Fallout Fans Should Keep an Eye on Atomfall

Though Fallout saw a resurgence of popularity recently thanks to last year's well-received Amazon TV show and a subsequent bump in player numbers for some of its latest entries, the next mainline title in the franchise likely won't be released until much later in the decade, if not after. Players seeking more Fallout thus may need to look elsewhere for the time being to sate their craving for open-world post-apocalyptic action games. Announced only last year, Rebellion Developments' forthcoming Atomfall seems to squarely fit this bill.

Atomfall will be a day one Game Pass inclusion.

Atomfall Appears to Have Major Fallout Vibes

Atomfall's Similarities to Fallout

The biggest comparison between Atomfall and Fallout is in their set-ups and premises. Atomfall takes place in an alternate reality after the real-life Windscale fire disaster that occurred in the late 1950s at one of Britain's nuclear facilities. It was the worst event of its kind in the region's history, and the game will thrust players into a quarantined version of the area to explore the aftermath and uncover the truth of how and why it happened while navigating the dangers that have appeared in its wake.

In terms of design, Atomfall's gameplay will be FPS, with the title's Steam page description outlining that fans will need to "scavenge, craft, barter, fight, and talk your way through the British countryside filled with bizarre characters, mysticism, cults, and rogue government agencies." These elements bring to mind a number of those found in Fallout, and can also be said to generally resemble other games centered around a known nuclear event, like the Stalker series.

Atomfall Distinguishes Itself from Fallout in Other Ways

While it does bear the above parallels, and Rebellion is a British-based studio, Atomfall is much more than just "Fallout in England," and contains various aspects that will set it apart. Notably, instead of a world where centuries have passed since a global nuclear exchange, Atomfall is set only five years following the Windscale event. This means that many structures are still intact and the population within the zone is more present and prominent. Atomfall's environments look more vibrant and lived-in than what is usually seen in Fallout's entries, making for a different prospective feel when players comb through them and encounter various groups.

Atomfall will heavily emphasize its survival-based mechanics, particularly through largely melee-focused combat and armaments based on recognizable local culture and flavor. For example, players will be required to "manage your heart rate to hold a steady aim and ensure you have the energy to reach for your cricket bat and land a killer blow." Firearm ammo and other resources are stated to be much less generously scattered throughout the world in Atomfall, forcing fans to manage these more closely and make tactical decisions about when and where to use their precious bullets or other supplies.

Rebellion has also noted that Atomfall draws heavily from folk horror works, and promises to lean into these throughout its narrative as players delve deeper into the mystery surrounding the landscape and its populace. With everything seen about it so far, Atomfall is poised to deliver an experience that Fallout fans will likely appreciate, as well as anyone looking for an interesting FPS survival-crafting title set in an alternate reality framed around the aftermath of a nuclear disaster.