(Image credit: Rebellion)
In **Atomfall**, you’ll quickly learn what kind of game it is within the first few minutes. Awakening with no memory, you’re greeted by an injured scientist who offers you a keycard to exit the bunker in exchange for a bandage. The choice is yours: do you craft the bandage and hand it over, take it by force, or make the trade and betray him afterward? Choice lies at the core of **Atomfall**.
As you step out of the bunker, leaving a grateful or deceased scientist behind, you find yourself in an alternate-reality version of 1960s rural England. The infamous 1957 Windscale nuclear accident went terribly awry here, leading to a quarantine zone teeming with stories waiting to be uncovered. With no directions or waypoints, the world is yours to explore at your own pace.
Available on PC, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series, **Atomfall** is developed by **Rebellion**. The experience can be intense, but with a variety of accessibility settings, you control how brutal it gets. The game encourages exploration and adaptability, offering modifiers for resource availability, combat difficulty, and more here.
Quests in **Atomfall** aren’t linear; they emerge organically. A mysterious note, a strange NPC, or an odd object might lead you to discoveries. Without a straightforward quest chain, you might find yourself uncovering hidden narratives in unconventional ways. Sometimes, the beauty of a game lies in how it doesn’t feel like a game, and **Atomfall** achieves that balance wonderfully.
In this world, curiosity doesn’t just drive exploration; it fuels the very essence of the game. While some areas might seem desolate, they’re always near something intriguing. The presence of **ferals** is sparse, ensuring their encounters remain significant and suspenseful. This restrained use of enemies is a testament to the game’s design philosophy.
Despite initial perceptions, **Atomfall** isn’t merely a **British Fallout**. Absent are XP and a traditional skill tree. Instead, skills require exploration to find Training Stimulants. This emphasis on discovery rather than grinding sets it apart from other games.
Humor finds its place subtly within the narrative. The developers have cleverly sprinkled amusing elements, offering moments of levity amidst tension. Whether it’s a witty sign or quirky dialogue, the world feels alive and inviting to explore.
**Atomfall** replaces currency with a barter system, reflecting its isolated setting. Traders value goods differently based on their location and profession, offering a dynamic economic experience akin to the real world.
Your playthrough will be unique, with the freedom to make impactful choices shaping diverse outcomes over multiple endings. A 15-hour journey might lead you to one ending, but there are six in total, encouraging further exploration to discover all paths.
As your heart races with exploration, managing your physical exertion becomes essential. Although this might occasionally hinder your swift travel, it never detracts from the enjoyment.
Though marketed with ‘survival’ elements, **Atomfall** prioritizes exploration over survival mechanics. You won’t find hunger meters or breakable weapons here; instead, you have a world full of unexpected discoveries and stories waiting to unfold. Experience it on PS5 with a provided code from the publisher.
In the words of the developers, **Atomfall** is like ‘X-Files in the Cold War Lake District.’