And the music is very atmospheric; the level-up theme even changes depending on your alignment, it seems!”
- “Even if you keep playing without graphics, I encourage you to leave the in-game music on: it fits the game quite well and definitely enhances the roguelike experience.”
- “Sure, there are still bugs/glitches in this version, such as the music simply cutting out or lag/freezes from a game that doesn't really tax your system, but overall they don't really detract from the gameplay.”
- “The music is unpleasantly mediocre, and sound volume can't be changed in-game.”
- “Game is probably slightly overpriced, and worth probably in the 9.99 for the basic overall quality of the game (there really is no soundtrack for example).”
grinding
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
6%
87%
The reviews highlight that grinding in the game is often tedious and time-consuming, with many players feeling that it detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the depth and complexity of the mechanics, the excessive grinding required for progression and the convoluted controls lead to frustration, making it a significant barrier for those seeking a more streamlined experience. Overall, the game is described as rewarding for those who endure the grind, but it may not appeal to players who prefer a more engaging and less repetitive gameplay style.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I do not mind RNG messing me over, but it has to be manageable while not being tedious to manage.”
- “Like most traditional roguelikes, this game is extremely tedious with a low rate of interesting interactions per minute.”
- “The first hour of the game is mostly grinding, and I just didn't have fun restarting for the nth time.”
- “It's another to add extremely tedious things seemingly to just eat up the player's time without adding fun.”
stability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent crashes, UI glitches, and various bugs that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players experienced issues such as freezing, lag, and visual problems that detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration and requests for refunds. While some minor bugs do not completely ruin the game, the overall consensus is that it remains a buggy and unpolished product.
- “My first problem with this game is that it's buggy and crashes frequently.”
- “Horrible, buggy mess.”
- “However, it is buggy, and unplayable thanks to frequent and unpredictable crashes.”
optimization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
31%
46%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many users reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering, input lag, and crashes, which detract significantly from the experience. While some players noted that recent patches have improved performance, the initial state of the game was deemed embarrassing, especially for a title released in 2020. Overall, the optimization remains a major concern for many, overshadowing the game's potential.
- “Long story short, roguelikes should be about slow and long-term optimization that comes with knowing the game better over time, not brutal trial and error for inescapable things that can be solved only in a precise way.”
- “Performance issues have been fixed in the latest patch, and everything runs smoothly now.”
- “Performance issues aside, this is a very fine roleplaying experience with a unique morality and karma system that really makes your character feel like a living person in the world of Ancardia at times.”
- “The game is not optimized at all.”
- “I can't recommend a game that can't patch a nearly guaranteed constant stuttering issue that cripples all input.”
- “The two most prominent features of this game are horrible performance and crashes.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
30%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its polished graphics and atmospheric music, which enhance the overall experience and adapt to the player's alignment. Reviewers note the game's depth and complexity, with a charming blend of old-school aesthetics and modern design elements, although some feel that the atmosphere could be more complete. Overall, the combination of visual and auditory elements creates an engaging and immersive environment that captivates players.
- “The music matches all the atmospheres that the player could be in.”
- “I played it quite a while, first the free version and then the steam version, and I am still charmed by its music, by its atmosphere, by its depth.”
- “Again, the atmosphere of the game feels incomplete.”
- “There's a huge amount of depth to ADOM, and a lot more story and atmosphere than most roguelikes.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its dark and unpredictable moments, often leading to absurd and comical deaths that catch players off guard, such as being sacrificed by goblins or accidentally donning cursed armor. Players appreciate the clever easter eggs and the blend of hilarity and frustration that arises from the game's mechanics, making for a uniquely entertaining experience. Overall, the humor is both laugh-out-loud funny and tinged with a sense of irony, enhancing the gameplay.
- “Your characters will die in hilariously unpredictable ways, and you won't be nearly ready for it. From accidentally kicking an altar to putting on a new suit of armor in dwarf-town—before you've identified it—and finding out it's mithril chain mail of hate, leading the entire town to suddenly hate you.”
- “There are funny little easter eggs hidden throughout the game.”
- “So hilarious, but also sad in the moment. In my first run, I died because I was sacrificed by a goblin to its gods. It's extremely funny because one would think the creatures wouldn't have the same options as you, and you learn through each run so you probably won't die the same way again.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The character development system in Adom is highly praised for its depth and variety, offering players numerous choices and possibilities, including skill leveling and unique traits based on birth signs. This complexity enhances the gameplay experience, making the thrill of survival and reward even more satisfying.
- “One of ADOM's defining features is its character development system, which offers an astounding array of choices and possibilities.”
- “Lots of depth in character development.”
- “I also enjoy the additions of leveling up with skills, training, the sign you were born under, and more; the character design has more depth to it than a lot of other games in the genre.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “Despite the potential for rich storytelling, the character development is often rushed and fails to explore deeper motivations.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization model of the game is praised for its simplicity and lack of intrusive ads or microtransactions, offering a refreshing alternative to modern titles that often prioritize profit over gameplay depth. Players appreciate the absence of load times and unnecessary distractions, allowing for a more immersive experience.
- “The gameplay is a bit dated, but if you feel like a lot of the games you are playing lately are just sparkling cash grabs with no depth of gameplay, then this is the game for you.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a mix of emotions while engaging with the game, experiencing feelings of frustration and inadequacy due to its complexity, alongside moments of heartbreak and humor from their failures. This emotional rollercoaster contributes to a unique and memorable gaming experience.
- “Some you will lose to the difficulty, many you will lose to ignorance or stupidity; some losses will be heartbreaking and others will be hilarious.”

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192h Median play time

291h Average play time

50-800h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

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ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery) is a role playing game.

ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery) is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

On average players spend around 291 hours playing ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery).

ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery) was released on November 16, 2015.

ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery) was developed by Krzysztof Dycha.

ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery) has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its grinding.

ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery) is a single player game.

Similar games include Tales of Maj'Eyal, Dungeonmans, Dungeons of Dredmor, Ultimate ADOM: Caverns of Chaos, Barony and others.

ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery)

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