Atomfall

Should you play Atomfall? Absolutely, yes! It's a gorgeous romp across the British countryside that's easy to pick up and extremely difficult to put down. Filled with richly detailed environments, simplified systems that will appeal to players new to the survival genre, and accessible combat, Atomfall is a superb adventure that proves survival games don't all need to be complex and brutal experiences.

Though a little rough and ready round the edges, Atomfall’s nuclear fiction is an interesting fusion of ideas, albeit one that isn’t going to blow you away.

Atomfall invites the player to explore and discover what’s going on at their own speed, and on their own terms.

British horror games are having a moment just now, and Rebellion has served up a witty, fun slice of apocalypse.

For those willing to overlook its flaws, Atomfall offers a unique and immersive adventure. But if you’re looking for polished combat and a more guided experience, you might find its rough edges frustrating.

Atomfall turned out to be a conservative attempt by Rebellion to release an unusual game for the studio. The result was very interesting, although the game is not without a number of serious drawbacks.

Atomfall offers a deep narrative experience in which exploration predominates. The combat system leaves much to be desired, as does enemy AI, but it is so immersive that everything else can take a back seat.

Atomfall is a cold fusion of elements that work with design decisions that are not entirely clear. Its British scenarios serve as a backdrop for an adventure that flees from the RPG promising a survival that falls short with some mechanics that feel forced. It is still an enjoyable game but comparisons with the greats of the genre leave a project that could have used a few more months of development.

Rebellion delivers a compelling survival experience with Atomfall, though technical flaws, clunky melee combat, and weak enemy AI hold it back. If you can look past these issues, the game rewards you with freedom-driven exploration, engaging gunplay, and an atmospheric take on atomic-era England.

Atomfall isn't Fallout. Sometimes, that's because Fallout is understandably a much bigger, better game. But Atomfall also structures its story and world so unlike typical open-world games, Fallout or otherwise, that the distinction isn't merely meant as a slight on Rebellion's latest effort. Its fresh, mystery-laden open-world design overcomes a bundle of world-building cliches and a few gameplay hindrances to feel novel and worthwhile the entire time. Often, a new video game IP takes until its sequel to truly establish its identity. The theoretical Atomfall 2 feels like it could be a much greater game someday, so long as it's built on this game's intriguing quest framework. Here and now, Atomfall is a good game that sometimes gets in its own way, but it's the process of finding your unique path through its story that will stick with you after the dust settles.

Atomfall is an intriguing concept done just about well enough. It won’t be the clunky first-person combat or the fetch quest-esque approach that will be what it’s remembered for, but the surrounding mystery and how you as the player choose to uncover it.

Rebellion has, with Atomfall, made a kind of rebellion against modern gaming storytelling which I appreciate even if at times I felt overwhelmed by all the clues I am asked to follow up. It's familiar in many ways but with a different approach to moving you and the story forward, but this isn't necessarily something that will be appreciated by everyone who instead wants a more clear and structured experience.

Rebellion puts forward an interesting concept with Atomfall, but doesn’t flesh it out enough to make it truly memorable. Despite a pretty — yet static — game world, Atomfall stays shallow across the board. Maybe Atomfall 2 will get it right?

Atomfall is a stunningly beautiful, yet flawed, experience that could be an easy recommend due to its presence on Xbox Game Pass, but becomes harder on other platforms.

Atomfall has a lot of interesting ideas and an admirable disinterest in playing by the usual gaming rules. But there are aspects that feel like an identity crisis, and those moments take up a lot more raw time.