Atomfall Guide#
Atomfall is a survival-action game from Rebellion Developments released in 2025, set in the British countryside after the Windscale nuclear disaster. This guide covers beginner basics, combat, crafting recipes, gear, world exploration, quest flow, the skill system, hidden content, boss fights, and backstory. Whether you are stepping into the wasteland for the first time or an experienced player hunting its last secrets, everything you need is here.
Atomfall is an open-world survival-action game set against the Windscale nuclear disaster. The 1957 Windscale fire triggered the worst nuclear accident in British history, and the government sealed off a quarantine zone. More than twenty years later, you venture into this radiation-contaminated English countryside, surviving and exploring through abandoned villages, Soviet-style bunkers, and mysterious research facilities while uncovering the hidden truth.
Basic Info#
| Item |
Detail |
| Developer |
Rebellion Developments |
| Publisher |
Rebellion Developments |
| Release date |
March 27, 2025 |
| Platforms |
PC (Steam/Epic), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S |
| Engine |
Rebellion Engine |
| Genre |
Survival action |
| Mode |
Single-player |
| Length |
Main story 20-30 hours |
Core Features#
| Feature |
What it means |
| Open-world English countryside |
A broad Windscale quarantine zone containing villages, forests, underground facilities, and military bases |
| Survival and crafting |
Gather resources, craft weapons and tools, and manage hunger, radiation, and health |
| Melee and firearm combat |
A combat system blending cold weapons and guns, with stealth and tactical choices |
| Skill system |
Multiple skill branches for building a personalized character build |
| Factions |
Interact with several factions; your choices shape how the story goes |
| Hidden secrets |
Plenty of easter eggs, hidden locations, and collectibles |
| Atomic-punk atmosphere |
A distinctive British nuclear-wasteland aesthetic |
Beginner Quick Tips#
| Tip |
Why it matters |
| Loot everything |
Early resources are scarce — never skip crates, cabinets, or bodies |
| Manage radiation |
Carry anti-radiation medicine and stay away from high-radiation zones |
| Stealth first |
Avoid fights when you can — sneaking saves ammo and medicine |
| Craft tools |
Make lockpicks and makeshift weapons as your very first priority |
| Stock up before leaving |
Make sure food, water, and medical supplies are sufficient before leaving safe zones |
| Listen to recordings |
Scattered tape recordings and documents hold important clues and codes |
| Explore every corner |
Hidden passages and secret areas usually hold the best loot |
| Upgrade priorities |
Invest first in skills tied to carry weight and health recovery |
Mechanics at a Glance#
| Mechanic |
How it works |
Importance |
| Radiation |
Builds up in contaminated zones; needs medicine to clear |
★★★★★ |
| Hunger |
You must eat to maintain stamina |
★★★★ |
| Health |
Injuries need treatment; severe ones need medkits |
★★★★★ |
| Weapon durability |
Weapons degrade with use and must be repaired at a workbench |
★★★★ |
| Encumbrance |
Being overweight cuts movement speed and stamina recovery |
★★★★ |
| Stealth |
Crouching lowers detection odds; backstabs kill instantly |
★★★★ |
| Crafting |
Make weapons, tools, and consumables at workbenches |
★★★★ |
| Skills |
Spend skill points on talents and special abilities |
★★★★ |
| Faction standing |
Relations with each faction affect trading and tasks |
★★★ |
| Day-night cycle |
Enemies see less at night, but some enemies are more active |
★★★ |
System Requirements#
| Item |
Minimum |
Recommended |
Ultra |
| OS |
Windows 10 64-bit |
Windows 11 64-bit |
Windows 11 64-bit |
| CPU |
Intel Core i5-8400 |
Intel Core i7-10700K |
Intel Core i9-12900K |
| Memory |
16 GB |
16 GB |
32 GB |
| GPU |
NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB |
NVIDIA RTX 3060 |
NVIDIA RTX 4070 |
| Storage |
60 GB SSD |
— |
— |
| DirectX |
Version 12 |
Version 12 |
Version 12 |
| Frame target |
30 FPS @ 1080p low |
60 FPS @ 1080p high |
60+ FPS @ 1440p ultra |
Atomfall runs on Rebellion’s in-house engine and is well optimized. An SSD is recommended to cut load times, and the full installation comes to about 60 GB.
Version Info#
| Item |
Detail |
| First release |
1.0 (March 27, 2025) |
| Latest version |
1.0.x (continuously updated) |
| DLC plans |
Seasonal content updates announced |
| Mod support |
No official mod tools |
Rebellion Developments has confirmed it will keep supporting Atomfall with updates and content, including new quests, new regions, and balance adjustments.
Controls#
| Action |
PC key |
Controller |
| Move |
WASD |
Left stick |
| Interact |
E |
A (Xbox) |
| Attack |
Left mouse button |
RT (Xbox) |
| Aim |
Right mouse button |
LT (Xbox) |
| Sneak |
Ctrl (hold) |
Left stick click |
| Jump |
Space |
A (Xbox) |
| Sprint |
Shift |
Push left stick to sprint |
| Reload |
R |
X (Xbox) |
| Inventory |
Tab |
Menu |
| Map |
M |
View |
| Use item |
Number keys 1-4 |
D-Pad |
Resources and Community#
| Resource |
What it is for |
| Steam store |
Buying the game, reviews, community hub |
| Official Discord |
Community discussion, bug reports, update announcements |
| Reddit r/Atomfall |
Player discussion, tips, screenshots |
| Fextralife Wiki |
Database, quest details, item info |
Join the community to stay on top of updates, uncover hidden secrets, and take part in deeper discussions.
FAQ#
| Question |
Answer |
| Is Chinese supported? |
Simplified Chinese interface and subtitles are supported |
| Do I need previous Rebellion games? |
No — Atomfall is a brand-new IP |
| Manual save? |
Both manual and automatic saving are supported |
| Can difficulty be changed? |
Yes, at any time in the game settings |
| Is there New Game Plus? |
New Game Plus unlocks after you finish the game |
| How long is the game? |
Main story about 20-30 hours; full completion about 50+ hours |
| Is there multiplayer? |
Purely single-player — no multiplayer mode |
| Is Windscale a real event? |
Yes — the 1957 Windscale fire was a real nuclear accident |
Stage Guide#
| Stage |
Duration |
Main goals |
Recommended focus |
| Opening |
0-5 h |
Learn the basics, get starter gear |
Explore safe areas, gather basic materials, finish the tutorial quests |
| Early |
5-15 h |
Establish a base, craft weapons |
Unlock the skill system, find workbenches, make tools and weapons |
| Mid |
15-30 h |
Push into dangerous zones, meet factions |
Faction quests, rare materials, gear upgrades |
| Late |
30 h+ |
Wrap up the main story, full collection |
Boss preparation, hidden-area exploration, achievement clean-up |
Weapon Tiers#
| Tier |
Melee |
Firearms |
Verdict |
| S |
War hammer, shock baton |
Hunting rifle, shotgun |
High damage — the late-game core |
| A |
Machete, fire axe |
Assault rifle, SMG |
Reliable picks for most fights |
| B |
Iron pipe, spiked club |
Revolver, semi-auto pistol |
Mid-game stopgaps — transition gear |
| C |
Wooden stick, fists |
Makeshift pistol |
Early emergencies — replace as soon as you can |
Game Modes#
| Mode |
Description |
Suited for |
| Standard |
The default experience — manual saves available |
All players |
| Survival |
Scarcer resources, stronger enemies, restricted saves |
Players seeking a challenge |
| Ironman |
One save, death is permanent, highest difficulty |
Hardcore players |
| New Game Plus |
Unlocks after finishing — carries skills and some equipment |
Second playthroughs |
Recommended Settings#
| Setting |
Recommended |
Why |
| Field of view |
90-100 |
Balances visibility and performance |
| Mouse sensitivity |
Medium |
Needed for precise aiming |
| Graphics preset |
High |
Adjust to your GPU |
| VSync |
Off |
Reduces input latency |
| Audio |
Headphone mode |
Better positional audio |
Progression Path#
| Hours |
Do |
Don’t |
Key goals |
| 1-5 h |
Explore the Windscale valley, gather basic materials, finish tutorial quests |
Don’t push deep into high-radiation zones |
Set up a safehouse, craft basic tools |
| 5-15 h |
Enter the abandoned woodland, craft weapons, unlock skills |
Don’t take on large groups head-on |
Get your first firearms, build a supply line |
| 15-25 h |
Meet the factions, run side quests, upgrade gear |
Don’t neglect radiation protection |
Pick a faction lean, craft mid-tier gear |
| 25-35 h |
Push into military zones and research facilities, advance the main story |
Don’t hoard low-quality items |
Get high-tier weapons, unlock advanced crafting |
| 35 h+ |
Prepare for the final boss, chase full collection |
Don’t leave hidden content behind |
Beat the final boss, open New Game Plus |
Common Pitfalls#
| Trap |
The truth |
Advice |
| Hazmat suits last forever |
Hazmat suits have durability — high-radiation zones wear them down fast |
Carry spares or plenty of repair materials |
| Higher difficulty pays better |
Difficulty only changes enemy strength and resource amounts — not drop quality |
Pick the difficulty that suits you |
| You can max every skill |
Total skill points are not enough to max everything |
Plan your build — focus on a few skill trees |
| Saves are unlimited |
Saving is restricted in Survival and Ironman modes |
Confirm your game mode before settling on a strategy |
| Merchant prices are fair |
Sell prices sit far below buy prices — bulk goods are worth little |
Dismantling surplus items beats selling them |
| Tip |
Source |
Detail |
| Fast early money |
Reddit r/Atomfall |
The locked chest in the church basement holds valuable items — prioritize lockpicking |
| Hidden weapon location |
Steam community |
A legendary machete in the cave behind the waterfall — requires finishing a quest line first |
| Renewable material spot |
Discord community |
Scrapyard materials east of the industrial zone respawn every 3 days |
| Fast leveling |
Player guides |
Bounty quests award far more XP than any other activity |
| Boss shortcuts |
YouTube guides |
Some bosses can be beaten by exploiting terrain or whittling them down at range |
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 — an exclusion-zone survival shooter built on radiation, anomalies, and scavenging
- Valheim — survival crafting about gathering resources, crafting gear, and venturing farther out
- Dune: Awakening — open-world survival where managing scarce resources and hostile terrain is the core
- Skyrim — the open-world RPG classic about exploring every corner of a region
- Path of Exile 2 — a dark action RPG with deep skill-tree planning for your build
Best Open World Games · Best Survival Crafting Games · Best RPGs
Full Guides#
In-depth sub-guides — challenge play, controls and settings, the gallery, useful resources, system deep-dives, tips, update notes, and the full walkthrough — are available in Chinese on NTGame’s Atomfall section.