The surface world is gone forever; the magical portal only goes one way. Your job is simply to survive in a dark world populated by giant lizards, hostile subterranean races (like the fierce Slithzerikai), and fellow exiles driven mad by the isolation. Eventually, survival turns into a quest for vengeance, giving you the chance to strike back at the Empire that imprisoned you.

Following the massive success of the iPad version, Android users begged Spiderweb Software for a port. The Google Play and Humble Bundle "Exclusive" Window

Instead of launching directly on the Google Play Store for the general public, Avernum for Android debuted as a flagship title in a . During this promotional window, the Android version was an exclusive reward for backers who paid above the average price. This strategy served multiple purposes:

The Dungeon in Your Pocket: Platform Exclusivity and Systemic Depth in a Hypothetical Avernum: Android Ascendancy

It would validate the millions of foldable phones, gaming tablets (like the Y700 or Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra), and even Android handhelds (Odin 2, Ayaneo Pocket S) that are starving for PC-quality RPGs.

As a pure, old-school RPG, the focus is on the gameplay experience, not in-app purchases or "energy" systems.

In November 2016, Spiderweb Software announced it would discontinue support for the Android platform entirely. Jeff Vogel's blunt blog post explained the situation:

Consequently, Avernum was pulled from the Google Play Store. Today, it is impossible to download or buy legally on modern Android devices. This turned the Android version into a piece of "lost media," fueling internet myths that it was a rare, exclusive version of the game that differed from the PC original.

If you are determined to play it on an Android tablet or handheld, you must dig into your old Humble Bundle library if you bought it in 2013.