Atomfall

About

Atomfall is a single player and multiplayer open world role playing shooter game with horror, post-apocalyptic, violence and science fiction themes. It was developed by Rebellion and was released on June 11, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Pre-order the Atomfall Deluxe Edition to receive: • The entire Atomfall game • 3 days Early Access • “Story Expansion Pack” – (*not available Day 1): • “Basic Supply Bundle” Pack • “Enhanced Supply Bundle” Pack

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79%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,313 reviews

story661 positive mentions

stability45 negative mentions

Unique British setting and atmosphere with detailed environments and immersive voice acting
Engaging investigative story with multiple endings and player-driven exploration
Good balance of combat, stealth, and resource management that rewards cautious play and planning

Clunky melee combat with lack of blocking or dodging and inconsistent enemy AI
Limited inventory space with no stacking that hinders looting and crafting
Enemy respawn and lack of fast travel make backtracking tedious and break immersion

story
1,939 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
62%
4%
Atomfall features a compelling and atmospheric story set in a post-WWII British quarantine zone, emphasizing exploration and investigation through a unique "leads" quest system without traditional quest markers. Players appreciate the rich environmental storytelling, multiple branching paths, and meaningful choices that impact outcomes, though the narrative is considered somewhat short, occasionally disjointed, and with endings that some found underwhelming or incomplete. While the story's delivery and setting receive praise for immersion and originality, critiques highlight limited character depth, pacing issues, and a lack of handholding that can make progression confusing for some players.
- “The graphics are beautiful, Rebellion's most fantastical game yet in that part, and the sound design is also very well crafted and plays into situations, perfectly complementing the deductive exploration. It's a game that allows and requires the player to think through the threads of information and notes they find, allowing them to surmise the story details themselves, and brings a very real feel to the characters, as often the truth lies in the detail in the world, and not always what characters and notes tell you, as you'll find many details contradict each other — allowing the player to think and form a conclusion themselves.”
- “Atomfall is built on discovery with story lines interweaving. The game rewards exploration, and by default turns off quest markers, to make you pay attention to the world around you. The story is engaging, with multiple endings and methods of going about the story allowing the player to experience the world in varying ways. The story and quest systems are where the game shines.”
- “The storytelling and level design might keep some players interested enough to make it through the main story, but the lack of depth in gameplay and role-playing makes it hard to imagine anyone wanting to spend their time playing Atomfall over any other successful title in the genre or doing more than one playthrough. However, it features an interesting British post-apocalyptic world, with a solid plot and engaging side quests.”
- “The story never feels fully focused, missions often lack meaningful payoff, and the choices rarely lead to satisfying outcomes.”
- “The cons: constantly running into locked doors and having to search out keys (often not in the area you are in) and then return - this game is very punishing to those who like to freely explore and not be constantly faced with dead ends, the chip damage players take from things like radiation or infection is incredibly annoying due to the constant noise and visuals it causes, creatures who melee you feel like their arms are 8 feet long - this made using melee weapons very unsatisfying, the endings are just meh - very much a fallout rip off in terms of style, with the use of grainy slides and a narrator voice - not to mention they do not explain any of the mysteries that are constantly built up in the game, disconnected plot points - character has no memory yet just seems to charge full speed trying to leave the quarantine… (wouldn’t trying to learn about their past be a bigger priority?), trading is just dull, mission guides through “hints” just did not work - sometimes it was fun to connect the dots but a lot of the time the player is just left aimlessly wandering in hopes of finding where they are supposed to go.”
- “The story is very utilitarian. Npc behaviour is ridiculously bad, so is quest design and quest mapping.”
gameplay
768 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
63%
11%
The gameplay of the game is generally described as solid and engaging, offering a unique blend of exploration, investigation, and survival mechanics with a focus on player choice and tactical freedom. However, combat and stealth mechanics are often criticized as clunky, simplistic, or frustrating, with poor AI and lack of depth, leading to a repetitive and sometimes tedious experience. While the crafting, weapon variety, and survival elements add to immersion, many find the gameplay loop shallow and lacking innovation, making the title best suited for players who prioritize story and atmosphere over complex or polished gameplay systems.
- “Gameplay wise it feels like there were a lot of good decisions made to have things like crafting, tools, items, as well as weapon and enemy variety all work well together and fit the length/scope of the game.”
- “Gameplay unfolds from a first-person perspective and balances combat, stealth, and survival mechanics with investigative freedom.”
- “The gameplay is on part with most other shooters, and ammo is scarce while enemies are abundant.”
- “The gameplay itself is extremely tedious as there is so much dialogue and NPC interactions that send you on different quests around the world leading to excessive backtracking, fighting the same foes repeatedly, and talking to the same NPCs with new dialogue over and over just to keep running around.”
- “The stealth mechanic is so bad because of the AI; sneaking is literally impossible, enemies spot you instantly and send the whole enemy camp aggro, making stealth slow and ineffective.”
- “Game mechanics are terrible, making the game not worth playing; combat is painfully terrible, stealth doesn't work, and inventory and barter systems are frustrating, resulting in a gameplay experience that feels like a chore.”
graphics
461 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
36%
4%
The game features generally beautiful and detailed graphics, effectively capturing a distinct British countryside aesthetic with vibrant yet sometimes sharpened visuals. While performance is well-optimized across a range of systems, and the art direction is praised for its atmosphere and immersion, some users note dated graphical techniques, occasional texture issues, lack of advanced effects like modern anti-aliasing or ray tracing, and minor glitches. Overall, the graphics are a strong point that enhance exploration and storytelling despite not being cutting-edge for 2025 standards.
- “The graphics are beautiful, Rebellion's most fantastical game yet in that part, and the sound design is also very well crafted, perfectly complementing the deductive exploration. It's a game that brings a very real feel to the characters, with many details in the world that allow the player to think and form their own conclusions.”
- “Stunning visuals: the graphics are genuinely amazing, and the British countryside aesthetic is captured perfectly.”
- “The graphics are absolutely stunning! The visuals are fantastic and lush, running at a steady 120fps on a mid-tier rig with no problems whatsoever.”
- “Outside of that, there are also a lot of graphical glitches even to this day; it's not something small, like the floor and walls of an entire cabin being extremely low quality for some reason (I play in 4K on the highest settings available).”
- “The graphics at the highest level looked like they were at the lowest, and my computer runs games really well at high graphics.”
- “Unfortunately the graphics look so early 2000s for me even on ultra setting, and therefore I returned it before 30 minutes of gameplay.”
atmosphere
196 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
37%
2%
The game is widely praised for its rich, immersive atmosphere that expertly blends post-apocalyptic gloom with evocative British charm and haunting sci-fi elements. Reviewers highlight its compelling environmental storytelling, eerie tension, and detailed world-building, which create a uniquely engaging and mysterious experience that draws players into exploration and narrative discovery. Despite some gameplay and technical shortcomings, the atmosphere remains the standout feature, often described as fresh, dense, and deeply absorbing.
- “Atomfall delivers a compelling and atmospheric experience, drawing you in with its haunting world, strong environmental storytelling, and intriguing sense of mystery.”
- “From the meticulously crafted character models to the stunning, evocative scenery, the artistic direction is truly a masterclass in post-apocalyptic atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is thick with tension, mystery, and beauty — a rare combination that keeps you completely hooked.”
- “It’s a decent intro to the post-apocalyptic survival/shooter genre with light RPG elements, but it lacks the depth, atmosphere, and mechanical tightness of the games it’s clearly inspired by.”
- “The old comics and posters you find feel authentic, but the extremely dated character models, forgettable soundtrack, and flat lighting take away from any atmosphere this game could have.”
- “As a whole, Atomfall isn't a bad game, but the balance between underdeveloped gameplay and strong atmosphere still feels off.”
optimization
155 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
36%
9%
The game is widely praised for its exceptional optimization, delivering smooth performance with high and stable frame rates across various hardware, including older and modest systems as well as the Steam Deck. Users report minimal to no stuttering, crashes, or technical issues, highlighting fast load times and efficient engine use that avoids reliance on upscaling technologies. While minor graphical or occasional performance dips occur in specific situations, overall the game stands out for its technical polish and smooth gameplay experience.
- “The game is well optimized and should run smoothly even on 10-year-old hardware.”
- “Performance and technical polish: this game has probably the best technical and performance polish that I have ever played.”
- “It's really amazing nowadays to find a good game, optimized really well, no TAA blurry image, no RT nonsense, just pure, raw performance; I appreciate it and maybe one of the most well spent money on last 2-4 years.”
- “Performance is oddly uneven, and while playable it doesn't always feel smooth despite my settings across two computers.”
- “But there were times I found my game stuttering, going from a smooth 60 fps to something noticeably sub-30, mainly when I'd climb up to higher points and look out over the landscape.”
- “Technically the game is a mixed bag, it runs reasonably well but I had to turn certain distance-related settings down in order to stop the game from stuttering (even though the framerate was above 75, it felt like 25).”
stability
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
4%
60%
Overall, the game is praised for its strong stability, running smoothly with few crashes or major bugs across various platforms, including the Steam Deck. While some users report minor graphical glitches and occasional AI or combat bugs, these issues are relatively rare and do not significantly detract from the experience. Compared to similar titles, it is seen as well-optimized and more polished, contributing to an enjoyable and largely bug-free gameplay.
- “Quite simply, Atomfall runs great and I never had a single crash during 50 hours of unlocking all six endings.”
- “It runs great on everything including Steam Deck on high with 50-60 fps most of the time, on my laptop with a mobile 4080 it runs smooth as silk, and on my desktop with 7900 XTX it is like a dream.”
- “It achieves this by simply having an extremely well-executed artistic direction, a wonderful lighting engine and just coming out well-optimized and bug free.”
- “Game freezes when I load up saves; there has not been a workaround so far.”
- “Buggy... the story makes you want to follow but the mechanics and tedium work against it.”
- “Game looks great but freezes and crashes continually.”
grinding
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
3%
93%
Grinding in the game is widely described as tedious and slow, exacerbated by large map sizes, lack of fast travel, small inventory capacity, and frequent backtracking. While some appreciate the grounded, survival-focused challenge and story-driven exploration, many find repetitive combat, enemy respawns, and inventory management frustrating and unrewarding, leading to a feeling of pointless, drawn-out chores rather than engaging gameplay.
- “It's cute, nicely made, no bugs that I ran into, interesting compelling story and gameplay loop isn't too grindy.”
- “There's no grinding, or nonsense in order to use a weapon and have it feel good.”
- “No... the game doesn't hold your hand nor is it overwhelming, there's no tedious micro management, no time limits, no forced gear progression and no deep meaningful morally righteous story line, there's no blood 'n guts or destruction, just a nice relaxed game that you can play how you want.”
- “Everything is slow and tedious, but not in a way that adds challenge for survival.”
- “The gameplay itself is extremely tedious with so much dialogue and NPC interactions that send you on different quests requiring backtracking dozens of times, fighting the same foes repeatedly, and talking to NPCs with new dialogue over and over; it just becomes running around the world endlessly.”
- “Grinding just to survive until the next zone, and not to get cool abilities, is a chore.”
replayability
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
69%
6%
Replayability in the game is primarily driven by its branching narrative and multiple distinct endings, offering some incentive to explore different choices and story paths. However, many reviewers note that differences between endings are often minor, side content is limited, and critical story revelations reduce motivation to replay, resulting in generally moderate to low replay value. While some players find the game enjoyable to revisit for alternate routes or builds, others feel there’s insufficient depth or variation to warrant multiple playthroughs.
- “The branching narrative gives the game a lot of replay value, and it doesn’t hold your hand; you really have to piece things together yourself, which makes every discovery feel earned.”
- “The art style and world are beautiful and convincing, the characters are memorable, the combat is intentionally difficult but very satisfying when you win, the story and mystery is intriguing, and there are several endings that are very different from each other with each answering questions that others don't, so there is some definite replay value here.”
- “The story is very open ended, letting you pretty much take any path you want, with many endings to complement it too. You can do anything from killing everyone, to talking to everyone, to rushing it and doing the bare minimum, and considering everything in this game can be approached from an endless combination of the order you play stuff in, it makes the game replayable and fresh.”
- “I wouldn't have missed a lot of content before I figured it out... apparently this is done for "replayability."”
- “Was a decent game; however, the ending was seriously underwhelming. Replay value is, in my opinion, not there after 22 hours to beat with full quest completions (save alternate endings).”
- “Which leads me to my next point: zero replay value in my opinion due to the fact that there is zero character customization and the alternate endings are laughable (I completed the mysterious voice ending and the captain Sims ending).”
music
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
72%
6%
The game's music receives mixed feedback, with many praising its atmospheric and tension-building qualities, especially during chase or quiet moments, while others find the soundtrack sparse, repetitive, or forgettable. Some players appreciate the subtle, ambient approach and hope for a full soundtrack release, whereas a few criticize the music as uninspired or low quality. Overall, the music supports immersion but often feels underutilized or overshadowed by ambient sounds.
- “The chase music was great and helped me know when I was being hunted.”
- “Lighting, sound design, and environmental detail work together to sustain tension, especially during quiet moments where the absence of music or overt threats becomes unsettling in itself.”
- “The environments, the music, and the color scheme remind me a lot of Metro, and it all does a great job of building tension and suspense as you play; you can never quite tell if those were your footsteps or if someone is coming up behind you, and I'd like to think that was intentional on the devs part.”
- “The music is hands down some of the most obnoxiously bad music I have ever heard in a game.”
- “For such a game to be so visually polished to be let down by music that sounds like it's been made on a Casio keyboard is unforgivable.”
- “The old comics and posters you find feel authentic, but the extremely dated character models, forgettable soundtrack, and flat lighting take away from any atmosphere this game could have.”
humor
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game features a distinctively dry, dark British sensibility with subtle pop culture references that balance its bleak atmosphere, though it generally lacks the quirky charm and offbeat wit found in the Fallout series. Players find some moments genuinely funny, particularly due to NPC dialogue, AI bugs, and situational comedy, but others feel the humor can be sparse or overly understated. Overall, the humor adds a cheeky, atmospheric layer that complements the mysterious and retro sci-fi setting.
- “There is a subtle undercurrent of dark humor and distinctly British sensibility woven into dialogue and scenarios, which helps balance the bleakness without undermining it.”
- “Atomfall is packed with mystery and that distinctively dry British humor that gently nudges you forward.”
- “A true masterpiece of a gastronomic mix, blending the main courses of Fallout, Oblivion, and Half-Life, with a pinch of Atomic Heart and Metro, all generously sprinkled with authentic British humor and classic sci-fi vibes—think Doctor Who—alongside countless other clever references.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The emotional impact of the game is mixed, with some players finding the story and world surprisingly emotional and immersive, while others feel a lack of emotional depth, closure, and character connection. Strong voice acting and ambient sound design add to the atmosphere, but the absence of a dynamic soundtrack and emotionally engaging moments leaves some players feeling detached. Overall, the emotional experience varies, satisfying those who appreciate subtle immersion but disappointing those seeking deeper emotional engagement.
- “Its story-driven adventure is compelling and packed with emotional moments, keeping the player invested throughout.”
- “Story – mysterious, layered, and surprisingly emotional.”
- “This game reminds me of Fallout 3 but with better graphics, a more filled and emotional world, and amazing sounds and lighting.”
monetization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
11%
72%
Monetization in the game is minimal, with no microtransactions or lootboxes, which many users appreciate as it focuses on gameplay rather than profit. However, the aiming down sights (ADS) mechanics are widely criticized for being slow, unstable, and awkward, leading some players to feel ads detract from the experience despite sensitivity adjustments. Overall, the game avoids aggressive monetization but struggles with clunky ADS implementation and some awkward animations.
- “No microtransactions.”
- “Feels great to play a game that doesn't have microtransactions.”
- “There are no quest markers, no complex RPG elements, or microtransactions, just pure exploration, challenging survival, and hard-hitting combat.”
- “Instead of diving into the post-apocalypse, the screen presented a launcher prominently featuring 'play' and 'merch.' That initial fear that the game might be more concerned with monetization than quality quickly materialized into a genuine sense of a beautifully rendered cash-grab.”
- “And even if the game does do well, it doesn't take long for it to become a platform for microtransactions, lootboxes, AI slop and countless expansion packs sold at full game retail price.”
- “Ads responsiveness and accuracy, weapon sway out of control.”
character development
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as shallow or minimal, with many NPCs lacking depth or appealing traits. While some appreciate limited character interactions and development, most users feel the game falls short in creating engaging, believable characters and meaningful progression. Enhanced dialogue, plot, and story-driven side quests are commonly desired improvements.
- “For me, the best games bring you into a world that's believable and have enough character development and intrigue so that you want to keep playing - to find out more about what's going on and why.”
- “I did find the character development and interactions good, and keyboard and mouse settings good.”
- “+ some character development and varied weapons.”
- “No character development; the available skills make minimal difference.”
- “All of the NPCs lack character development and are unpleasant 80% of the time when you speak to them.”
- “There is no character generation and no real character development.”