Join me on a violent jaunt through the English countryside—a 90-minute immersion in Atomfall, the new survival-action game from Rebellion, creators of Sniper Elite. I recently spent some time in a North London pub, enjoying a pint and a hands-on demo, and came away intrigued by Atomfall’s open-ended missions and unsettling atmosphere. I might also have temporarily lost my sanity and attacked everyone in sight, including a probably innocent elderly woman, with a cricket bat. Let me explain.
Every NPC in Atomfall is killable, from the lowliest grunt to the most important quest-giver. Starting the demo, I decided to test this very feature. My approach was, let's say, less than graceful. Within two minutes of exploring this digital Cumbria, I triggered a tripwire, forcing me to eliminate three guards. My weapon of choice? A cricket bat, christened with a liberal splash of digital claret.
Later, I looted a bow and arrow, quickly switching to ranged combat and giving my trusty bat a rest. Nearby, a towering wicker man awaited its fiery fate—a sight I cautiously avoided. Such details hint at the folk horror undertones that permeate this region of *Atomfall’s* segmented world, composed of multiple "open zones." The atmosphere is convincingly uneasy, fueling the central mystery: what happened in this sleepy, now irradiated corner of England?My contemplation was interrupted by a group of druids, likely connected to the wicker man. They became impromptu archery targets. One. Two. Three. They fell. My inner Robin Hood briefly emerged before I snapped back to reality—a London pub, no drinks yet, and it’s only 10 AM.
The bow felt satisfying, but I was more interested in Atomfall’s unique stamina system. Instead of a traditional depleting bar, there’s a heart rate monitor that increases with strenuous activity. Sprinting raises your heart rate, impacting aiming accuracy. Later, I found a Bow Mastery skill that negates this effect. While not the most exciting perk, the skill tree seemed flexible enough to tailor your character to your preferred playstyle, whether stealth or gunplay.
Atomfall screenshots
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My only accomplishment being a pile of dead druids, my overall goal was unclear—initially, even to myself. Aimless exploration of Casterfall Woods yielded little, so I followed a quest lead: a note directing me to a herbalist, Mother Jago, near an old mine. Along the way, I noticed hints of the larger story—a shimmering, oily swirl over a power plant, the apparent cause of Britain's post-apocalyptic state. A nearby phone box rang with a creepy warning to stay out of the woods. Too late.
The path was filled with unsettling details: an old boathouse with a rigged alarm and the words "get lost" painted on it, next to a pile of skulls. Atomfall cultivates an uneasy atmosphere, with tranquil forests giving way to terrifying zones. While Fallout comparisons are common, Stalker feels a more apt comparison, in tone and design.
Following another druid massacre (and looting their garden center for herbs), I met Mother Jago at her allotment. Resembling a magically-inclined Angela Lansbury, she offered vague answers, reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures where thorough dialogue exploration is key. Eventually, a quest emerged: she offered information in exchange for her stolen herbalism book, held hostage by the druids. With a new lead, I attacked the castle from the side.
Encountering a druid patrol near an abandoned petrol station, the Battle of the Forecourt ensued. The enemy AI wasn't highly reactive, but the satisfying carnage alerted archers. I neutralized them, then used my bat for more head-smashing. The combat is fun, but not top-tier; enemy encounters feel more like a sideshow to exploration.
Inside the castle's outer walls, I found a locked hut with map coordinates suggesting the keys were far away. *Atomfall* lacks objective markers, requiring players to mark points of interest themselves. Was the book in the hut? Did I need the key? My hunch said no, so I entered the main keep.More druids to club, but no book. After a ten-minute search, I found nothing but crafting materials. This obtuse mission design can be frustrating, but I appreciated Rebellion’s commitment to a challenging, explorative experience.
I appreciated Rebellion’s commitment to a challenging, explorative experience.Following the map coordinates, I found a poison plant monster that quickly killed me. Reloading, I bypassed it, collecting the keys from a victim. Back at the hut, I found a perk point and ammo—but no book.
Exploring the castle's depths, I killed the High Priestess and her lackeys, finding an SMG, a poison bomb recipe, and an atomic battery—starting a new questline I lacked time to explore. Still no book.
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My demo ended. The book was in the castle, on a table I’d passed multiple times. Before realizing this, I believed the book was a ruse. Killing Mother Jago, I searched her body, finding a recipe to combat the poison swamp monster. We could have saved time.
Atomfall’s runtime is substantial; developers estimate 4-5 hours minimum, with most players taking around 25 hours. Gameplay varies greatly; another player at the demo had a completely different adventure, encountering a crashed helicopter and killer robots. Atomfall offers depth and mystery.
Atomfall rewards players who embrace its obfuscated quest design.The lack of direction might be off-putting, but Atomfall rewards engagement with its unclear design. The blurred lines between main and side objectives add peril, encouraging unique player narratives and endings. My ending, despite killing Mother Jago, will likely differ from yours.
My time ended. My hands bloodied, I’ll head to the pub, cricket bat in hand, to let things settle.
