ATOM RPG: Post-apocalyptic indie game

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,090 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
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,090 reviews
story318 positive mentions
grinding107 negative mentions
  • Reminiscent of classic Fallout 1 and 2, capturing the same atmosphere and gameplay mechanics.
  • Engaging story with interesting quests and well-developed characters, providing a unique post-apocalyptic experience.
  • Offers a lot of freedom in character customization and decision-making, allowing for various playstyles.
  • Combat can be unbalanced and frustrating, with difficulty spikes that may require excessive save-scumming.
  • The English translation is often awkward, with grammatical errors and cultural references that may not resonate with all players.
  • Inventory management and UI can be clunky, making it tedious to navigate and manage items.
  • story1,182 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 such as a lack of clear guidance, confusing quest structures, and a main storyline that can feel underdeveloped or overshadowed by the numerous side quests. Overall, while the game captures the essence of classic RPG storytelling, it struggles with pacing and clarity, particularly for new players.

    • “The story is engaging and well-written, with a lot of attention paid to the game's lore and world-building.”
    • “The story takes a fairly interesting turn once you realize what's going on.”
    • “The writing and quest are great and entertaining.”
    • “The lack of guidance and poor journal made me abandon the game; the journal and maps do not identify which NPC you need to talk to. You will get to a point where you have like 10 quests active at the same time, and you don't know what is a side quest or part of the main storyline because there is no identification.”
    • “The story is a bit short but worth it for the price.”
    • “The main story just exists as a prerequisite to a land of chaos and anarchy without actually being the central theme of the game.”
  • gameplay468 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 variety of quests. While many players appreciate the nostalgic mechanics and the depth of character builds, others criticize the game for its lack of innovation, unbalanced difficulty, and tedious inventory management. Overall, the experience is a mix of engaging storytelling and frustrating gameplay elements, with a steep learning curve that may deter some players.

    • “Gameplay is classic Fallout, so what's not to love about that?”
    • “The gameplay is pretty solid; I've had no crashes or any problems, new areas load quickly and I don't feel impatient.”
    • “This game is the closest you can get to that original Fallout feel of gameplay and RPG elements.”
    • “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 generally involves talking to people who tell you to go to a location. You go there, and enter a speech check, which you will fail (and there I was thinking a speech skill of 100 would have any gameplay impact).”
    • “The gameplay is bland, with no cover mechanics to speak of.”
  • graphics239 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the nostalgic retro aesthetics reminiscent of the original Fallout series, while others criticize the visuals as outdated or lacking in detail. Overall, the graphics are generally considered competent for an indie title, with some players appreciating the modern upgrades and the unique Soviet-inspired art style, though there are complaints about technical issues and a lack of polish in certain areas.

    • “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 fairly good but not too memory hungry.”
    • “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.”
    • “The graphics: I don't much care for graphics 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.”
    • “For a game that was released in 2018, the graphics and coloristics are tragic; it really felt better to play damn Fallout 1/2 than this.”
  • humor160 mentions

    The humor in the game is a blend of dark, quirky, and culturally specific jokes, often drawing on Soviet-era references and absurdity that may resonate more with players familiar with Eastern European culture. While many players appreciate the clever writing and humorous dialogue, some find the humor inconsistent or reliant on niche references that may not translate well for all audiences. Overall, the game successfully incorporates a variety of comedic elements, making it a notable experience for fans of post-apocalyptic RPGs.

    • “The world building is solid, the humor is very on point, there's tons of subtle little references to other video games and media.”
    • “Packed with bizarre and interesting characters, wonderful environments, engaging gameplay, and hilarious, evil, and refreshing writing.”
    • “The writing is excellent with a lot of funny jokes and references.”
    • “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 and usually filled with unfunny memes and grammatical errors that don't fit the world at all.”
  • atmosphere124 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, effectively capturing the essence of a post-apocalyptic world with a distinct Soviet aesthetic. Many players appreciate the detailed environments, atmospheric music, and well-crafted narratives that evoke nostalgia for classic titles like Fallout and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. However, some critiques highlight inconsistencies in graphics and gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall experience, suggesting that while the atmosphere is strong, it is not without its flaws.

    • “The game's environments are beautifully rendered, and the sound effects and music add to the game's immersive atmosphere.”
    • “This game is truly one of the greats, as you bask in its glorious Soviet beauty, take in a wonderfully crafted and atmospheric world with a blend of Fallout, Metro, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.”
    • “The atmosphere is amazing, the stories are amazing, the more I play it the more I love it.”
    • “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.”
    • “As much as this game tries to be a positive emulation of those Stalker and early Fallout titles, it just lacks the atmosphere and decent writing they had.”
    • “I tried very hard to get into this game, but I just couldn't get past the lackluster story, the dull characters, the imbalances in the gameplay, and the poor atmosphere.”
  • grinding110 mentions

    The reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a significant and often tedious aspect, with many players expressing frustration over the repetitive nature of leveling up and completing quests. While some find enjoyment in the grind, particularly in the early stages, the overall sentiment leans towards it being excessively time-consuming and detracting from the overall experience, especially for casual gamers. The slow pacing, cumbersome inventory management, and lack of engaging content during grinding sessions contribute to a sense of monotony that many players find off-putting.

    • “The open world is not huge and there is a lot of walking back and forth, but it's not tedious.”
    • “The story is short but unique, with most of your time spent grinding levels and locating the objective.”
    • “Overall, the game starts out fun but just grows more tedious the longer you play.”
    • “And everything about this game is made so mindbogglingly slow, that grinding becomes an absolute nightmare, since the only way I could find to do it was run around the map in search for encounters, and the speed at which you move across the map is ridiculously slow.”
  • music87 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its atmospheric qualities and nostalgic ties to the Fallout series, while others criticize it for being bland and forgettable. Many noted that the soundtrack enhances the immersive experience, but some felt it lacked variety and depth, often resorting to ambient sounds that didn't fully engage them. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, it falls short of the memorable scores found in its inspirations.

    • “The game's environments are beautifully rendered, and the sound effects and music add to the game's immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The music is very atmospheric and works very well to set the mood for the different areas of the game.”
    • “The excellent music, and the style of the art makes for a more cathartic experience, as you wander around a desolate post-apocalyptic Soviet landscape.”
    • “I think the audio/music selection could be more extensive.”
    • “The soundtrack is nearly non-existent and does not make much of an impression.”
    • “The music is entirely forgettable.”
  • replayability36 mentions

    Overall, the game offers significant replayability due to its diverse character customization, multiple quest solutions, and impactful choices that alter gameplay experiences. While some players note limitations in combat depth and a few aspects that could enhance replay value, many appreciate the variety of builds and interactions that encourage multiple playthroughs. The inclusion of modding support further enhances its replay potential, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of RPGs.

    • “There are interesting ways to approach tackling certain obstacles which makes different builds viable and gives it replay value.”
    • “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.”
    • “This game has a cracked story with plenty of replayability & depth.”
    • “The game is good, basically just another Fallout, but especially the bad combat limits its replayability.”
    • “Depending on your character, it will be enjoyable or a hardship to pass said expeditions, which leaves room for replayability of the game.”
    • “And unlike the Fallouts, the lack of a respec is near-fatal in itself, because the replay value of the game is near zero.”
  • stability28 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting frequent crashes and bugs, particularly when tabbing away from the game. While many have noted improvements post-launch and a generally stable experience, others still encounter minor glitches and technical issues that detract from gameplay. Overall, the game shows signs of being in early access, with ongoing updates needed for further polish and stability.

    • “After initial bugs, this game is now mostly, if not completely, bug-free.”
    • “The game is also really stable with no freezes or crashes; some hiccups with inventory but nothing fatal.”
    • “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.”
    • “I freezes (forcing a close and restart of the game) on such a regular basis that it is almost not worth playing.”
  • optimization20 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its solid performance and good graphics, particularly on higher-end systems, while others report issues such as unpredictable performance, occasional freezes, and an incomplete user interface. Overall, while some users experience smooth gameplay with high settings, others encounter significant optimization problems that detract from the experience.

    • “The game itself can be a bit unforgiving but it's not too hard to figure out and there's plenty of good advice about how to make a good or optimized character build that are worth reading if you're uncomfortable with the sheer amount of options available to you.”
    • “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.”
    • “The optimization settings leave something to be desired; windowed mode was no different than fullscreen.”
    • “Horrible performance optimization.”
    • “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 development16 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the depth and freedom it offers through skill trees and meaningful choices, while others criticize it for being slow and unbalanced, leading to limited viable builds. Many highlight the engaging NPC stories and dialogues, but some express disappointment in the lack of flexibility and the grind associated with leveling up. Overall, the character development aspect is seen as a key feature, though its execution varies significantly among players.

    • “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.”
    • “A much bigger factor is the lack of flexibility in character development.”
  • emotional9 mentions

    Players express mixed emotions about the game, with some feeling a strong emotional attachment despite finding the story and dialogues boring. While the game evokes nostalgia and warmth through its authenticity and heartfelt mechanics, others criticize its outdated graphics and lackluster narrative, leading to a divided emotional response. Overall, the emotional impact varies significantly among players, with some appreciating the developers' passion while others feel disconnected.

    • “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.”
    • “The scenery, the dialogues, the authenticity of it all is really heartwarming.”
    • “Boring story.”
    • “Besides that - boring story, boring dialogues, graphics from the early 2000s.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as potentially exploitative, resembling a cash grab by developers capitalizing on nostalgia for 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

27hMedian play time
38hAverage play time
12-60hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 51 analyzed playthroughs

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