Atomic Heart

About

Atomic Heart is an immersive sim set in an alternate universe Soviet Union. As special agent P-3, explore a vast open world and face off against robots and mutants. Uncover the secrets of the mysterious Soviet facility and use unique abilities and weapons to survive.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+42

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 18,208 reviews

story2.5k positive mentions

stability502 negative mentions

story
6,996 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
57%
8%
The story of "Atomic Heart" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging and filled with intriguing twists, while others criticize it for being convoluted and predictable. The narrative, set in a dystopian alternate Soviet Union, is often compared to "Bioshock," with some praising its unique themes and world-building, but many feel it suffers from pacing issues and a lack of character depth. Overall, while the visuals and gameplay mechanics are generally well-received, the story's execution leaves some players wanting more, particularly in terms of coherence and emotional impact.
- “Atomic Heart is a visually stunning and immersive game with a captivating world and intriguing story.”
- “The story is also well thought out with a respectable amount of lore and moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
- “The story kept me wanting to find out what will happen next and the battles and puzzles to do so were fantastic.”
- “I have many issues with the story, dialogue, and level design.”
- “The story, which was what I was really looking forward to in the game, was overall just a cluster of ideas that went nowhere, and the ending to the main story at least was completely underwhelming.”
- “The story is confusing and it ends horribly, so don't play it for the story.”
gameplay
3,779 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
51%
9%
The gameplay of *Atomic Heart* has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its engaging combat mechanics and unique abilities reminiscent of *Bioshock*, while others criticize it for being repetitive and clunky. The game features a blend of melee and ranged combat, alongside puzzle-solving elements, but suffers from issues like enemy respawning and poorly explained mechanics that can detract from the overall experience. Despite its visual appeal and intriguing setting, the gameplay often feels bogged down by technical flaws and a lack of depth, leading to a somewhat uneven player experience.
- “The gameplay is solid, combining smooth combat mechanics with creative weaponry and abilities.”
- “Atomic heart offers an enjoyable gameplay experience with a captivating story and solid combat.”
- “The gameplay is engaging, with a mix of combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving that keeps you on your toes.”
- “The world is still wacky and beautiful, I like the music, lore bits, and humor, but they cannot justify that gameplay.”
- “The game is in half-baked beta version-like shape, the gameplay is very rough, full of bugs and glitches, animations and scenes often stutter.”
- “The open world is just annoying; every time you kill enemies, more enemies come to repair the robots you just killed, and said mechanic robots reach the fight zone very quickly since there are spawn bases so close to each other.”
graphics
2,829 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
33%
2%
The graphics of "Atomic Heart" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and unique retro-futuristic aesthetic, often compared to titles like "Bioshock." Players have praised the game's detailed environments, impressive art direction, and smooth performance, even on lower-end hardware. However, some reviews noted inconsistencies in graphical quality and occasional bugs, suggesting that while the visuals are a highlight, they are not without flaws.
- “The world and aesthetic are absolutely amazing, with this futuristic Soviet vibe that’s really immersive.”
- “The graphics are stunning, and the level design is highly detailed and inviting.”
- “The graphics, sound, and music are amazing and pull you right into the game.”
- “I mostly encountered graphical bugs where objects had no collision or the collision was bigger than expected, prompting me to get stuck with no way out but to reload a save.”
- “Seems to be a good game here (jumping needs a rework), but often it was pushing my 3090 into 96 degrees constantly, even with me limiting frame rate, no ray tracing, turning down graphics etc. it's so badly optimized, even low settings still punished the GPU.”
- “The game is plagued with numerous bugs, including graphical glitches, crashes, and performance issues, which detract from the immersion and enjoyment of the game.”
music
2,234 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The music in *Atomic Heart* has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its diverse soundtrack that blends heavy metal, electronic, and remixed Soviet classics, often composed by renowned artist Mick Gordon. Players noted that the music enhances the gameplay experience, particularly during combat and boss fights, creating an adrenaline-pumping atmosphere. However, some critiques mentioned issues with audio balancing and the timing of music cues, which occasionally detracted from the overall immersion.
- “The soundtrack is just amazing.”
- “Excellent in many regards, but the music and art are definitely the highlights, can't stress enough how simply good they are.”
- “The music makes the game amazing, one of the best soundtracks I've heard in games other than like Cyberpunk 2077.”
- “Some absolutely brilliant graphics, and some truly awful metal music.”
- “The game is not bad it just didn't feel like a flushed out game, I loved the start of the game till around 60%-75% of the game where it started to feel like I've experienced most of the gameplay (except main stuff) and started feeling that the encounters felt dull or just not thought out, combat music didn't come on much even with a bunch of enemies around you but in the instinct DLC it was the opposite where it played music for every encounter and got a bit annoying when even one bot fights you, you kill it, and the music goes off for another couple seconds and was a little annoying even though I like the music.”
- “The music is fine, I mean it's by the composer of Doom but the music here is not as good as the Doom music, it is the Doom music.”
optimization
1,035 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
35%
9%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its impressive performance and stability across various hardware configurations, often achieving high frame rates even on lower-end systems. However, some players reported significant performance issues, including frame rate drops and crashes, particularly in specific scenarios or environments. Overall, while the game showcases strong optimization for a new release, it still has areas that require refinement.
- “The graphics & optimization are also outstanding, & put a lot of massive AAA game publishers to absolute shame.”
- “The game is optimized really well.”
- “I will always appreciate this game being released with pretty damn near flawless optimization and I think I encountered like... 2 bugs throughout my entire play-through.”
- “Poorly optimized, headache-inducing scan mode and crashes often.”
- “The game is plagued with numerous bugs, including graphical glitches, crashes, and performance issues, which detract from the immersion and enjoyment of the game.”
- “Sadly there are some issues though, the main one being performance, the game's framerate is all over the place, it can go from 30fps to 160fps and everything in between, sometimes it even goes as low as 20fps and stays there which seems to happen at random or sometimes after opening menus.”
humor
697 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The humor in "Atomic Heart" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its dark, absurd, and often crass comedic elements, particularly the interactions between the protagonist and his AI companion, Charles. While some find the humor engaging and reminiscent of classic titles like "Bioshock," others criticize it as juvenile or repetitive, especially in the English localization, which can detract from the overall experience. The game features a blend of quirky dialogue, sexual innuendos, and satirical commentary on Soviet culture, making it a unique but polarizing comedic experience.
- “Atomic Heart isn't just a game; it's an electrifying journey into a bizarre alternate Soviet Union, filled with intrigue, innovation, and a healthy dose of humor.”
- “What sets Atomic Heart apart is its cleverly written and humorous dialogues, adding charm to the characters and enhancing the overall experience.”
- “The banter between P-3 and the glove is honestly hilarious, reminding me a lot of Bioshock, Wolfenstein, and Portal 2.”
- “Tried to get into it but the story is lame; I think your little talking implant is supposed to be funny like Wheatley in Portal, but instead it's just annoying.”
- “Whoever wrote the actual in-game dialogue should be sent to the gulag; it's not funny or endearing.”
- “The biggest deal breaker for me is how a supposedly highly trained intelligence operative can talk with less IQ than most 5-year-olds; the banter and jokes are not funny but cringe.”
atmosphere
609 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
29%
2%
The atmosphere of "Atomic Heart" is widely praised for its immersive and meticulously crafted Soviet-era aesthetic, blending eerie elements with retrofuturistic technology reminiscent of titles like Bioshock and Metro. Players appreciate the game's stunning visuals, haunting soundtrack, and the unique, unsettling charm of its world, although some find the protagonist's dialogue detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest aspects, effectively drawing players into its captivating and bizarre environment.
- “The 1950s Soviet sci-fi setting is meticulously crafted, with a unique blend of eerie atmosphere and retrofuturistic technology.”
- “The game's atmospheric design, coupled with its eerie soundtrack, creates an intense and captivating ambiance.”
- “From the moment players step foot into this mysterious alternate reality, they are captivated by its hauntingly beautiful and deeply atmospheric setting.”
- “The main character is unbearably obnoxious and never shuts up, ruining the atmosphere of every area and event in the game.”
- “Soviet atmosphere is completely destroyed by the protagonist with the most American accent ever that never shuts up.”
- “It is missing a coherent story, atmosphere and setting with more background than just shallow and generic information in the diaries scattered around the world.”
stability
578 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
87%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, including getting stuck in environments and game-breaking issues requiring reloads. While some users noted that the game runs well on high-end systems and experienced only minor issues, the overall consensus is that the game feels unfinished and is plagued by technical problems that detract from the experience. Despite these issues, a few players found the game enjoyable when it worked, suggesting that future patches may improve stability.
- “The game runs great and is really well optimized, which is really rare today for new games.”
- “Finally, the game runs great and the developers are doing a good job supporting their game with already a lot of corrections/patches.”
- “My frames barely ever dipped below 100 and no glitches or crashes occurred.”
- “The game is in half-baked beta version-like shape, the gameplay is very rough, full of bugs and glitches, animations and scenes often stutter.”
- “I experienced a number of game-breaking glitches that wouldn't allow me to proceed without reloading from an earlier save in order to get an event to trigger or a puzzle mechanism to work.”
- “The game is plagued with numerous bugs, including graphical glitches, crashes, and performance issues, which detract from the immersion and enjoyment of the game.”
grinding
396 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
7%
92%
The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium and repetitiveness in the game's grinding mechanics, with many players expressing frustration over tedious puzzles, fetch quests, and resource collection. While some aspects, like the crafting system, are noted as less grindy, the overall gameplay experience is marred by long, drawn-out combat encounters and poorly designed mechanics that detract from enjoyment. Many players feel that the game could have been more engaging if it had streamlined these elements, leading to a more rewarding experience.
- “The crafting upgrades aren't too grindy; you can easily upgrade your most played weapons way before the last stages.”
- “It doesn't have the grindy mentality; progress feels natural.”
- “The resource gathering isn't tedious and actually fun; the hardest gameplay is challenging but very rewarding, so far a 4.5 if not 5 out of 5 for me.”
- “The ending fight scene with the twins is just grindy grind grind fighting for five minutes.”
- “The game is held back with a repetitive open world, extremely grindy 'extra' levels to get new gear, and an atrocious UI.”
- “The addition of open world sections just makes the game feel more tedious and adds hours for no payoff.”
replayability
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
59%
18%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding it infinitely replayable due to various upgrades and gameplay styles, while others criticize its linearity and lack of meaningful incentives for multiple playthroughs. Many reviewers express a desire for features like New Game+ to enhance replay value, but overall, sentiments range from high replay potential to near-zero replayability, depending on individual preferences and experiences.
- “Fantastic game, great music and ambiance, new game+ adds great replay value.”
- “Replayability: between the various upgrades offered, the level layouts, and (towards the end) dialogue options it's pretty fun to play the game multiple ways despite its linearity.”
- “Not many linear games have high replay value but Atomic Heart makes it work.”
- “The game has no replayability; after completing the story, there is nothing that makes me want to play it anymore.”
- “This game has no incentive for replayability whatsoever.”
- “There really isn't a lot of replayability with this game either; the story is fairly linear and you don't gain anything new from playing again.”
emotional
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
8%
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players finding it deeply moving and others feeling a lack of connection to the characters and story. While certain moments and the post-Soviet setting resonate emotionally, many reviewers expressed disappointment in the storytelling and character development, leading to a sense of detachment. Overall, the game evokes a range of feelings, from emotional breakdowns to frustration over its narrative execution.
- “The finale was touching for me; I fell in love with all the characters in the game.”
- “10/10 great game, made me cry, looking at what the world could have been if it weren't for Gorbachev.”
- “This game has made me feel a lot of new things.”
- “Boring story that gets old quick.”
- “Horrible dialogue due to possible translation errors, fun world building, fun enemy design, generic combat, good music, somewhat boring story, lackluster endings.”
character development
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
38%
8%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the protagonist's lack of growth and unlikable personality traits, such as excessive swearing and a dismissive attitude. While some appreciate the character design and interactions, they feel that the story lacks emotional depth and meaningful character arcs. Overall, the game's strong visual and environmental design contrasts sharply with its underwhelming narrative and character development.
- “Overall the game had good combat system, good depth into graphics and character development.”
- “Excellent gun play, character development, and even a pretty decent story to keep you interested.”
- “Regardless, great story, great music, fun atmosphere, like the nudges placed in the game, good character development, ending was good.”
- “Story, dialogues, and character development are not up to the mark - the fact that the protagonist spends so much time swearing as a reaction to events is grating.”
- “There are no story elements or character developments that pull at the heartstrings here.”
- “But telekinesis is fun, the map is very pretty to look at but also very empty, also the dialogue between the talking glove and P-3 is so bad and boring, and P-3 never has any character development through the whole game and just stays a giant asshole.”
monetization
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
18%
73%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players appreciating the absence of intrusive microtransactions and the feeling of a complete experience at launch. However, concerns were raised about misleading advertising, particularly regarding promised features like ray tracing and the inclusion of unnecessary DLC skins that feel like cash grabs. Overall, while the game avoids aggressive monetization tactics, it struggles with the legacy of its promotional hype and the studio's previous cash grab reputation.
- “In a day and age where everything feels like it's missing a part for future DLC or for monetization later on, Atomic Heart feels like a game that knew what it wanted to do and did it, giving you a full experience in one go.”
- “Runs well, no bugs, no microtransactions screaming in your face, no crashes, a real feature-complete day one release.”
- “Boy is it nice to see a full game with no microtransactions, plus having it run with no issues!”
- “Why give us single-player 'microtransactions' in in-game currencies?”
- “DLC skins are straight up useless and are just a quick cash grab since nobody but you can see these skins.”
- “All ye stay back, for a soulless cash grab rests in these 76 gigs.”