Embark on a thrilling and violent journey through the English countryside with Atomfall, the latest survival-action game from Rebellion, the developers behind Sniper Elite. Recently, I had the chance to dive into the game during a hands-on session at a North London pub, and I came away captivated by its open-ended mission design and haunting atmosphere. In a moment of madness, I even found myself attacking everyone in sight, including an innocent old lady, with a cricket bat. Allow me to delve into the reasons behind my actions.

In Atomfall, every NPC is fair game for elimination, from the most inconsequential grunt to vital quest-givers. Eager to test this mechanic, I began my demo by setting a rather brutal goal. Barely two minutes into exploring the digital Cumbria, I triggered a tripwire alarm, forcing me to dispatch three alerted guards using nothing but a cricket bat, now baptized in blood.

Later, I acquired a bow and arrow, which I quickly equipped, satisfying my penchant for archery in video games. With both long and short-range options, I could give my cricket bat a much-needed break. As I ventured further, I spotted a towering wicker man, a clear nod to the folk horror elements that underpin the game's setting. These elements contribute to an unsettling atmosphere that enhances the mystery at the heart of Atomfall: what catastrophe befell this once serene, now irradiated corner of England?

My musings were soon interrupted by a group of druids, likely connected to the wicker man. They became perfect targets for my bow, and as I took them down, my inner voice jokingly proclaimed, "I'M ROBIN BLOODY HOOD." The bow felt great to use, but what really caught my attention was Atomfall's innovative stamina system. Instead of a traditional stamina bar, the game uses a heart rate monitor that increases with physical exertion. Sprinting, for instance, can push your heart rate above 140 bpm, affecting your aim. I later found a Bow Mastery skill manual that mitigated this effect, though the skill tree seemed somewhat straightforward, it still allowed for character customization based on preferred playstyles, such as stealth or combat.

Atomfall Screenshots

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With a trail of dead druids behind me, my overarching goal remained elusive. My exploration of the Casterfall Woods yielded few significant discoveries, so I followed a note directing me to a herbalist named Mother Jago near an old mine. Along the way, I encountered hints of a larger narrative, such as a shimmering, oily swirl over a power plant and a phone box with a chilling warning to stay out of the woods.

The environment was rich with storytelling elements, like an old boathouse with an eerie alarm system and a warning painted on it. These touches created an uneasy atmosphere, reminiscent of games like Stalker rather than the often-cited Fallout. Atomfall's world is segmented into multiple "open zones," each contributing to the game's tense and mysterious vibe.

After another druid massacre and looting their garden for herbs, I met Mother Jago at her allotment. Dressed in a plum-colored coat and a hat adorned with an animal skull and roses, she resembled Angela Lansbury if she had turned to black magic instead of crime-solving. Despite my exhaustive questioning, Jago offered only vague answers, pushing me to explore every dialogue option in search of clues, much like classic point-and-click adventures. Eventually, she tasked me with retrieving her herbalism book from a druid-occupied castle in exchange for valuable information.

Atomfall's freeform design allowed me to approach the castle from any direction. I chose a side attack, encountering a druid patrol near an abandoned petrol station. The ensuing "Battle of the Forecourt" was explosive, though the enemy AI didn't impress with its tactics. Still, the combat was satisfying, though not top-tier, serving more as a fun diversion from the main focus on uncovering the world's secrets.

Inside the castle's outer walls, I found a locked hut with a note hinting at distant keys. Atomfall eschews objective markers, encouraging players to study their maps and set their own points of interest. My instincts told me the book wasn't in the hut, so I headed to the central keep. After dispatching more druids and searching the keep's dark corridors, I found no sign of the book, only crafting materials. Atomfall's mission design is deliberately obtuse, challenging players to explore thoroughly without guidance.

Following the map coordinates to the southeast, I encountered a poison plant monster that proved deadly. Using my Skyrim-honed bunny-hopping skills, I managed to bypass it and retrieve the keys from a previous victim. Back at the hut, I found a perk point and ammo, but no herbalism book.

Frustrated, I ventured deeper into the castle, killing the High Priestess and her followers, and discovered an SMG, a poison bomb recipe, and an atomic battery, none of which were the book I sought. After my session ended, I learned the book was actually on a table I had overlooked multiple times.

Xbox Games Series Tier List

Xbox Games Series Tier List

Believing the book to be a ruse, I returned to Mother Jago, only to kill her in my confusion and frustration. Searching her body, I found a recipe to combat the poison monster, which she likely intended to trade for the book. It seemed we could have avoided much bloodshed had I found it sooner.

Atomfall promises a lengthy playtime, with developers suggesting a minimum of four to five hours for the story, and an average of 25 hours for most players. The game's varied paths and mysteries were evident when another demo player described an entirely different adventure involving a crashed helicopter, killer robots, and mutants.

While Atomfall's quest design may be too obtuse for some, it rewards players who engage deeply with its mysteries. The blurred lines between side and main objectives create a sense of peril and encourage personalized storytelling. Despite my violent detour with Mother Jago, I'm eager to see how my story unfolds.

With my hands stained from the chaos I caused, I embraced the full British experience: taking my cricket bat to the pub, ready to wait out the storm I had unleashed in the game.