ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery)

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery) screenshot

+21

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,202 reviews

graphics65 positive mentions

grinding24 negative mentions

ADOM is a classic roguelike that offers immense depth and replayability, with a variety of character classes and races to choose from.
The game has a rich world filled with quests, unique items, and a challenging combat system that rewards strategic thinking.
The graphical update enhances the experience while still allowing players to enjoy the original ASCII mode.

The learning curve is steep, and the game can feel overwhelming for new players due to its complex controls and numerous keybindings.
The game is prone to crashes, which can lead to frustrating losses of progress, especially in a permadeath environment.
Some mechanics, such as item identification and the corruption system, can feel punishing and lead to unfair deaths.

graphics
271 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
72%
4%
The graphics in the latest version of ADOM have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the updated tile graphics that enhance accessibility and gameplay experience, while others prefer the charm of the original ASCII graphics. Some users find the new visuals simplistic and reminiscent of early 90s games, arguing that they do not significantly elevate the overall experience. Overall, the graphical improvements are seen as a welcome addition, but opinions vary on their effectiveness and aesthetic appeal compared to the classic version.
- “The graphical improvements in this version of the game are well worth it, and it's now my favorite version of the game.”
- “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.”
- “The graphics are practically early-90s, the sound likewise.”
- “The game tileset mode features simple, cartoony 2D graphics, of the type you normally expect to see in low-effort mobile apps, and if you don't want those you have even less choice, you have to go back to pre-1990's standards.”
- “Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game, having the graphics phoned in like this isn't going to result in a high quality, visually impressive game that PC gamers are used to seeing.”
gameplay
163 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
72%
6%
The gameplay of ADOM is characterized by its deep and complex mechanics, offering a rich roguelike experience that rewards players willing to invest time in mastering its intricacies. However, many users find the game frustrating due to its outdated mechanics, steep learning curve, and occasional game-breaking bugs, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the challenge and depth, others criticize the lack of clarity in mechanics and the punishing nature of the gameplay, making it a polarizing experience for players.
- “At the heart of ADOM lies its unparalleled depth of mechanics.”
- “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.”
- “Every game is unique, every class is unique, every combination of every item is unique; it's just endless hours of varied and exciting gameplay, and just when I feel like I've explored all the game has to offer, it throws something new at me.”
- “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.”
- “Game has literally 0 appeal aside from masochists who like to spend hundreds of hours wading through garbage controls and UX just to tell others to 'git gud.' This game does absolutely nothing to make someone who didn't specifically buy the game for that experience want to learn all the mechanics and nuances.”
story
146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
77%
3%
The story in ADOM is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its depth and the variety of quests and character interactions, while others criticize it for being sparse and repetitive. Many reviews highlight the game's potential for emergent storytelling through player choices, but also note frustrations with mutually exclusive quests and a lack of clear narrative direction. Overall, while the game offers a rich world and numerous quests, the execution of its story elements can feel inconsistent and sometimes overwhelming for players.
- “Whether it's the different character classes, races, or the dynamic storylines that evolve with your decisions, there’s a staggering amount of content here.”
- “It's not just the tactical gameplay itself, and the chess-like difficult decisions that have to be made, that make ADOM a gem, but also its story, its lines of obscure philosophy and poetry, a game that makes you wonder, as you strive to get your character to survive, become more powerful, and save the world... or destroy it altogether.”
- “Adom combines the randomness and the 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 seems to be no real story, just a few quests.”
replayability
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
5%
The game is praised for its exceptional replayability, with many players highlighting its procedurally generated dungeons, diverse character classes, and unique adventures that ensure no two playthroughs are the same. Users report that the depth and complexity of the game provide countless hours of engaging gameplay, making it a standout in the roguelike genre. Overall, it is considered to have some of the highest replay value available, appealing to both long-time fans and newcomers alike.
- “With its procedurally generated dungeons and endless replayability, ADOM promises countless hours of thrilling adventure for those bold enough to embrace its challenges.”
- “It's immersive, has infinite replay value, no games are ever the same, each adventure is unique, each character, and action matter.”
- “The randomly generated dungeons offer infinite replayability.”
- “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.”
- “This is the pure definition of replayability: if you buy this game and can look past the fact that it doesn't have beautiful AAA CG graphics or plays best using keyboard commands, then you may never need to buy another game again.”
music
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
62%
8%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the dungeon-crawling experience and adapting to the player's alignment during level-ups. While some users report issues like music cutting out or being overly simplistic, many appreciate the soundtrack's ability to blend into the background, contributing positively to the overall gameplay. However, opinions vary, with some finding the music mediocre or unpleasant, indicating a mixed reception overall.
- “The music matches all the atmospheres that the player could be in.”
- “The music is also appropriate - a good soundtrack tends to fade into the background of your awareness, neither being too loud or quiet, too over the top, or too subtle, but just catching your consciousness now and then despite generally being always there.”
- “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.”
- “The music is unpleasantly mediocre, and sound volume can't be changed in-game.”
- “The music is awful, the UI is half-made (it's still ASCII mostly, inventory, advanced settings, etc.), the animation is either none or too fast (I didn't notice).”
- “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
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
4%
86%
Reviews indicate that grinding in this game is often seen as tedious and excessive, with many players feeling it detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the depth and complexity of the mechanics, the overwhelming need to grind for progress can lead to frustration, particularly for those who prefer a more streamlined experience. Overall, the game may appeal to dedicated players willing to endure the grind, but it risks alienating those who seek a more engaging and less time-consuming gameplay experience.
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “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.”
- “Good games compress the moves to what's needed so you don't have to tediously sit there spamming until combat resolves... 40+ attacks in a tutorial gave me the feeling this game doesn't care about you as a player.”
- “Skip this game if you're not interested in grinding your face against someone else's idea of 'you must suffer to have a good time.'”
- “The first hour of the game is mostly grinding, and I just didn't have fun restarting for the nth time.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent crashes, UI lag, and numerous visual glitches that detract from the overall experience. Many players find the game unplayable due to these issues, which include unpredictable bugs and incomplete features, leading to frustration and requests for refunds. While some minor bugs do not significantly impact gameplay, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from serious stability problems.
- “The UI is way too laggy; even with troubleshooting online, it's still not working.”
- “I was excited to play this, but unfortunately, it was so buggy I could not.”
- “My first problem with this game is that it's buggy and crashes frequently.”
optimization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
31%
46%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting constant stuttering, input lag, and crashes that severely impact gameplay. While some players noted that recent patches have improved performance, the initial experience was marred by poor optimization, leading to frustration and even hardware issues for some. Overall, the game's performance remains a major concern, overshadowing its otherwise engaging content.
- “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.”
- “I can't recommend a game that can't patch a nearly guaranteed constant stuttering issue that cripples all input.”
- “The performance of this game is so completely embarrassing that Thomas Biskup should really feel ashamed of himself for daring to ask actual money for it.”
- “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, atmospheric music, and depth, creating an immersive experience that enhances gameplay. Players appreciate the attention to detail, with music that adapts to the player's alignment and a blend of old-school aesthetics with modern design. However, some feel that despite its richness, the atmosphere can feel incomplete at times.
- “The music is very atmospheric; the level-up theme even changes depending on your alignment, it seems!”
- “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
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its darkly comedic and unpredictable character deaths, often resulting from absurd situations like wearing cursed armor or being sacrificed by goblins. Players appreciate the clever easter eggs and the blend of hilarity and tragedy that accompanies each demise, making the experience both entertaining and memorable. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm that keeps players engaged and laughing through their misadventures.
- “Your characters will die in hilariously unpredictable ways, and you won't be 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.”
- “It's extremely funny when you die in unexpected ways, like being sacrificed by a goblin to its gods. 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.”
- “There is 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 than many 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 disappointingly one-dimensional and fails to engage the player.”
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 experience compared to many modern titles that 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 losses will be heartbreaking and others will be hilarious.”