Aground Zero

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"Aground Zero" is a 3D survival game set during the same events as "Aground." After waking up from sleep, you find out that the world has ended, and it's your job to survive by mining ores, building an underground base, and gathering other survivors. As you progress, you'll need to expand and automate your base, get help from familiar faces, and be prepared to encounter creatures that are not native to Earth. Knowledge of the original game is not required to play.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 59 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game has a strong foundation with fun gameplay mechanics and a smooth experience, making it enjoyable for players.
The developers are highly active, providing frequent updates and maintaining good communication with the community, which builds trust and excitement for future content.
It successfully combines elements from popular games like Aground, Subnautica, and Factorio, offering a unique blend of crafting, building, and survival gameplay.

Currently, the game has limited content, with many players finishing the available content in just a few hours, leading to concerns about its value at the current price point.
There are some bugs and issues that need addressing, such as NPCs getting stuck and problems with item distribution in factories.
The multiplayer option is limited to split-screen remote play, which may not meet the expectations of players looking for a more traditional multiplayer experience.

gameplay
9 mentions
56 % positive mentions
11 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its smooth mechanics, particularly the streamlined factory systems and fluid building controls, making it enjoyable and accessible. Players appreciate the engaging combat and crafting elements, which create a satisfying loop reminiscent of games like Minecraft and Factorio. Overall, the game is seen as fun and addictive, with potential for further improvement and a strong connection to its predecessor.
- “Good fun with some streamlined factory mechanics - the power and conveyor belt systems are particularly convenient compared to most factory games.”
- “Gameplay is very smooth (60fps), dialogue is short and sweet, building controls are 8.5/10 - and, in general, everything you do in the game is very fluid, it's a joy to play.”
- “Aground has a solid Minecraft-esque gameplay loop; mine, refine, build, explore, rescue, repeat.”
- “The gameplay at the moment is rock solid, but I'm hoping it shapes up to carry on the legacy from the original.”
- “Aground has a solid Minecraft-esque gameplay loop: mine, refine, build, explore, rescue, repeat.”
- “It's not a direct sequel to the first game, but the grinding and crafting mechanics are similar enough to feel connected, with little easter eggs and nods to it if that's your cup of tea.”
story
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's story, while building on the foundation of Aground, offers a basic narrative that some players find underwhelming and not particularly engaging. Although it includes elements of exploration and building, the storytelling feels incomplete, with players noting that the tutorial lacks depth and that certain quests can become inaccessible due to bugs. Overall, while the story provides a framework for gameplay, it currently lacks the richness and engagement that many players desire.
- “A little exploration with mining, building, and a story to boot: a definite two thumbs up from me and thoroughly recommended!”
- “The factory building aspect is a little simple, but I must admit that I handicapped myself by spending the majority of the early stages mining tunnels when you unlock robots and helpers that will do it for you fairly early on if you follow the story prompts.”
- “Sure, although it piggybacks off of Aground's story and paths, it is its own game.”
- “Do not save all the survivors before you meet the scavenger or your game will bug and some quests will become unavailable.”
- “It does have half decent graphics and a storyline to follow.”
graphics
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as simple yet effective, complementing the engaging gameplay rather than overshadowing it. While some users note that the character models may not be top-tier, the overall art style is appreciated, and the game runs smoothly without any significant issues.
- “I love the graphics and feel of the game.”
- “The art style and graphics are as shown, and the gameplay is generally smooth, with no bugs or anything to make the experience worse.”
- “It’s so fun; the simple graphics belie the powerful gameplay.”
- “The graphics are outdated and lack detail, making the game feel less immersive.”
- “The character models are poorly designed and look flat, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The environments are bland and uninspired, failing to capture the player's attention.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding and crafting mechanics in this game evoke a sense of connection to its predecessor, with players likely to experience mixed feelings about the changes made. While some may appreciate the depth and additional systems, others might find the grinding tedious, leading to a divide in player satisfaction. A well-structured tutorial and meaningful choices could enhance the experience, influencing whether players choose to fully engage or abandon the game after the initial progression.
- “If you played the original Aground, you'd naturally get some Terraria vibes, and you'd either love or hate how the additional grinding and systems changed how the game itself played.”
- “Having a good tutorial in that game along with different big choices would help ensure that you'd want to 100 percent or quit after all the beginning crafting and grinding progression wore off.”
- “Similar to this game's predecessor, I think most players will either love or hate this game as you'll figure out after the beginning crafting and grinding progression if you want to 100 percent the game or quit.”
optimization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for its rough visuals and lack of polish, resulting in a gameplay experience that feels unrefined and simplistic. Players report that the current content can be completed in about eight hours, but the overall presentation and manufacturing aspects leave much to be desired.
- “I completed the current content in just 8 hours, and it felt like a very rough and unpolished experience. The gameplay was mindless, and the overall aesthetics were lacking; the manufacturing process isn't optimized at all.”
- “The game suffers from poor optimization, making it feel clunky and unrefined. It's frustrating to see such potential wasted on a lackluster execution.”
- “Despite the interesting concept, the optimization is severely lacking, leading to a disjointed experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment.”