Ad Infinitum Reviews
Ad Infinitum balances engaging gameplay with a deep, dark, and fascinating story that tells a tale of a family torn apart by war.
A more coherent story and confident use of setting could've helped Ad Infinitum live up to its full potential. The dilapidated mansion, nightmare trenches, and horrible creatures still give it a unique identity that goes some way toward making up for the narrative shortcomings. However, I hope there's a "next time" for Hekate and Ad Infinitum and a chance for both to play into their strengths.
While there are some impressive elements to like about Ad Infinitum it ultimately lacks a lot of polish and some more compelling gameplay. It's excellent score and use of audio is the stand out in this psychological horror.
Ad Infinitum can easily give you a sense of discomfort and suspense, even if you're far removed from the genre as a whole.
Review in Russian |
What everything adds up to is a game that’s half good. If the more unique and compelling idea of the war was expanded upon, the title could have been much better.
In spite of the occasional bug and basic gameplay systems, Ad Infinitum manages to capture my attention through its imaginative exploration of the horror of battle. Delving between the shell-shocked home of the Von Schmitts and the ash swept trenches of war was a unique perspective on the horror genre that I found to be both poignant and well worth exploring.
With a unique setting and premise, Hekate's psychological horror certainly stands out, and its various themes are balanced well. Some more polish and gameplay improvements would go a long way, but more than anything, its horror elements could certainly use more time to shine.
Overall, Ad Infinitum doesn’t do its best job showcasing what the experience is all about in the first hour. But, after that, it really takes off and soars. Especially the creature design, and while I am not a massive fan of the hide-and-seek horror, it plays it well here, and you truly get lost in the trenches. The sound design and voice acting aren’t the best, but it is passable enough. My biggest issue is that I had quite a bit of technical difficulties. Even when I turned the graphics setting to low, I was still experiencing framerate drops and quite a bit of screen tearing. I even managed to clip through some ladders a few times.
Ad Infinitum deals in many types of horror, often skewering expectations. Though rough around the edges and packing unremarkable puzzles, the terrifying truths of its real-world scares offer more captivating chills than its monster-focused moments.
After many years of development, Ad Infinitum fails to deliver e great horror experience. The compelling story is not enough to save this project from mediocrity.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ad Infinitum tells an engaging and unique story in a great way. To really enjoy it, though, you'd have to be willing to play with the voice setting set to German.
The topic is interesting, the plot is engaging, and we have nothing to complain about the presentation of the senselessness of the conflict as such. But at the same time, Ad Infinitum contains many dead places and boring passages, which, although they stretch the game time lasting around 6-7 hours, but at the same time dilute the atmosphere of the whole experience. It's a shame, but it shouldn't be a reason to dismiss Ad Infinitum forever.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Although it presents a pitch-perfect atmosphere, the bright spots in its uneven campaign don't really get much chance to truly shine.
Having experienced Ad Infinitum, it becomes clear that the game is a remarkable example of how video games can combine history, psychology, and horror into a unified, immersive experience. One of its most striking strengths is its ability to immerse the player in the protagonist’s mind. Paul is not just a soldier on the battlefield; he is a man overwhelmed by trauma and anguish, and the game conveys the deterioration of his psyche through the very world around him. This level of psychological immersion is rare in traditional horror titles. Equally impressive are the worldbuilding and art design. Every trench, bunker, destroyed village, and open field is rendered with meticulous realism, while the visual language heightens tension and unease. The environments are not mere backdrops – they are active narrative instruments, capable of telling stories without words and influencing gameplay, allowing players to truly live the experience. The sound design is outstanding. Spatial audio and meticulously crafted ambient sounds create a deeply immersive atmosphere, where every footstep, creak, and indistinct noise becomes a tool of suspense and emotional engagement. This careful attention to audio ensures the game generates tension even in moments of relative calm, delivering a memorable audiovisual experience. From a gameplay perspective, the survival horror mechanics – blending stealth and psychological elements – align perfectly with the narrative. While some moments may feel challenging for players unaccustomed to slow, tension-driven pacing, the game rewards patience, observation, and exploration, making it particularly satisfying for fans of immersive horror. A key feature is the balance between story and personal interpretation. Surreal events and distortions of reality are not mere scare tactics; they serve as narrative tools, allowing players to reflect on the trauma of war, the fragility of the mind, and the subjectivity of perception. This makes the experience complex, layered, and intellectually engaging, appealing to those seeking a thoughtful psychological horror. In conclusion, Ad Infinitum is an ambitious and accomplished title that stands out in the survival horror genre for its combination of historical authenticity, psychological tension, and meticulous worldbuilding. While not flawless, its strengths – immersive storytelling, art direction, sound design, and emotional depth – make it a truly memorable experience, especially for those seeking intense, reflective horror that leaves a lasting impression. On a personal note, the team’s closing message is profoundly moving, highlighting how collective tragedy can deeply impact a family. Truly touching. This is a game that leaves a mark and demands full attention and total immersion.
Overall, Ad Infinitum was an exciting and immersive gaming experience that certainly won't be for everyone, but its excellent production leaves a lasting impression. So, anyone who enjoys horror adventures that require a quick grasp of the story should get their money's worth. The harmonious soundscape underscores the overall picture created by German developer Hekate and conveys the sense of despair that must have reigned on the battlefield back then. I had a lot of fun with the title and will attempt another playthrough soon, and you should consider doing the same.
Review in German | Read full review
Although it does not innovate the “psychological horror” genre in any way, Ad Infinitum presents a well-written story that manages to skillfully explore the protagonist's wartime traumas. The lack of conventional combat limits so much the encounters with enemies, which end up becoming a kind of extension of the puzzles in the game, but the design of these creatures is wonderful, especially the bosses, which are truly grotesque. It lacks a bit of refinement here and there, and the frame rate is far too erratic. However, for fans of the genre, Nacon and Hekate's title can definitely be more than enough of an experience to experience firsthand.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ad Infinitum is a horror game that manages to create a good atmosphere despite the poorer visuals. Moments of fear cannot be avoided. It is also very accessible to play.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Ad Infinitum very much feels like the kind of horror game that would’ve come out five or ten years ago: lots of slow-moving stealth and light puzzles, with a heavy dose of walking simulator-style exploration on the side.
Ad Infinitum is an ambitious game. You can feel the love and effort of the developers, but it falls far short of the required quality. It tries to tell the dark story of a PTSD soldier and his family in World War I. It tries to combine the horrifying reality of life in the trenches with the dreamlike terror of nightmares. It succeeds in many of these things, but unfortunately, they are brought down by many other unpolished aspects of the game. As a result, the overall experience is as disjointed as the title's intermittent quality.
Review in Czech | Read full review