ATOM RPG: Post-apocalyptic indie game

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,355 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
ATOM RPG: Post-apocalyptic indie game Game Cover
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"ATOM RPG" is a post-apocalyptic indie game inspired by classic CRPGs, such as Fallout and Wasteland. As a survivor of a nuclear Holocaust, explore the Soviet Wasteland, complete missions, and investigate a shadowy conspiracy. Customize your character with a powerful creation tool, engage in a balanced roleplaying system, and utilize dozens of skills for many hours of gameplay.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,355 reviews
story344 positive mentions
grinding117 negative mentions
  • Captures the spirit of classic Fallout games with deep role-playing mechanics and a rich narrative.
  • Offers a vast, atmospheric world filled with engaging characters and quests.
  • Turn-based combat is satisfying, and the choices made throughout the game have meaningful consequences.
  • Combat can be unbalanced, especially in the early game, leading to frustrating encounters.
  • The English translation is often rough, with awkward dialogue and grammatical errors.
  • Inventory management is tedious, and the UI can feel clunky and outdated.
  • story1,302 mentions

    The story in "Atom RPG" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative and the depth of its side quests, which often feature unique characters and moral dilemmas. However, some critiques highlight issues with dialogue quality, quest clarity, and pacing, particularly in the main storyline, which some find lacking compared to the rich side content. Overall, while the game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic RPGs like Fallout, it also faces challenges in execution, particularly regarding quest design and translation quality.

    • “The story is engaging enough to keep you interested in it, and the side content is just as interesting and plentiful as well.”
    • “The story and characters are enjoyable.”
    • “The story is great - the world you interact with feels immersive and alive.”
    • “You just run around and talk to everyone you meet and occasionally get a mission or two, but I haven't experienced a game that has failed so miserably in the dialogues.”
    • “The main story is also kind of short, and the game could seriously do with more explorable areas.”
    • “The story of Atom, as far as the main quest goes, is not very interesting but instead rather bland and uninspired.”
  • gameplay521 mentions

    The gameplay of Atom RPG is heavily inspired by classic titles like Fallout 1 and 2, featuring turn-based combat, character customization, and a rich narrative set in a post-apocalyptic world. While many players appreciate the nostalgic mechanics and depth of content, criticisms arise regarding balance issues, clunky interfaces, and a lack of innovation, leading to a mixed reception overall. The game offers a challenging experience with survival elements, but some mechanics can feel outdated or frustrating, particularly for those unfamiliar with the genre.

    • “Still, the game’s rich lore, gripping quests, and tactical gameplay make it a standout title.”
    • “It has familiar and captivating gameplay, an original setting, and many various quests and places to explore that will keep you busy for at least a couple of weeks.”
    • “The gameplay is tight and combat feels fair, the graphics are crisp, the writing and tone is spot on.”
    • “The game is decent but the dragging conversations and the scarce loot and points above all bring gameplay to a point of boring.”
    • “The way the game is designed, I often had to resort to save-scumming or cheesing the hell out of game mechanics in order to progress.”
    • “The gameplay is bland, with no cover mechanics to speak of.”
  • graphics278 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are generally decent and reminiscent of the classic Fallout series, they can also feel outdated or bland compared to modern standards. Some appreciate the nostalgic Soviet aesthetic and the game's ability to capture the atmosphere of post-apocalyptic settings, while others criticize the art style as lacking depth and character. Overall, the graphics are considered adequate for an indie title, but they may not impress those seeking cutting-edge visuals.

    • “The graphics are superb, once you consider this was made by a small indie team.”
    • “It captures the feel of Fallout 1 and 2 in a retrospect that is uncanny and with high detailed graphics and open world; this is a Russian version of the Wasteland series.”
    • “Graphics are sharp but perhaps a little generic at times, sound effects are quiet and not particularly impactful, and the dialogue and writing needs a lot of proofreading and QA, but this is still in its first week of early access so we should bear that in mind.”
    • “The graphics are so old, its characters are kind of bugged and the controls are so impractical.”
    • “The visuals are flat and unappealing.”
    • “The graphics are very clean and detailed, but the game is a mix of great graphical detail and horrible mashup textures that look like they belong in a game from 30 years ago.”
  • humor173 mentions

    The humor in the game is a blend of dark, quirky, and culturally specific jokes, often drawing comparisons to the Fallout series. Players appreciate the well-crafted dialogue and the presence of bizarre characters, though some humor may be lost on those unfamiliar with Russian culture. While the writing can be hit or miss, many find the humor engaging and integral to the game's charm, with a mix of absurdity and clever references that enhance the overall experience.

    • “Packed with bizarre and interesting characters, wonderful environments, engaging gameplay, and hilarious, evil, and refreshing writing.”
    • “The world building is solid, the humor is very on point, there's tons of subtle little references to other video games and media.”
    • “The quests often take deranged turns (in the most positive way) with hilarious dark humor and winks to other cult games.”
    • “There's way more of that here than in Fallout 2. It feels like every second merchant or service worker is running some blatant scheme that references real-life things like cryptocurrency. While Otradnoye, the first village, is chill, it feels like the other bigger settlement, Krasnoznameny, is just crawling with village idiots and unfunny comedians.”
    • “The much bigger issue (for me, at least) is Atom’s tendency to attempt what I’ll charitably call witty dialogue, which is pretty universally not funny, and also the incredibly awkward references to pop culture and other RPGs.”
    • “The writing is awful and disjointed, usually filled with unfunny memes and grammatical errors that don't fit the world at all.”
  • atmosphere142 mentions

    The atmosphere of Atom RPG is widely praised for its immersive post-apocalyptic setting, reminiscent of classic titles like Fallout, with a distinct Soviet aesthetic. Players appreciate the richly detailed environments, atmospheric music, and engaging narratives that contribute to a sense of desolation and survival. However, some critiques highlight technical issues and a lack of depth in certain areas, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “I loved the atmosphere of the game, amazing environments, ambient music, and enemies.”
    • “The game's environments are beautifully rendered, and the sound effects and music add to the game's immersive atmosphere.”
    • “Set in a post-apocalyptic Soviet wasteland, it perfectly captures the spirit of Fallout with deep role-playing mechanics, a rich narrative, and a vast, atmospheric world.”
    • “The worst are the terrible engine (bad graphics + high energy consumption == bad coding skills), the crappy camera (no freedom), lousy map and UI, and the almost non-existent world atmosphere.”
    • “Sadly the writing in this is so subpar that it hinders any atmosphere and RPG activities that the, admittedly, well thought out world provides.”
    • “There's absolutely no wow factor here, everything is just plain boring: atmosphere, scenery, loot, enemies, NPCs, quests, whatever.”
  • grinding120 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to engage in repetitive tasks such as dialogue cycling, inventory management, and random encounters to progress. Many reviewers noted that the lack of clear direction and the slow pace of movement contribute to a frustrating experience, particularly in the early game where players feel forced to grind for levels and gear. While some players found enjoyment in the grind, the overall sentiment leans towards it being a significant drawback that detracts from the game's potential fun.

    • “The open world is not huge and there is a lot of walking back and forth, but it's not tedious.”
    • “Most people would probably like to have their character use a gun in a world like this, but you’ll spend the first few hours punching insects and desperately grinding for gear regardless of how you built, because you get robbed at the start of the game.”
    • “Overall, the game starts out fun but just grows more tedious the longer you play.”
    • “Deliberate forced grinding from the moment the actual game starts, because your character is 'robbed' of everything, and the things you need just aren't around, so you have to waste time searching everything with little or no reward.”
  • music97 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance the immersive experience, while others find it forgettable or lacking in variety. Many reviewers note that the soundtrack does not compare favorably to classic titles like Fallout, often feeling sparse or repetitive. Overall, while some tracks are praised for their mood-setting capabilities, the consensus suggests that the music could benefit from greater depth and memorability.

    • “The music is very atmospheric and works very well to set the mood for the different areas of the game.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is great, the world is full of little tidbits of story and flavor, and the music is great.”
    • “The soundtrack sets the environment very nicely; it's beautiful, depressing, unnerving yet serene (like how post-apocalypse fiction should be).”
    • “The music is entirely forgettable.”
    • “The soundtrack is nearly non-existent and does not make much of an impression.”
    • “Without voice overs and the music so basic and low, it was hard to get immersed in the game's world.”
  • replayability41 mentions

    Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its diverse quests, character customization, and multiple solutions to challenges, allowing players to explore various builds and story paths. While some reviews note limitations in combat depth and certain narrative constraints, the abundance of choices and modding support enhances the replay value significantly. Players can expect a unique experience with each playthrough, making it a worthwhile investment for fans of RPGs.

    • “This game has a cracked story with plenty of replayability and depth.”
    • “There are a lot of choices that affect almost every main and side quest, and most have significant impacts on how the game plays out, so there is a lot of replay value.”
    • “There are many different paths you can take, which makes the game very replayable.”
    • “The game is good, basically just another Fallout, but especially the bad combat limits its replayability.”
    • “And unlike the Fallouts, the lack of a respec is near-fatal in itself, because the replay value of the game is near zero.”
    • “So in my opinion, the game does not really have any replay value in it.”
  • stability30 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players noting significant improvements and a mostly bug-free experience after initial patches, while others report frequent crashes and minor glitches. Many users appreciate the game's performance on platforms like the Steam Deck, but some still encounter frustrating technical issues, particularly with freezing and crashes. While it is generally considered less buggy than other titles in the genre, there are still calls for further polish and stability enhancements.

    • “The game also runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “After initial bugs, this game is now mostly, if not completely, bug-free.”
    • “The gameplay so far is very good with no glitches or issues.”
    • “This game freezes when you tab away from it.”
    • “Buggy crashes all the time and no Steam support to fix graphics issues... waste of money.”
    • “The game is a buggy horrid mess.”
  • optimization24 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its solid performance and good graphics, particularly on high settings, while others report issues such as inconsistent performance, UI shortcomings, and occasional freezing. Overall, while many find it well-optimized for an indie title, there are notable concerns regarding performance stability and certain gameplay mechanics that detract from the experience.

    • “The game is very well optimized.”
    • “Very well optimized, all settings on 'max' and solid 60 fps at all times.”
    • “The game is decently polished for a small indie team, well-optimized and no crash whatsoever.”
    • “If you liked the original Fallout or Wasteland, you may like this, but nostalgia isn't worth putting up with poor optimization and nuisances we solved collectively as a species.”
    • “The optimization settings leave something to be desired; windowed mode was no different than fullscreen.”
    • “From questionable performance to an incomplete UI (no mouse-wheel support; having to separate stacks by clicking once for each desired unit - even with stacks of 100 or 200 units; no mouse-over tooltips...).”
  • character development17 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the depth and variety of skill trees and character creation, while others criticize the slow progression and lack of meaningful upgrades. Many reviews highlight the unbalanced nature of character builds, leading to limited viable options, and some express frustration with the grind and underwhelming combat system. Overall, while there are elements of strong character narratives and design, the execution often leaves players feeling restricted and dissatisfied.

    • “Good NPC stories, good character development with the skill tree.”
    • “Cool game, great character development, worth my bucks.”
    • “It feels more dynamic, gives the player way more freedom in regards to character development and the quests have more depth.”
    • “Unbalanced character development leading to only one kind of build being viable.”
    • “The quests are not fun, the character development is very underwhelming and after 4 hours of playing I'm still stuck with a knife as there are no places to find any decent upgrades in both armor or weaponry.”
    • “Character creation is perfect, but something is lacking in the character development department, in my opinion.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    Players express a mix of emotional engagement and frustration with the game, highlighting a strong attachment despite its perceived shortcomings, such as a boring story and outdated graphics. The unique portrayal of a post-apocalyptic Soviet setting resonates deeply, evoking feelings of nostalgia and empathy, while the developers' passion for the game adds a heartwarming touch to the overall experience.

    • “It made me feel the same way I felt playing Fallout for the first time.”
    • “I'll put my frustrations here because I have an emotional attachment to the game.”
    • “I always felt the developers share the same level of love towards the games as I do, and it is heartwarming.”
    • “Boring story.”
    • “Besides that, it's a boring story with boring dialogues and graphics from the early 2000s.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as potentially exploitative, with some reviewers suggesting it resembles a cash grab by the developers, despite its nostalgic ties to the classic Fallout series.

    • “When a game is a slightly different take on an established idea, it can easily be a cash grab by a development group.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

33hMedian play time
39hAverage play time
12-60hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 53 analyzed playthroughs

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