Aground

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 940 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Aground Game Cover
Play in Arcadia
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"Aground is a mining/crafting RPG with a focus on open world exploration and survival. Play solo or with a friend in multiplayer mode, experiencing a beautiful story with stellar gameplay and wonderful music. However, be prepared for some grinding as you work towards humanity's ultimate goal of returning to the stars."

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Web Browser
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 940 reviews
story110 positive mentions
grinding55 negative mentions
  • Aground offers a unique blend of science and magic paths, allowing players to choose their progression style and explore a rich storyline.
  • The game features a charming pixel art style and engaging gameplay mechanics that keep players invested for hours.
  • With a vast amount of content, quests, and secrets to uncover, Aground provides a rewarding experience that encourages exploration and creativity.
  • The graphics and UI can be considered outdated and may detract from the overall experience for some players.
  • Inventory management can become tedious, especially when traveling between islands, as items are not shared globally.
  • Some players find the combat mechanics frustrating and the difficulty spikes can lead to a sense of imbalance in gameplay.
  • story254 mentions

    The game's story is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its depth, engaging characters, and multiple quest paths, including distinct magic and technology routes. While some find the narrative compelling and filled with twists, others note that certain quests can be confusing or tedious, leading to occasional frustration. Overall, the story enhances the gameplay experience, making it a notable aspect of the game despite some minor issues.

    • “Amazing game with a great story, not overly hard to progress but does give a challenge.”
    • “The story is surprisingly compelling for how simply it's presented and interacted with by the player.”
    • “My main favorite is the story, which is very interesting and the storytelling is well-paced and full of twists, turns, and secrets.”
    • “The story was decent, the gameplay was decent, the building was okay (preset buildings only) and the exploring was mediocre at best.”
    • “It started off great but then became tedious to move back and forth between islands and the game stops giving you quests for what to do next (either the quest just says '????' or there just isn't even a quest until you do certain things to trigger another one).”
    • “After having strip mined every island and planet I could, it was just a series of following the next quest giver on a fetch mission.”
  • graphics90 mentions

    The graphics of the game are predominantly described as simplistic and pixelated, often evoking nostalgia for retro gaming. While some players find the visuals charming and fitting for the gameplay, others criticize them as rough or underwhelming, suggesting that they may deter some potential players. Overall, many reviewers recommend looking past the graphics to appreciate the game's depth, story, and mechanics.

    • “The graphics are charming, the art shows beauty and the creativity is on point.”
    • “Beautiful pixel graphics with cartoon cut scenes.”
    • “Even if the pixel-art graphics make this game seem like another Terraria clone, it actually works in its favor, creating a unique and oddly beautiful world at times.”
    • “There is a fun digger/builder sim to be found here if you can look past the god awful graphics and UI.”
    • “Yes, the graphics are as basic as it gets.”
    • “The graphics are not high definition, and it can be hard to see when you are underground.”
  • gameplay90 mentions

    The gameplay of the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its engaging mechanics, variety, and relaxing progression, while others criticize the combat mechanics and repetitive tasks that can lead to frustration. Many players appreciate the intuitive controls and the depth of content, likening it to popular titles like Terraria and Stardew Valley, but note that certain aspects, such as item management and combat, could benefit from improvements. Overall, the game offers a rich experience with a blend of exploration, crafting, and storytelling, though it may require some patience due to its grindy elements.

    • “Amazing gameplay, very easy to start and progression is very relaxing while the plot thickens.”
    • “The design is superb in how it keeps the basic gameplay consistent and intuitive even as the game itself grows more expansive.”
    • “The gameplay is really where this game shines.”
    • “Too much combat, which is normally fine, but with the horrible mechanics of the game, it just makes it frustrating when you lose. It's like there is nothing you can do but sit and shoot; no jumping, no running, just sit and shoot. If they get to you too fast, I guess you die unless you make 400 food so you can keep on eating to avoid dying.”
    • “This game starts out as something like a 'Terraria light', with more direction in gameplay; however, a near total lack of variety in actions combined with imprecision in controls makes it an overall frustrating experience.”
    • “This is not a bad core gameplay loop in and of itself; however, extreme repetitiveness combined with overly simplistic gameplay and imprecise controls make this a no-go for me.”
  • grinding58 mentions

    The reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding grinding in the game. While some players find the resource collection and farming enjoyable and well-balanced, others describe it as tedious and repetitive, particularly when it involves frequent island hopping and backtracking. Overall, the game offers a blend of engaging mechanics and grinding, with some players appreciating the addictive nature of the grind, while others feel it detracts from the overall experience.

    • “It is never boring; no grinding, always evolving, surprising, and amazing.”
    • “By the way, there's no grinding—just a bit of running or flying around if you don't manage your inventory and plan ahead; this requires portal bluescripts.”
    • “Your main activity for this game will be mining/farming for equipment or a building.”
    • “Time has no meaning in this game....and you'll be spending all your time grinding so you can grind something else the exact same way in a new area....everything is dull as can be in this game after the initial excitement and thinking there was a living world here.”
    • “Different, promising take on the Terraria formula, but suffers from death-by-a-thousand-cuts: there are no truly glaring faults, but in the end the minor irritations add up to an unfun, grindy, and player-hostile experience.”
  • music24 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its emotional resonance, nostalgic quality, and energetic compositions, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many players find themselves humming the soundtrack long after playing, although some note that certain tracks can become repetitive over extended sessions. A few criticisms mention issues with specific dissonant tracks and occasional audio skipping, but overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the game's visuals and content.

    • “Great game with nice music that makes you feel some sort of nostalgia.”
    • “The music is delightful and the pixel graphics are charming.”
    • “The music adds to the game and has atmosphere to it.”
    • “The soundtracks are amazing, but they become annoying after a two-hour loop without pausing; that happens to all soundtracks.”
    • “I'm not sure if there is an issue with optimization or if the music was just recorded badly, as it seems to skip quite a bit as if it is a bad loop.”
    • “Apart from one musical track that is dischordant and painful to listen to (it always triggers an immediate muting of the music until I leave the area), the sounds are very well done.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, with multiple plot lines, choices that affect outcomes, and a wealth of content that encourages players to revisit it. Users appreciate the moddable nature and the ability to explore different endings, enhancing the overall replay value. Many players express enjoyment in replaying the game multiple times, indicating a strong incentive to return.

    • “2D Minecraft with a great story and great replayability.”
    • “Good game, a lot of content, moddable, and replayable.”
    • “Three plot lines to explore for lots of replayable fun.”
    • “Now that I have the full game, I've been playing with as little help from the wiki as possible to really get back into it, and oh my god, there is so much replay value!”
    • “Plus, there are choices you can make that affect the game and multiple endings, providing even more replay value.”
    • “One thing I'd like is to have the cutscenes as a replayable option in the menu when you unlock them.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by absurd and whimsical elements, such as a comically oversized ship and a quirky robo-dragon spaceship. Players appreciate the unexpected twists in the story, which add to the overall hilarity and enhance the experience of reflecting on the journey from start to finish.

    • “Funny fat ship destroy.”
    • “Funny robo dragon spaceship go brrrrrr.”
    • “I don't want to spoil too much, but needless to say the story takes a lot of twists and turns, and it is hilarious to reflect on where you started versus where you ultimately end up.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its stability, with users reporting minimal bugs or glitches that do not disrupt gameplay. The variety of content and mechanics is well-balanced, providing a rich experience without overwhelming players.

    • “There aren't many glitches to accidentally discover through a normal playthrough, or ones that ruin progress, either.”
    • “The game frequently crashes, making it frustrating to progress.”
    • “I encountered several bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Users have expressed concerns regarding the optimization of the game, noting potential issues with audio playback that may stem from either poor optimization or subpar music recording, as it appears to skip frequently.

    • “I'm not sure if there is an issue with optimization or if the music was just recorded badly, as it seems to skip quite a bit, almost like a bad loop.”
    • “The game runs poorly on my system, and I can't tell if it's an optimization issue or just bad coding.”
    • “There are frequent frame drops and stuttering, which makes me question the overall optimization of the game.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is significantly enhanced by its music, which contributes to an immersive experience.

    • “The music enhances the game and contributes significantly to its atmosphere.”
    • “The immersive environment draws you in, making every moment feel alive.”
    • “The combination of visuals and sound creates a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Aground

Play time

16hMedian play time
19hAverage play time
52hMain story
87hCompletionist
3-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

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