I Went Mad and Killed Everyone in Atomfall

Join me on a violent jaunt through the English countryside—a 90-minute foray into Atomfall, the new survival-action game from Rebellion, creators of Sniper Elite. I recently spent some time in a North London pub, enjoying a pint and getting hands-on with the game. I left intrigued by Atomfall’s open-ended missions and unsettling atmosphere. I might also have temporarily lost my mind and attacked everyone in sight, including a probably innocent old lady, with a cricket bat. Let me explain.

Every NPC in Atomfall is killable, from the lowliest grunt to the most important quest-giver. Starting the demo, I decided to test this design. My approach was, shall we say, 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, liberally christened with digital claret.

Later, I looted a bow and arrow, quickly switching to ranged combat and giving Mr. Cricket Bat a well-deserved rest. Nearby, a looming wicker man—which I wisely avoided—hints at the folk horror underpinning this region of *Atomfall’s* segmented world, comprised of multiple "open zones." The unsettling atmosphere deepens the mystery: what happened in this sleepy, now irradiated corner of England?

My musings were interrupted by a group of druids, perfect targets for my new bow. One, two, three… they fell. My inner Robin Hood briefly took over before I snapped back to reality—a London pub, no drinks yet, and it's only 10 AM.

The bow felt satisfying, but I was more interested in Atomfall’s unique stamina system. Instead of a traditional depleting bar, it uses a heart rate monitor that increases with strenuous activity. Sprinting raises your heart rate, making aiming difficult. Later, I found a Bow Mastery skill that negates this effect. It's not the most exciting perk, and the skill tree isn't overly complex, but it's flexible enough to tailor your character to your preferred playstyle.

Atomfall screenshots

13 ImagesMy only achievement so far: a pile of dead druids. My goal? Initially, even I wasn't sure. Aimless exploration of Casterfall Woods yielded little, so I followed a note leading to a herbalist, Mother Jago, near an old mine. Along the way, I saw hints of the larger story: a shimmering, oily swirl over a power plant—the apparent cause of Britain's post-apocalyptic state. A nearby phone box rang with a creepy warning to stay out of the woods. Too late!

The path was filled with unsettling details: a boathouse rigged with an alarm, the words "get lost" painted on it, and a nearby mound of skulls. Atomfall cultivates a consistently uneasy atmosphere, blending serene forests with creepy zones of terror. While Fallout comparisons are common, Stalker feels a more apt comparison, tonally and in design.

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 (and looting their garden center for herbs), I met Mother Jago at her allotment. Dressed in a plum coat and a skull-and-rose hat, she resembled Angela Lansbury if she'd embraced black magic aromatherapy. Unfortunately, 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. Finally, a breakthrough: she offered information in exchange for her stolen herbalism book, held hostage by the druids in their fortified castle.

With a new lead, I attacked the castle from the side. A druid patrol near an abandoned petrol station initiated the Battle of the Forecourt, which I won with a grenade and my trusty bat. The enemy AI isn't the most sophisticated, but the satisfying violence was fun. However, Atomfall’s combat seems more of a sideshow to the main event: exploration.

Inside the castle walls, I found a locked hut with a note and map coordinates suggesting the keys were far away. *Atomfall* lacks objective markers, leaving map navigation to the player. Was the book in the hut? Did I need the key? My hunch was no, so I went straight to the main keep.

Inside, more druids to club, but no book. After a ten-minute search, I found nothing but crafting materials. This highlights Atomfall’s obtuse mission design. There's no hand-holding; the book won't glow. While frustrating at times, I appreciated Rebellion's commitment to a challenging, exploratory experience.

I find myself ultimately encouraged by Rebellion’s approach to make something that challenges the player.Following the map coordinates, I found a poisonous monster that nearly killed me. Reloading, I bypassed it, retrieving the keys from a victim. Back at the hut, I found a perk point and ammo—but no book.

Exploring the castle's depths, I killed the High Priestess and her followers, finding an SMG, a poison bomb recipe, and an atomic battery, starting a new questline I lacked time to explore. Still no book.

### Xbox Games Series Tier List

Xbox Games Series Tier List

My play session ended. The book was in the castle, on a table I'd walked past multiple times. Before realizing this, I'd convinced myself it was a ruse, so I killed Mother Jago. Searching her body, I found a recipe to combat the poison swamp monster. We could have saved time.

Atomfall isn't a quick game; developers say it takes 4-5 hours minimum, with most players taking around 25 hours. My experience differed from another player's, who encountered a crashed helicopter and killer robots. Even a surface-level playthrough 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 engagement with its convoluted quest design. The blurred lines between main and side objectives add peril, encouraging players to forge their own paths and interpretations. My ending, despite killing Mother Jago, will likely differ from yours.

My time was up. Hands bloodied, I decided to embrace my inner Brit: cricket bat in hand, off to the pub to let things settle.