Following much build-up and anticipation, Rebellion-developed Atomfall has finally been released.
Set in Cumbria’s Lake District and taking place five years after the Windscale nuclear disaster, Atomfall sees players wake up within a fictionalized quarantine zone sealed off from the outside world.
A secret Ministry of Defence project caused the world's first major nuclear disaster at Windscale, and the fate of those trapped within the quarantine zone remains unknown. It's up to players to discover the secrets behind what really happened.
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+ 3If you're thinking about jumping into the dangerous world of Atomfall, here are five things you should know before playing:
1. It's on Game Pass
Hold on, don't spend your money just yet! Atomfall is free to play on Xbox Game Pass, meaning anyone with an active subscription to Game Pass Ultimate on PC and Console can download the game at no additional cost.
Atomfall is also available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Steam, although it will set you back between $49.99-$79.99 depending on what version you want, so Game Pass is definitely the way to go if you are on Xbox.
2. It's Inspired by True Events
Most people will have heard of Chernobyl and Fukushima, but few will know of the Windscale fire. Not only was it one of the world's first nuclear accidents, but it also remains the worst to happen on UK soil.
A nuclear reactor at the Cumbria site caught fire on 10 October 1957, burning for three days, and releasing radioactive material into the atmosphere as a result.
click to enlarge + 3Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley told BBC Newsbeat that he was walking in the Lake District when the idea of using the real-life Windscale story "as a trigger point for a fictionalized version of the disaster" first came to mind.
3. It's Full of Possibilities
The clever thing about Atomfall is that it can be played however you'd like it to be, all while combining a balanced mixture of investigating, combat, and survival. If you'd like to kill anything and everything in your path then you can, but if you'd rather take a more stealthier approach as you uncover the world's secrets, that is also possible.
There are six different endings in Atomfall, all of which connect back to the decisions you make throughout the game. When we say you can play it however you wish, we really do mean it.
4. It's Harsh and Unforgiving
If you think you are going to have an endless amount of resources at your disposal from start to finish, then think again. While you can adjust the difficulty settings for combat, exploration, and survival, you are in for a rough time, and that's exactly what Rebellion wants.
click to enlarge + 3Atomfall does a good job of making it feel like death is waiting for you around every corner, and you're quite literally fighting for your life. Ammo can disappear within seconds, and enemies will throw everything they have at you, not to mention the numerous booby traps and infected creatures scattered across the land.
5. It's a Fun Yet Frustrating Experience
You can check out our full review of Atomfall here, and while we won't go into all the details, it's a game that has its highs and lows. Combat can get tedious and repetitive quite quickly, and its abandonment of traditional mission mechanics means things can often get overwhelming, too.
In spite of its flaws, Atomfall can still be a fun game to play thanks to its mysterious story plot, impressive setting, and smooth performance. Additionally, extensive gameplay customization options mean all playstyles are covered, offering great freedom to the player.
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