PLATFORM: PC, PS4/5, XBOX ONE/SERIES (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: MARCH 24TH (DELUXE EDITION) / MARCH 27TH (STANDARD EDITION)

Heavily inspired by classic sci-fi like Doctor Who, The Day of the Triffids and The Quatermass Experiment, Atomfall is one of the most unapologetically British games that’s been seen for quite some time. Set in the Lake District in the early 1960s, five years after the real-world nuclear incident at Windscale, you wake up in a bunker inside the quarantine zone around the atom plant with no memory of how you got there. Your only tasks are to find out what’s happening within the zone, who’s responsible, how you can escape from it, and indeed who you are and what your part in all of this really is.

At first glance, this single-player action/survival game looks a lot like a British take on Fallout. While that’s true to some degree – you’ll be exploring and looting the remnants of civilisation around the site of a nuclear incident, dealing with a cast of quirky and eccentric survivors, and fighting for your life against outlaws, soldiers, cult members and gigantic robots – Atomfall is a much more accessible game for those who are less keen on the wordy narratives, overwhelming amounts of stat-based items and systems, and constant need for digging around in menus that are often found in games of a similar ilk.

Atomfall‘s version of the Lake District is split into a handful of interconnected maps, each containing a variety of locations that can be visited in whatever order you wish (after unlocking the required door to gain access to each area, that is). In each location, you’ll find multiple points of interest where you’ll be able to acquire useful things like food, weapons and crafting materials to make healing items and throwable weapons, as well as picking up “Leads” which point you towards specific objectives. While there is a definite main questline to follow, which Leads you want to pursue at any given time is completely up to you, allowing you to make your own way through the game’s world to discover its secrets at your own pace.

While Atomfall might look like a long-winded RPG, there are very few role-playing features or mechanics to contend with and you’re likely to see the end credits within around 20-25 hours. There is a skill tree that allows you to improve a few of your abilities (by spending skill points that are found around the world), but the focus is mostly on exploring each area, soaking in the atmosphere, whacking a bunch of bad guys and ultimately getting to the bottom of the events that are unfolding around you. Those who have an affinity with more complex titles like the recent Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 or the aforementioned Fallout series might be underwhelmed by the lack of systems and mechanics that Atomfall offers, but for others it will be a blessing to be able to pick up a game that can be enjoyed without having to really think too hard about what you’re doing.

With straightforward gameplay, an engaging plot and a delightful sense of Britishness, Atomfall allows you to sit back and immerse yourself in a kooky alternate take on some of England’s most beloved scenery whilst killing baddies and losing yourself in a well written sci-fi tale. Lovely stuff!