I Went Mad and Killed Everyone in Atomfall

Join me on a violent jaunt through the English countryside—a 90-minute immersion in Atomfall, the new survival-action game from Rebellion, the minds behind Sniper Elite. I recently spent some time in a North London pub, enjoying a pint and some hands-on playtime. I left intrigued by Atomfall’s open-ended missions and unsettling atmosphere. I might also have lost my marbles and decided to assault 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 feature. My approach was, shall we say, less than elegant. Barely two minutes into exploring this digital Cumbria, I triggered a tripwire, forcing me to dispatch three guards. My weapon of choice? A cricket bat, christened with a liberal splash of digital claret.

I later acquired a bow and arrow, quickly becoming a fan of its long and short-range capabilities. 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 underpinning this region of *Atomfall’s* segmented world, composed of multiple “open zones.” The unsettling atmosphere fueled my quest: uncovering the mystery of this irradiated corner of England.

My musings were interrupted by a group of druids, likely connected to the wicker man. They served as perfect archery targets. One. Two. Three. They fell. My inner Robin Hood briefly emerged before I snapped back to reality—a London pub, 10 a.m., no drinks yet, I swear.

The bow felt satisfying, but I was more interested in Atomfall’s unique stamina system. Instead of a traditional depleting bar, there's a heart rate monitor that increases with strenuous activity. Sprinting raises your heart rate, impacting aim. 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 allows for character customization, favoring stealth or gunplay as desired.

Atomfall screenshots

13 ImagesMy only accomplishment being a pile of dead druids, my overall goal remained somewhat unclear. Aimless exploration of Casterfall Woods yielded little, so I followed a quest lead: a note about 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 phone box rang, a creepy voice warning me away—too late!

The path was filled with environmental storytelling: a boathouse with an unsettling alarm system and the words “get lost” painted on it, a warning the nearby skulls ignored. Atomfall offers a consistently uneasy vibe, sleepy forests giving way to terrifying zones. Comparisons to Fallout have been made, but Stalker feels a more apt comparison, tonally and in design.

Following another druid massacre (and looting their garden center for herbs—a quick thyme event), I met Mother Jago. Dressed in a plum-colored coat and skull-adorned hat, she resembled a darker, more herbal Angela Lansbury. My hopes for clarity were dashed; she gave vague answers, despite exhausting every dialogue option. This reminded me of classic point-and-click adventures, encouraging thorough exploration of conversation for clues. A breakthrough: Jago offered information in exchange for her stolen herbalism book, held hostage by the druids. With a new lead, I headed to their castle.

Atomfall’s freeform design allowed for any approach. I chose a flanking maneuver. Encountering a druid patrol near an abandoned petrol station, the “Battle of the Forecourt” ensued. I tossed a grenade, the enemy AI not being the most reactive, but the resulting carnage alerted archers. A nail bomb stopped them, allowing close-quarters combat. The combat is fun, but not top-tier; it's more of a sideshow to the exploration.

Inside the castle's outer walls, I found a locked hut with map coordinates suggesting distant keys. *Atomfall* lacks objective markers, requiring players to mark points of interest. Was the book inside? Did I need the key? My hunch said no, so I went to the main keep.

More druids to club, but no book. After a thorough search, I found nothing but crafting materials. This highlights Atomfall’s obtuse mission design. It's challenging but encourages exploration and a detective-like approach.

I was ultimately encouraged by Rebellion’s design choices.

Following the coordinates, I found a poisonous monster, easily bypassing it using some Skyrim-honed skills. I retrieved the keys, returning to the hut for a perk point and ammo—but no book.

Exploring the castle's depths, I killed the High Priestess, found 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. I learned the book was in the castle, on a table I'd passed. My belief that the book was a ruse led to killing Mother Jago. Searching her body, I found a recipe to combat the swamp monster. We could have saved time.

Atomfall is not a short game; developers estimate 4-5 hours minimum, with most players taking around 25. Gameplay varies greatly; another player had a completely different adventure, encountering a crashed helicopter and killer robots. Atomfall offers depth and mystery.

Atomfall rewards players who embrace its obfuscated quest design. The lack of direction might be off-putting, but the blurred lines between main and side quests add peril, encouraging unique player stories and endings. My ending, despite killing Mother Jago, will differ from yours.

That’s all for now. Hands bloodied, I’ll head to the pub, cricket bat in hand, and let this all blow over.