I Went Mad and Killed Everyone in Atomfall

Join me on a violent jaunt through the English countryside—a 90-minute immersion into Atomfall, the new survival-action game from Rebellion, the minds behind Sniper Elite. I recently traded pints and pleasantries for hands-on playtime at a North London pub, leaving intrigued by Atomfall’s open-ended missions and unsettling atmosphere. I might also have momentarily lost my marbles and decided to assault every soul in sight (including a sweet old lady who, in retrospect, probably didn't deserve it) with a cricket bat. Let me explain.

Every NPC in Atomfall is killable, from the lowliest grunt to the most crucial quest-giver. Starting the demo, I decided to test this very design principle. My approach? Let's just say it lacked elegance. Barely two minutes into exploring this digital Cumbria, I triggered a tripwire, forcing me to end the lives of three guards. My weapon of choice? A cricket bat—a hefty chunk of wood christened my murder partner in a liberal splash of digital claret.

Later, I looted a bow and arrow. A lover of archery in games, I quickly equipped it, ready for both close and long-range encounters, giving Mr. Cricket Bat a well-deserved rest. Nearby, a towering wicker man awaited immolation. I steered clear; I've seen how those stories end. Such sights hint at the folk horror undertones forming the bedrock of this region of *Atomfall’s* segmented world, comprised of multiple "open zones." It creates a convincingly uneasy atmosphere, fueling the larger mystery: what transpired in this once-sleepy, now-irradiated corner of England?

My musings were interrupted by a group of druids, likely connected to the wicker man. They served as perfect range finders for my new bow. One. Two. Three. They fell. "I'M ROBIN BLOODY HOOD!" my brain screamed before I snapped back to the London pub. (No drinks yet, I promise. It was only 10 AM.)

The bow felt satisfying, but I was more interested in Atomfall’s clever stamina system. Instead of a traditional depleting/regenerating bar, it uses a heart rate monitor that increases with strenuous activity. Sprinting elevates your heart rate, hindering aiming accuracy. Later, I found a Bow Mastery skill manual, unlocking a perk negating the impact of a racing heart on drawing the bowstring. It's not the most exciting perk, and the skill tree isn't overly complex, but it's malleable enough to tailor your character to your preferred playstyle—stealth over gunplay, for instance.

Atomfall screenshots

13 ImagesMy only achievement thus far: a pile of dead druids. My overall goal? Vague, even to me. Aimless exploration of the Casterfall Woods yielded little, so I followed my only lead: a note directing me to Mother Jago, a herbalist living near an old mine. Along the way, I encountered hints of the larger story—a shimmering, oily swirl of blues and purples hovering over a power plant, the apparent cause of Britain's post-apocalyptic state. A nearby phone box rang, a creepy voice warning me to avoid the woods. Too late.

The path was littered with environmental storytelling—an unsettlingly rigged boathouse, the words "get lost" scrawled across it, a warning the nearby skull pile ignored. Atomfall maintains an uneasy vibe, sleepy forests giving way to creepy zones of terror. While Fallout comparisons are common, Stalker and its sequel feel more apt, tonally and design-wise.

Reminds me of classic point-and-click adventures in the way you’re encouraged to explore every corner of conversation in search of a hint.After another druid massacre (butchering them and looting their garden center for herbs—a quick-thyme event, if you will), I met Mother Jago at her allotment. Dressed in a plum-colored coat and animal skull hat, she resembled Angela Lansbury if she'd embraced black magic aromatherapy. My hopes for clarity were dashed—she offered vague answers, despite exhausting every dialogue option. This reminded me of classic point-and-click adventures, encouraging thorough exploration of conversations for clues. A door opened: she offered valuable information in exchange for her stolen herbalism book, held hostage at the druids' castle. With a new lead, I retraced my steps.

Atomfall’s freeform design allowed any approach. I attacked the castle from the side, encountering a druid patrol near an abandoned petrol station. The Battle of the Forecourt commenced with a grenade. The enemy AI wasn't the most reactive, but the satisfying eruption of blood and bone alerted archers. I halted their advance with a nail bomb, closing the distance for a neck snap and more bat-based head-smashing. The combat is fun, but not top-tier. Treat encounters as a sideshow to the main event—discovering the world's secrets.

After sniping axe-wielding brutes, I entered the castle, finding a locked hut. A note with map coordinates suggested the keys were far away. *Atomfall* lacks objective markers, leaving map study and marker placement to the player. Was the book in the hut? Did I need the key? My hunch said no. I went to the main keep.

Inside, more druids to club, but no book. Ten minutes of searching yielded only crafting materials. Atomfall’s obtuse mission design is frustrating at times, but ultimately encouraging. Rebellion challenges the player, sticking to its explorative, detective-like vision.

I find myself ultimately encouraged by Rebellion’s approach to make something that challenges the player.Following the paper trail to the coordinates, I found a poison plant monster. Rifle bullets were ineffective. I reloaded and used Skyrim-honed bunny-hopping skills to bypass it, retrieving the keys from a victim. Back at the hut, I found a perk point and ammo—but no book.

Forlorn, I ventured into the castle's depths, where druids performed rituals. I killed the High Priestess and her lackeys, finding an SMG, a poison bomb recipe, and an atomic battery, opening a new questline I lacked time to explore. No book.

### Xbox Games Series Tier List

Xbox Games Series Tier List

My play session ended. I was told the book was in the castle, on a table I’d passed multiple times. Before that revelation, I believed the book was a ruse. I returned to the herbalist; she offered nothing. My character's descent into violence was complete, so I killed her. Searching her body, I found a recipe to combat the poison swamp monster. We could have saved time.

Atomfall’s runtime is significant; developers said completion takes four to five hours, with most players taking around 25. The experience varies greatly. Another player at the demo had a completely different adventure, starting with a crashed helicopter and leading to killer robots and mutants. Even skimming the surface reveals depth and mystery.

Atomfall feels like a game that rewards you the more you indulge in its obfuscated quest design.The obtuse objectives might be offputting to some, but Atomfall rewards players who embrace its obfuscated quest design. The blurred lines between main and side objectives add peril, encouraging players to create their own stories and endings. My ending, despite killing Mother Jago, will differ from yours.

That’s all the time I had. My hands bloodied from the herbalist's undeserved demise, I engaged in full-British mode: cricket bat in hand, off to the pub to let things blow over.