I Went Mad and Killed Everyone in Atomfall

Embark on a violent odyssey through the English countryside—that's 90 minutes of Atomfall, the new survival-action game from Rebellion, the minds behind Sniper Elite. A recent hands-on session in a North London pub (pint in hand, naturally) revealed an intriguing game with open-ended missions and a chilling atmosphere. Let's just say I might have momentarily lost my marbles and assaulted various NPCs, including a sweet old lady, with a cricket bat. Here's why.

Every NPC in Atomfall is killable, from the lowliest guard to the most crucial quest-giver. My demo began with a self-imposed mission: to test this very feature. My approach? Less than elegant. Within two minutes of exploring this digital Cumbria, I triggered a tripwire, forcing me to eliminate three guards. My weapon of choice? A cricket bat, christened with copious amounts of digital blood.

Later, I looted a bow and arrow, a welcome upgrade from my trusty bat. This allowed me to engage in both close and long-range combat. Nearby, a towering wicker man stood ominously—a visual nod to the folk horror themes that underpin Atomfall's segmented world, composed of multiple open zones. The unsettling atmosphere fueled my curiosity about the mystery at hand: what transpired in this irradiated corner of England?

My musings were interrupted by a group of druids, likely connected to the wicker man. They served as excellent archery targets. One, two, three… down they went. My inner Robin Hood briefly surfaced before I snapped back to reality—a London pub at 10 a.m. (No, I hadn't started drinking yet.)

The bow felt satisfying, but I was more captivated by Atomfall's unique stamina system. Instead of a traditional depleting bar, it uses a heart rate monitor that increases with strenuous activity. Sprinting elevates your heart rate, impacting aiming accuracy. Later, I found a Bow Mastery skill that mitigates this effect. While not the most exciting perk, the skill tree seems flexible enough to tailor your character to your preferred playstyle, whether stealth or gunplay.

Atomfall screenshots

13 ImagesMy only accomplishment at this point? A pile of dead druids. My objective remained unclear, so I followed the only lead: a note directing me to Mother Jago, a herbalist near an old mine. Along the way, I encountered clues hinting at the larger narrative—a shimmering, oily substance hovering over a power plant, the apparent cause of Britain's post-apocalyptic state. A creepy voice warned me to stay out of the woods from a ringing phone booth. Too late!

The path was filled with unsettling details: a boathouse rigged with alarms, the words "get lost" scrawled on it, and a nearby pile of bones. Atomfall maintains a consistently uneasy atmosphere, blending serene forests with terrifying zones. While Fallout comparisons are common, Stalker and its sequel feel more appropriate, both tonally and in design.

Following another druid massacre (and looting their garden center for herbs), I met Mother Jago. Resembling a magically inclined Angela Lansbury, she offered vague answers, mirroring classic point-and-click adventures where thorough dialogue exploration is key. A breakthrough: she'd trade valuable information for her stolen herbalism book, held captive by the druids.

Atomfall's freeform design allowed me to approach the druid castle from any angle. I chose a flanking maneuver, encountering a patrol near an abandoned gas station. The ensuing battle (the Battle of the Forecourt, perhaps?) involved a grenade, some archery, and more bat-based skull-cracking. The enemy AI wasn't sophisticated, but the combat was satisfyingly brutal. However, it's clear combat is secondary to exploration.

Inside the castle, I found more druids to subdue, but no book. My search yielded only crafting materials. This exemplifies Atomfall's obtuse design—no hand-holding, no glowing objectives. While frustrating at times, it's a refreshing approach that challenges the player.

My search for the book led me to map coordinates, which revealed a poisonous swamp monster. After a quick reload, I bypassed the creature and retrieved the keys from a victim. The keys unlocked… nothing related to the book.

Exploring the castle's depths, I killed the High Priestess, looted an SMG, and found a quest-starting atomic battery. Still no book.

### Xbox Games Series Tier List

Xbox Games Series Tier List

My demo ended with a revelation: the book was in the castle, on a table I'd overlooked. My frustration led me to kill Mother Jago, finding a poison antidote recipe on her body—the "valuable information" she'd promised. We could have saved time.

Atomfall's runtime is estimated at 4-5 hours for a rushed playthrough, and around 25 hours for a more thorough experience. Another player at the demo had a vastly different experience, encountering a crashed helicopter and killer robots. Even a surface-level exploration reveals significant depth.

Atomfall rewards dedicated exploration. The lack of direction might be off-putting, but the blurred lines between main and side objectives create a unique experience. Each player crafts their own narrative, leading to diverse endings.

My time ended with a bloodied bat, a dead herbalist, and a thirst for a pint. Atomfall is a unique experience, challenging and rewarding in equal measure.