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Doctor Who and The Quartermass Experiment aren’t the average video game inspirations. That’s fitting. Atomfall isn’t the average video game. Set in an alternate ’50s Nothern England following a nuclear disaster, Rebellion‘s new action game makes the most of its unusual foundation. The team behind Sniper Elite knows a thing or two about creative chaos. After getting some hands-on time with Atomfall, I’m impressed not only with its creativity but also how good the whole thing feels. I don’t even miss the X-ray kill cams. If you’re looking for a breath of fresh (somewhat radioactive) air, Atomfall might be it.
Bots and Bandits in the English Countryside
British speculative fiction is a driving force behind Atomfall. The game draws from both folk horror and Cold War history for its baddies. That means you’ll face everything from axe-wielding druids to stomping B.A.R.D. mechs. You aren’t an unkillable supersoldier, either. A sickle, minigun, and radiation can all spell death. Armed with everything from a cricket bat and shotgun to a bolt-action and bow, your approach is up to you. Stealth is wise, but unlockable skills can shape your playstyle however you like. There’s a wide countryside to loot and explore if you’re careful.
All that time Rebellion spent crafting deadly sandboxes for Sniper Elite? It serves Atomfall well. The map is a dense hodgepodge of POIs, and faction variety does a lot to keep you on your toes. Bow-wielding forest cultists? Cold War soldiers? Robots? Weird blue mushroom zombie things? You crest a ridge and find a towering wicker effigy straight from The Wicker Man. You plumb the depths of a military bunker and find an ominous note abandoned in a dusty control room. I have way more questions than answers, and I love it.
Crafting Action From Wicker and Blood in Atomfall
It’s too early to say how much depth Atomfall holds, but everything about its opening makes me eager to play more. Strong sound design and fun voice acting add a lot to the already lively environments. Ambushing bandits on the road, looting them for bullets and bandage cotton, then crafting some supplies before the next encounter? It all builds a comfortable rhythm of exploration, combat, and preparation for the next battle. Collecting new materials and recipes is particularly important to stay well-supplied.
Thankfully, Atomfall‘s crafting system is sleek instead of annoying. That’s in part because you’ll be picking resources off your kills most of the time. “Resource-gathering” here means shooting people, not farming copper. Rebellion lets the story, mechanics, and environments feed into one another, and the whole game benefits. There are parts I want to compare to Fallout and Dishonored, to Far Cry and Sniper Elite: Resistance. The truth, of course, is Atomfall will be its own beast.
Sniping the Action Genre
We haven’t even talked about using a metal detector to find treasure. Or how the game is inspired by the real-world Windscale nuclear disaster. Or how it’s an action game with scarce ammo, forcing you to make the most of melee weapons and guns alike. Rebellion has taken some interesting gambles with Atomfall, but it looks like several might pay out big. You can put on a gas mask and pick up a bow when Atomfall releases for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on Mar 27, 2025. The game will later release on PS4 and PS5.
