Welcome to Atomfall, Rebellion’s brand-new post-nuclear survival game set in an alternate-reality Britain. If you’re about to step into the mysterious and dangerous world of the game, you’re in the right place. Survival won’t be easy, between patrolling robots, mutant creatures, and ruthless outlaws, every decision counts. This guide will walk you through essential strategies for thriving in Atomfall, from resource management and combat to exploration and character interactions. So, let’s get you ready to step out of the bunker!
Starter Guide & Everything You Need to Know Before Playing
Are you playing on controller? Check out our best controller and gameplay settings before jumping into this starter guide!
One of the best starting points in Atomfall is The Interchange. This pivotal location can unlock new leads and shape your journey. But getting there requires you to utilize the game’s core mechanic: investigations.
Instead of traditional quests, Atomfall uses a lead-based system where clues, notes, and conversations hint at your next steps. Every scrap of information could be vital. Talk to NPCs, examine documents, and piece together the mystery at your own pace.
For example, Alf Buckshaw, the owner of Grendel’s Head Pub in Wyndham Village, might ask you to collect letters from Skethermoor. One of these letters, from someone named Nora, could reveal a hidden entrance to The Interchange or the location of a key item.
Tip: Pay attention to every note, overheard conversation, and piece of environmental storytelling. This game rewards curiosity and observation!
HUD Breakdown: Navigating Atomfall’s Interface
Understanding the HUD will make your journey a lot smoother:
- Tracked Lead: Displays your currently tracked objective in the top left. It also notifies you of new leads or completed ones.
- Compass: Shows your direction and any highlighted map locations or tracked leads.
- Tool Alert: If a tool (like the Metal Detector) is usable, an alert will prompt you to switch to it.
- Weapon Wheel: Only appears when switching weapons.
- Health Bar: Classic health tracker. Keep it up, or you’re dead.
- Buffs & Debuffs: Any status effects (positive or negative) appear above the health bar.
- Heart Rate Meter: Functions like a reverse stamina bar—if it fills up, you won’t be able to attack in melee or sprint.
Survival & Scavenging
Supplies are scarce, so scavenging is crucial. You’ll find materials hidden in abandoned buildings, bunkers, and ruins. These resources allow you to craft essential tools, weapons, and healing items.
- Cloth – Found in rags and toilet paper; used for bandages and Molotovs.
- Gunpowder – Found in workshops and bunkers; needed for grenades.
- Purple Herbs – Found near Slatten Dale; used for potions and tonics that boost resistances against fire, radiation, poison, and physical damage.
Tip: Get a metal detector early on. It helps uncover hidden supply caches and secrets buried within the Quarantine Zone. You can find one near the water wheels in Slatten Dale or trade with Molly the Tinkerer/Trader.
Combat Strategies
In Atomfall, you’ll often encounter large groups of enemies. Early on, when your firepower and supplies are limited, it’s usually best to avoid direct combat. However, when fighting is inevitable, strategy is key:
- Stealth: Sneak through tall grass and take alternate routes to avoid detection. Silent takedowns and precise headshots are your best friend.
- Intimidation: Aiming your weapon at melee enemies may cause them to back off.
- Explosives: When facing groups, grenades and Molotovs can turn the tide.
- Manage Your Heart Rate: If your heart rate maxes out, you can’t sprint or fight effectively. Take breaks when needed!
Combat in Atomfall isn’t about brute force—it’s about timing, patience, and knowing when to strike or retreat.
While we’re on the topic of combat, it is essential to also upgrade your weapons in Atomfall. It will make the clunky combat a bit more enjoyable and it will be easier to take down enemies.
Exploration & Traders
As you explore, you may find British Atomic Research Division (B.A.R.D.) bunkers. These locations are dangerous but full of rare supplies and skill-boosting stimulants found in B-chests.
One uniquely valuable item is the Pneumatic Tube, allowing you to store and retrieve items later. These tubes are only found in old BAR facilities, so plan accordingly before heading back into the wild.
Traders are scattered throughout the world, offering crafting recipes, supplies, and unique items. Instead of looting them, trading is often smarter, their inventories refresh over time.
- Trading is barter-based—offer items in exchange for others. NOTE: Check out our guide on how to barter in Atomfall!
- Some traders value certain items more than others (marked with yellow for high value, red for low value).
- (Example: Molly loves Molotovs but isn’t big on bandages.)
Patience and smart bartering can reward you far more than quick, violent solutions.
Skills & Progression
Atomfall offers 12 starting skills, with additional unlockable skills found throughout the world. Careful skill selection can significantly improve your survival.
Skill points are obtained through training stimulants found in bunkers and B-chests. Once acquired, you can allocate them based on your preferred playstyle. For example:
- Fortitude – Increases max health, helping you survive longer.
- Charisma – Makes your items more valuable to traders, making bartering easier.
- Throwable Radius – Expands the area of effect for Molotovs and grenades.
- Kill Momentum – Grants a damage boost after melee kills, useful for early-game combat.
Choose a skill build that complements your playstyle: stealth, ranged combat, utility, or melee!
More Useful Info about Atomfall
- Dialogue Choices Matter: Atomfall offers dialogue choices with helpful tags that indicate your tone. These choices subtly influence interactions, especially when dealing with characters to convince them to trust you:
- Shock: Reacting to a trader’s mutated appearance
- Indifference: Keeping emotions in check
- Weary or Impatient: Growing tired of questioning
- Experimental Mechanics: Your actions can unknowingly trigger world events, altering enemy populations or making certain threats disappear.
- Manage Your Resources: Healing and ammunition are limited. Only engage when necessary.
Are You Ready to Step Out The Bunker?
By now, you have the survival basics down, how to scavenge, fight, trade, and navigate the world of Atomfall. But the real challenge is what comes next: the choices you make.
As I’ve said above, Atomfall doesn’t hold your hand with quest markers, only leads that encourage exploration. Every conversation, every discovered note, and every hidden bunker could change the course of your adventure. Will you trust a shady trader offering you information? Will you investigate a seemingly abandoned house, risking a potential ambush? Or will you master the art of bartering and stealth to stay ahead?
Survival isn’t just about keeping your health bar full, it’s about understanding the world around you and playing smart. Your choices will shape your journey, and no two playthroughs will be the same. Now, with everything laid down, are you ready to step out of the bunker?
