Stepping out of the dark confines of a quarantine bunker and into the lush green fields of England’s Lake District in Atomfall was an unexpected moment. My first thought wasn’t of Fallout, as I had assumed—it was Elden Ring. While it doesn’t have the sheer scale of FromSoftware’s masterpiece, Atomfall takes a similar approach. It throws you into an unfamiliar world with little guidance, letting you explore, discover secrets, and make your own choices.
For about 15 hours, I was completely drawn into its world, solving mysteries, surviving dangerous encounters, and navigating moral dilemmas. There were definitely frustrating moments—especially when combat felt unfair—but the sheer atmosphere and open-ended storytelling kept me hooked.
A Story Inspired by Real-Life Events
Atomfall is set in an alternate version of history, based on the 1957 Windscale nuclear disaster. Five years after the accident, a massive quarantine zone has been set up, cutting off villages, woodlands, and farmland from the outside world. Within these isolated lands, survivors have formed factions, some trying to maintain order while others descend into chaos.
Atomfall will launch on March 27, 2025 and is now available to pre-order. Atomfall is coming day one to Game Pass, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows PC and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. Atomfall will also release on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.
The game’s approach to morality is refreshingly ambiguous. Instead of a black-and-white morality system, Atomfall forces you to make tough choices, often with no clear “right” answer. It reminded me more of Fallout: New Vegas than Fallout 4—alliances shift, betrayals happen, and the story adapts based on your actions. To make things even more unsettling, you frequently receive cryptic phone calls from an unknown voice, warning you to “trust no one.” These eerie moments kept me on edge, making every decision feel weighty and unpredictable.
Unraveling Mini-Mysteries
Beyond the main storyline, Atomfall is packed with smaller mysteries that add depth to its world. These aren’t just filler side quests—they feel like real investigations that immerse you in the game’s lore.
Early on, I found myself caught up in a murder case inside a village church. Later, I came across a locked attic in a bakery, leading to a chilling discovery. Some of these mysteries can be solved with clever dialogue, while others require a more aggressive approach. Each one adds layers to the story, making the world feel alive and full of secrets.
A Refreshing Approach to Exploration
One of the biggest things that sets Atomfall apart is how it handles exploration. Instead of constantly pointing you in the right direction with a cluttered HUD, the game encourages you to pay attention to your surroundings.
There are no obtrusive waypoints—just subtle clues like smoke rising from a distant farmhouse, vague map descriptions, and cryptic coordinates. This made me feel like a real explorer rather than someone just following an arrow on a screen. However, if you ever get completely stuck, there’s an option to enable more guidance, which I briefly used when one objective felt a little too obscure.
A Game Steeped in British Culture
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Atomfall is how unapologetically British it is. The game is filled with quirky NPCs, some sounding like characters from Fawlty Towers, and the crafting system lets you create poison bombs using pint glasses from a local pub. Even healing items reflect British culture—you can recover health by eating a Cornish pasty or calm your nerves with a warm cup of Earl Grey tea.
These small but delightful details help Atomfall stand out. While other post-apocalyptic games often lean into American wasteland aesthetics, this one fully embraces its English countryside setting.
British Sci-Fi and Folk Horror Influences
The game pulls a lot of inspiration from classic British science fiction and horror. You’ll come across monstrous plants reminiscent of The Day of the Triffids and towering wooden statues straight out of The Wicker Man. There are also more subtle nods—at one point, I could have sworn I saw a blue police box in the distance, only for it to disappear when I got closer.
Interestingly, the one thing missing from this British landscape is the weather. Despite being set in England, there’s no rain or fog—just permanent sunshine. It’s an odd choice but makes for a striking contrast when you transition from bright open fields into the dark, claustrophobic bunkers below.
Combat: A Mix of Tension and Frustration
Atomfall doesn’t let you feel like an unstoppable warrior. Instead, you play as an ordinary survivor. Guns feel clunky, melee combat is desperate, and running too much can cause your heart rate to spike, affecting your aim. This makes every fight feel tense.
Stealth is often the best approach. I relied heavily on a bow, which let me take down enemies silently without wasting ammo. However, when fights got loud, the game’s combat could feel unfair. Some enemies were brutal, killing me before I even had a chance to react. Other times, the AI was laughably bad—I could lure enemies into a choke point and pick them off one by one.
One thing I appreciated was that not every enemy immediately tries to kill you. Some will just yell at you to “sod off” if you stay out of their way, which adds a layer of realism. However, since there’s no fast travel, trekking across the map can get tedious—especially in the later half of the game when backtracking becomes more common.
Skills and Crafting
The skill tree in Atomfall is simple but effective. There are four main categories: ranged combat, melee combat, survival, and conditioning. I focused on stealth and archery, but melee-focused players can unlock abilities that make hand-to-hand combat more viable. While the system isn’t particularly deep, it’s flexible enough to let players build their character around their preferred playstyle.
Crafting is straightforward as well. You gather scrap metal, glass, and other resources to create weapons, bandages, and explosives. Thankfully, crafting can be done on the go, without the need for workbenches, which keeps things moving smoothly.
Multiple Endings and Replayability
The choices you make throughout Atomfall lead to one of several possible endings. I managed to keep multiple factions on my side for most of the game, but in the end, I had to make a choice that drastically changed the fate of my allies. With at least five different endings to uncover, I’m already tempted to replay and see how different decisions affect the outcome.
Final Verdict
Atomfall is a gripping survival-action game that blends the best elements of Fallout and Elden Ring while adding its own unique twist. The open-ended storytelling, rich atmosphere, and deep mysteries make it a fascinating experience. While combat can be frustrating and a fast travel option would have been nice, the game’s strengths easily outweigh its flaws.
If you’re looking for an immersive survival game that offers freedom, intrigue, and a distinctly British charm, Atomfall is definitely worth playing.
You can pre-order this game on PlayStation, Xbox and PC via Steam or Epic Games Store.
Don’t forget to checkout our PS5 Best Settings: 5 Features to Turn Off Now (And Why You Should), Will GTA 6’s Second Trailer Drop on April Fool’s Day? Fans Think So!, How to Choose the Perfect Gaming Monitor for Your Setup in 2025 for more fun gaming.
