It’s likely to be a long while before Fallout 5 graces our screens; with a potential Elder Scrolls 6 taking precedence in the Bethesda lineup, the apocalypse RPG series feels far from a return. Fortunately, the delightful Atomfall has just arrived, joining the likes of Stalker 2, The Outer Worlds, and Avowed in presenting an alternative open-world sandbox to explore. Built by Sniper Elite developer Rebellion, it’s a safe but satisfying first step outside the studio’s comfort zone, and you can grab it right after launch at a sizable saving.
You can read our Atomfall review for a full breakdown of what makes it tick; Nat scored it an 8/10, hailing the newcomer as “a diamond in the rough for survival RPG fans” despite playing things relatively by-the-book as Rebellion’s first foray into the genre. Set in north-west England in the wake of an escalated take on the 1957 Windscale nuclear accident, Atomfall plunges you into “a delightfully pulpy detective romp” through its beautiful British countryside. Opting for a smaller, more dense world, it dodges open-world fatigue in favor of ample avenues for discovery.
Despite the obvious comparisons, Atomfall isn’t simply a Britain-based Bethesda rival in the vein of Fallout London; there’s less resource scarcity and more detective work to be done as you delve into small-town drama and meet mysterious groups. You’re given almost carte blanche to act as you please, with few pre-designated affiliations to worry about. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to decide how you approach conversations and confrontations.
While your journey through the hills and dales of Atomfall will likely start out with a focus on staying alive with careful decisions and smart movement, you’ll begin to pick up more tools that allow you to dive into the action as you progress. The weapons all feel as punchy as you might expect given Rebellion’s history with the Sniper Elite games, and you can even blast your way through key NPCs if you decide you’ve had enough of dealing with them.
Boasting plenty of nods to British culture and classic sci-fi that range from the works of The Day of the Triffids author John Wyndham to Doctor Who, Atomfall is a jovial adventure that doesn’t get quite as bogged down in the relentless horrors of apocalyptic fiction as some of its counterparts. It’s an ideal pickup as we head into the spring season, then, and a special Fanatical discount means you can grab a big saving on a Steam copy of the game.
Atomfall is available on Steam at a 22% discount via Fanatical, meaning you’ll pay just $38.99 / £35.09 down from its usual price of $49.99 / £44.99. Click the link above or head straight to the Fanatical page to take advantage of the deal while it lasts. Alternatively, you can also play Atomfall as part of Microsoft’s Game Pass library if you’re a subscriber.
If you’re still dreaming of things to come, here’s our latest estimate on the Fallout 5 release date. For more options you can dive into today, here are the best open-world games on PC.
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