I Went Mad and Killed Everyone in Atomfall

Embark on a violent odyssey through the English countryside—a 90-minute immersion into Atomfall, the latest survival-action game from Rebellion, creators of Sniper Elite. A recent pub visit in North London provided a pint and hands-on playtime, revealing Atomfall’s intriguing open-ended missions and unsettling atmosphere. Let's just say I may have momentarily lost my marbles and assaulted several innocent bystanders (including an unsuspecting elderly woman) with a cricket bat. Allow me to explain.

Every NPC in Atomfall is killable, from lowly grunts to pivotal quest-givers. My demo began with a self-imposed mission: to test this very design. My approach was less than elegant; within minutes, a clumsy tripwire activation forced me to eliminate three guards. My weapon of choice? A cricket bat—a hefty piece of wood christened my murder accomplice with a liberal splash of digital blood.

Later, I acquired a bow and arrow, quickly becoming engrossed in ranged combat. Mr. Cricket Bat earned a well-deserved rest. Nearby, a towering wicker man awaited immolation—a sight I wisely avoided. Such details hint at the folk horror undertones forming the foundation of this region, one of *Atomfall’s* several "open zones." This creates a palpable unease, fueling the overarching mystery: what transpired in this once-sleepy, now-irradiated corner of England?

My contemplation was interrupted by a group of druids, likely connected to the wicker man. They served as ideal targets for my new bow. One. Two. Three. They fell. My inner monologue briefly proclaimed, "I'M ROBIN BLOODY HOOD," before reality—and the fact I hadn't had a drink yet (it was only 10 AM)—returned.

The bow felt satisfying, but Atomfall’s unique stamina system intrigued me more. Instead of a traditional depleting bar, a heart rate monitor tracks exertion. Sprinting increases your BPM, affecting aiming accuracy. Later, a Bow Mastery skill negated this effect. While not the most thrilling perk, the skill tree seemed flexible enough to tailor your character to your preferred playstyle—stealth over gunplay, for example.

Atomfall screenshots

13 ImagesMy achievements thus far consisted of a pile of dead druids. My objective? Initially, even I wasn't entirely sure. Aimless exploration of Casterfall Woods yielded little, so I followed a note leading me to Mother Jago, a herbalist near an old mine. Along the way, clues hinted at the larger narrative: a shimmering, oily swirl above a power plant, the apparent cause of Britain's post-apocalyptic state. A ringing phone box delivered a creepy warning to avoid the woods—too late.

The path was filled with unsettling details: a boathouse rigged with alarms, the words "get lost" scrawled on its walls, a nearby mound of skulls. Atomfall maintains a consistently uneasy atmosphere, blending serene forests with terrifying zones. While Fallout comparisons are common, Stalker and its sequel feel more fitting—in tone and design.

This reminded me of classic point-and-click adventures, encouraging exhaustive dialogue exploration for clues. 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 despite my thorough questioning. This echoed classic point-and-click adventures, rewarding thorough conversation exploration. A breakthrough: she offered information in exchange for her stolen herbalism book, held captive by the druids. My new lead sent me back across the map.

Atomfall’s freeform design allowed any approach. I chose a flanking attack on the druid castle. A patrol near an abandoned petrol station triggered the "Battle of the Forecourt," culminating in a grenade toss. The enemy AI wasn't highly reactive, but the resulting carnage alerted archers. A nail bomb halted their advance, followed by close-quarters combat and more bat-based head-smashing. While fun, the combat felt secondary to exploration.

Inside the castle walls, a locked hut with map coordinates suggested distant keys. *Atomfall* lacks objective markers, requiring manual placement. Was the book inside? My intuition said no, so I proceeded to the main keep.

More druids met their demise, but the book remained elusive. A ten-minute search revealed only crafting materials. This highlights Atomfall’s obtuse mission design. No hand-holding here; the book won't glow. While frustrating at times, Rebellion's approach—challenging and explorative—was ultimately compelling.

I remained encouraged by Rebellion’s approach to create a challenging experience. Following the map coordinates, I encountered a poisonous plant creature, quickly resulting in death. A reload and some nimble platforming allowed me to bypass the beast and retrieve the keys. Back at the hut, I found a perk point and ammo—but not the book.

Venturing into the castle's depths, I encountered the High Priestess and her followers. Eliminating them yielded an SMG, a poison bomb recipe, and an atomic battery, opening a new questline—one I lacked time to explore. The book remained missing.

### Xbox Games Series Tier List

Xbox Games Series Tier List

Post-demo, I learned the book was in the castle, on a table I'd overlooked. Before this revelation, I believed the book was a fabrication. Returning to the herbalist, I—still immersed in my character's violent state—killed her, searching her body for "truth," finding a recipe for combating the poison swamp creature. We could have saved time.

Atomfall’s runtime is substantial; developers estimate 4-5 hours minimum, with most players taking around 25. My experience differed from another player's, who encountered a crashed helicopter and killer robots. Even a surface-level exploration reveals depth and mystery.

Atomfall rewards those who embrace its obfuscated quest design. The blurred lines between main and side objectives add risk, encouraging unique narratives and endings. My ending, despite killing Mother Jago, will differ from yours.

My time ended. My hands bloodied, I'll adopt a typically British approach: cricket bat in hand, off to the pub to let things settle.