Fallout in England or British S.T.A.L.K.E.R.? What you need to know about Atomfall

One of this month's major releases is the survival shooter Atomfall. The project is handled by Rebellion, the studio behind the Sniper Elite series. Since its announcement, many gamers have been quick to call Atomfall, which takes place in an alternate 1950s England, the "British Fallout." Some have even drawn parallels with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. However, the game is shaping up to be quite unique rather than a direct counterpart to any well-known franchise — at least, judging by various previews and trailers. Let's explore what makes Atomfall intriguing.

The game begins in a secret bunker, where the protagonist awakens. Who they are and how they ended up underground remains a mystery. Not only does the player lack this knowledge, but even the first NPC they encounter in the bunker does not recognize them.

Upon emerging, the player finds themselves in a massive exclusion zone in northwest England, within the county of Cumbria. In real life, a nuclear accident occurred there in 1957 at one of the two reactors of the Sellafield atomic complex. While the real event had no severe consequences, in Atomfall’s universe, the incident was far more catastrophic. According to the alternate timeline, the government was forced to isolate the area around the plant for five years, preventing even the local residents from leaving.

In terms of tone, Atomfall is not as bleak or pessimistic as other games in the genre. The society cut off from the outside world has indeed descended into chaos, as expected in post-apocalyptic tales, but only to an extent. Yes, there are raiders and mutants, but ordinary Britons try to maintain their spirits — some businesses continue operating, and even telephone booths remain functional. The "keep calm and carry on" mindset is the only viable approach for most peaceful inhabitants.

Lush forests, green hills, and crystal-clear streams further help keep the morale high in Atomfall’s world. Dangers lurk everywhere — from venomous rats to deadly leeches — but at least the landscapes aren’t grim and dreary.

Atomfall is full of intriguing mysteries: what really happened at the nuclear station? Who is the protagonist? What happened to their memory? Is there any way to contact the outside world — assuming civilization still exists? Finding the answers is the player’s main goal, and the gameplay is designed to make them feel like a true detective.

There are no traditional quests in Atomfall. Instead, players stumble upon so called leads during their adventures, which hint at what to do next. For example, they might find a torn-out journal page or overhear an NPC argument mentioning the possible location of a secret underground complex, a missing person, or a dangerous cult. Following one clue will progress the story in certain directions while locking out others.

Players must also decide whom to trust. Many characters in Atomfall have selfish motives and only want to use the protagonist for their own gain. Betrayal is common — NPCs may even provide conflicting clues. That’s why relying on detective instincts is crucial to avoid unfavorable situations.

Interestingly, the developers claim that the game can be completed by killing every named character. This level of freedom is rare in RPGs — Bethesda’s Fallout games, for example, do not allow players to eliminate essential NPCs.

Many characters in Atomfall belong to different factions, which shape their motivations. There are raiders dressed like football hooligans, insane cultists who revere the nuclear disaster as divine intervention, and the military organization "Protocol," which claims to maintain law and order but enforces authoritarian rule over the free-spirited locals. Naturally, not everyone welcomes them — why should people remain loyal subjects of the Queen when the area is no longer truly part of the United Kingdom?

As mentioned earlier, Atomfall is a hardcore survival shooter, meaning players must search not only for clues but also for supplies. Resources are deliberately scarce — ammo is always low, and medkits are in short supply. Combat requires readiness for melee fights, as rifle bullets can run out at any moment, and a cricket bat might break. If medkits are exhausted, players will have to rely on scavenged food.

Items can be obtained from traders, but there’s a catch. There’s no money in the game — trade operates solely through bartering.

Most enemies in Atomfall are ordinary people — at least physically. Mentally, however, many of them are far from stable. Mutants do exist, but they are relatively rare. In abandoned tunnels and bunkers, players may encounter aggressive local zombies, behaving similarly to Fallout’s feral ghouls.

Robots pose another challenge, especially when trying to infiltrate "Protocol"-controlled areas. This organization employs various mechanical sentries, including models equipped with flamethrowers.

The similarities to the iconic RPG series are undeniable — Atomfall also leans on retrofuturism, draws inspiration from 1950s aesthetics, and plays with the theme of nuclear paranoia. And much like the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games, especially the first entry, Atomfall tells the story of an amnesiac protagonist in an exclusion zone, where every bullet counts to avoid becoming a mutant’s next meal.

At the same time, the game stands out with its vibrant visuals, lighter tone, and its unique clue-based progression system, which currently seems like Atomfall’s most intriguing feature.

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Atomfall launches on PC and PlayStation and Xbox consoles on March 27 (with a three-day early access period for Deluxe Edition owners). Notably, it will be available not only on current-gen platforms but also on PS4 and Xbox One. We’ll be sure to share our impressions, so stay tuned for updates on our site.

What are your thoughts on Atomfall? Planning to play?