New game Atomfall turns real British nuclear disaster into something much worse

Northwest England, October 1957. A fire breaks out in the Windscale reactor on the site of the nuclear complex now known as Sellafield. Radioactive gases contaminate an area of several hundred square kilometres. A number of people die in the accident.

Based on this real event, the British development studio Rebellion has created a fictional scenario for the PC and console game Atomfall. Set in 1962, five years after the Windscale fire, the story is even darker and grimmer than the reality.

In this action-survival game, you explore a post-apocalyptic northern England full of horror, secrets and uncertainty. People are suspicious, supplies are scarce and dangers lurk everywhere.

You will encounter numerous characters on your journey, some of whom are helpful and informative, while others have ill intentions. The name Oberon recurs repeatedly but what it means and why it seems so important remains a mystery for a long time.

The game is played from a first-person perspective. As you move through deserted areas, you must not only be on guard against enemies but also search for new supplies and resources.

Ammunition is extremely rare, so fighting should be carefully considered and is often better avoided altogether. In addition to firearms, you can rely on your fists in close combat, and use various helpful objects.

The gaming world is dark and authentic, while gameplay is enhanced by the excellent soundtrack and the 1960s visuals. The console versions could use some tweaking in terms of graphics as they occasionally experience blurry or flickering textures.