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Ad Infinitum

Ad Infinitum

Hekate · released Sep 14, 2023

ActionAdventurePCPlayStation 5, PlayStation 4Xbox Series X, Xbox One

When reality is a nightmare, nightmares become real. In this psychological horror game, you fight the terrifying creatures invading your mind. Can you save your sanity?

72
VGC Score
Declininghigh confidence

anchored at patch: “Patch Note | v1.0.5.270558” (2y ago)

74%
At launch
78%
Steam all-time
69%
Press
62%
Player sentiment
76%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)6933
All-time Steam reviews78%72847
Metacritic user ratings6214
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)76%71965
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Oct 26, 2023) · 300 reviews sampled · 965 total reviews in window · weighted 153.1 up / 37.3 down · computed 18m ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (26)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 70
    trust 78Sep 30, 2023

    Ad Infinitum can easily give you a sense of discomfort and suspense, even if you're far removed from the genre as a whole.

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 78Sep 27, 2023

    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.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 76Sep 28, 2023

    I have to say, Ad Infinitum really surprised me. A horror game set in the trenches of World War I is something incredibly intriguing. It reminded me of an old classic called NecroVision. What scared me the most in the game were my own footsteps and the wind howling through the trenches. Sometimes I’d hum along to the record player to help me push through Paul’s nightmares. A few of the great jump scares nearly gave me a heart attack. I definitely recommend this original game to you.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 73Aug 27, 2025

    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.

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 69Sep 14, 2023

    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.

    read full review ↗
  • 82
    trust 68Oct 29, 2023

    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.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 66Sep 25, 2023

    Ad Infinitum is notable for being a psychological horror set against a backdrop of World War I. If you can forgive the derivative gameplay, the game does its job well.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 65Oct 13, 2023

    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.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 65Sep 12, 2023

    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.

    read full review ↗
  • 65
    trust 65Sep 12, 2023

    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.

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    trust 64Sep 25, 2023

    I find it really unfortunate. On its own, Ad Infinitum is not a bad game, but for me it simply falls short when it comes to its horror elements. On top of that, the gameplay can feel somewhat too shallow at times. In contrast, the story and its moral exploration of the horrors of war are genuinely well done. It is clear that the developers at Hekate put a lot of effort into this aspect. However, because of that, I can unfortunately only recommend the game to players who are specifically interested in experiencing its themes and narrative. If you are expecting a genuinely frightening and mechanically engaging horror experience, Ad Infinitum sadly leaves a lot to be desired.

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 62Sep 12, 2023

    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.

    read full review ↗

…and 14 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. Patch Note | v1.0.5.270558
    Oct 26, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  2. Patch Note | v1.0.4.270196
    Oct 10, 2023significant · resets scoring window