When this was first announced, there might have been some bias from me based on its location. The Lake District of the UK. I wanted to explore the recreation that Atomfall would provide. Oh, I would be exploring the mysteries it offered. But sightseeing was what I most wanted to do. Which, funnily enough, is the name of the easiest difficulty that Atomfall provides.

Right from waking up in a bunker, there’s mystery. Who am I? Why am I here? The lone scientist of the facility says that I must uncover the truth of the Windscale Disaster, giving me a modified keycard to gain access to The Interchange, and a note so that I can remember the most important of missions that Atomfall provides. Escape from the quarantine zone.

Upon getting out of the bunker, the world was mine to explore. But first, the matter of a telephone box ringing. And the voice when answering it that simply said, “Oberon must die.” Who is Oberon? That’s something to be finding out through interactions with the various other quests of Atomfall. Of which there are many. These quests piece together the various goings-on of Wyndham Village and the surrounding areas.

There are dialogue choices in the interactions with people, with different choices providing different paths of conversation, including finding out new information. I’m not entirely sure the choices you make have too much effect on the story, but I do know the villagers don’t take too kindly to anyone who aligns themselves with the Protocol. As such, that is the major choice Atomfall offers. Who do you personally want to align with?

From what I gather, there are multiple ways of getting help with that most important of objectives. It’s just a matter of helping who you want. But in helping people, I’m put in the path of danger. From the druids, outlaws, and even Protocol soldiers who won’t take kindly to trespassers. Fortunately, combat on this easiest of difficulties is a breeze to survive, but enemies getting hits on me can still take a decent chunk of my health.

That combat consists of using both melee weapons and guns to get the job done. Ammo is scarce, so melee is the best option. There’s also a kick, useful for putting a bit of space between myself and an enemy. Stealth is also a thing, using a crouch to reduce sound made. And hide in tall grass. The takedown command can be used on anyone, as long as they don’t know you are behind them. And when I say anyone, I mean it.

Scattered around the world are various crafting materials, such as alcohol and cloth (which makes a bandage), and other things, too. Weapons to use, food to eat to restore health, and elixirs to increase resistance to some of the deadly effects that can be found in some places. Most notably in Casterfell Woods, where I’ve found an area full of spores and one with radiation leaking. Those places likely hold some secrets of their own.

There are skills to learn, providing health increases, buffs to damage, and the ability to disarm traps. To do so, training stimulants must be found around the world. These act as a skill currency, allowing purchase of whatever skills are wanted. But not all skills are available from the off, with most needing training manuals to learn them. Skills are very useful in both exploration and combat, feeding into the exploratory loop that is the core of Atomfall.

On a final note, the photo mode of the game is a nice feature. Allowing the capture of this beautiful world that Rebellion have crafted. But it also has a miss in the fact the player character apparently is the camera in photo mode. Pulling away from the spot where I stand, there’s no-one in sight. At least there’s a laugh in imagining a human-shaped drone flying around, passing other people. Even if the range of movement in-game for the camera is pretty small.

Atomfall is a great experience. A beautiful if eerie world, and a lot of loveable interactions to be had with people, which fully puts you in control of the role you want to play. Now, if only the sound didn’t keep eliminating itself, I’d be able to hear more of them. Yes, it’s an odd bug that for some reason got past QA despite how common it seems to be. But one that I can hope Rebellion are already working on. Even with that, I can easily recommend Atomfall.

Images Taken From:
Atomfall | Xbox Series S