(Image credit: Rebellion)
The initial moments in Atomfall set the stage for a truly distinctive experience. You awaken with no recollection of your identity or location, only to be faced with a wounded scientist who offers a keycard for The Interchange in exchange for a bandage. Will you craft a bandage from nearby materials to complete the trade for the keycard? Perhaps you might decide to kill him and seize the keycard instead. The choice is entirely yours. The essence of Atomfall lies in this freedom of choice.
Upon leaving the bunker, leaving behind a grateful or deceased scientist, you’re met with a world void of direction. No instructions flash on the screen, nor do waypoints guide your journey. This is an alternate 1960s rural England shaped by the catastrophic 1957 Windscale nuclear accident, transforming the event into something far more severe, resulting in a quarantine. Discovering what happened requires exploration, beginning with selecting a path and moving forward.
Developer: In-house
Publisher: Rebellion
Release Date: March 27
Available On: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One
While Atomfall is noted for being intense and offering little guidance, it provides robust accessibility settings to customize your experience. Whether adjusting for resource abundance, combat difficulty, or navigation complexity, you can mold the settings to your preference. Personally, I prefer having waypoints to quest objectives—even with this aid, embarking on quests involves significant effort.
Atomfall defies traditional quest structures. Instead of following a linear path, you might find leads from quirky characters or unassuming objects, such as a funny mustached NPC or a note on a tree. Subsequently, your curiosity may lead you into unforeseen adventures, becoming a core driver for progress. The interconnected maps contribute to the ‘less is more’ approach, with meaningful encounters with rare mutated ‘ferals’ occurring sparingly within dark locations.
Contrary to comparisons with the Fallout series, Atomfall thrives in differentiating itself through unique mechanics like skill acquisition and absence of XP or linear skill trees. The Training Stimulants are skills to be discovered and utilized before mastery over them is achieved.
The village near your starting point is ripe for exploration and mischievous actions, such as when I slyly took all the toilet rolls from the pub as crafting materials. In one particularly tangled murder investigation quest, sparing the perpetrator led to further leads and rewards, illustrating the game’s penchant for creativity within its storytelling.
Atomfall operates on a bartering system, eschewing traditional currency, each item’s value varying by region and trader profession. The replayability factor becomes apparent within the best PC games realm as well, highlighted by multiple possible endings that prompt new playthroughs to discover previously uncharted paths.
The heart rate mechanic adds another layer of depth, necessitating careful management during physically demanding actions. Although occasionally cumbersome, it never detracts from the enjoyment.
While the description of Atomfall leans toward survival, it omits typical survival elements like hunger or thirst meters. This balance maintains the game’s immersive and investigative essence without tedious micromanagement, retaining the joy in discovery.
Ultimately, Atomfall distinguishes itself with a unique blend of exploration and freedom, making it a refreshing break from conventional gaming narratives.