After destroying a research center on Earth following a failed experiment, a young scientist named Trace wakes up in a strange biomechanical world called Sudra. Within this nightmarish realm live surreal mixes of corrupted lifeforms and towering technological structures, left there by an incredibly advanced alien race long ago.

Sudra has since time immemorial been abandoned by any trace of coherent and peaceful civilization. The Rusalki, a race of enormous sentient machines that reside beneath the planet's surface, protect it from malicious invaders. Trace quickly learns that the Rusalki scholars are withering away and that their fate is intertwined with the fate of the entire universe.

Alone, you travel through a vast interconnected world using your weapons to piece together the puzzle of the mysterious history of the planet using the clues scattered throughout the four corners of this isolated world.

Axiom Verge is heavily inspired by the exploration aspect that characterizes classic adventure games of the 16-bit era. At the start of your journey, large areas of the map will be inaccessible, but by finding new items you will be able to dig through rock, propel yourself over chasms and even teleport through walls, which which will give you access to new possibilities.