I Deeply Regret Taking Out the Vicar in Atomfall

I find myself torn in a way I haven’t been for a while when it comes to gaming, all thanks to Atomfall, the newly released British open-world apocalyptic adventure by Rebellion now featured on Xbox Game Pass.

Many have been quick to draw parallels to Fallout, but that doesn’t quite capture the whole picture. Trust me, this has nothing to do with my being British. The game offers much more than a simple comparison can convey.

Going into Atomfall, I anticipated a game where decisions matter, courtesy of our pre-release review. But living it is a completely different story, filled with second-guessing every choice you make. Just a few hours in, and I’m convinced I’m charting a course straight to hell.

### Wyndham Village: A Hub of Questionable Deeds

I admit it—I went and killed a Vicar. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil too much for any of you who haven’t jumped in yet. The game gives you liberty to play the role of either a pacifist or a complete monster. Guess which path I chose?

This all went down in the quiet church of Wyndham Village. I had a chat with the Vicar and a few locals, seemingly innocent enough. But after some light exploration, I stumbled upon a locked chest upstairs that required a key the Vicar hadn’t given up during our earlier conversation. And I wanted that loot—especially that elusive Atomic Battery tucked away in it.

So, in a rather grim turn of events, I ended up taking the key by force. And since I couldn’t leave any witnesses, a bystander met the same fate. To pile onto the poor Vicar’s posthumous misery, I dobbed him in to the Captain, painting him as the wrongdoer. Talk about kicking a man when he’s down. Yet, I did get my battery, so there’s that.

### What Happens in Wyndham, Stays in Wyndham

Apparently, one misdeed wasn’t enough to satisfy my moral ambiguity. When another opportunity presented itself during a different Captain’s mission, at a quaint local bakery, my darker side took over again.

The baker wasn’t feeling too well—possibly on account of some mysterious blue goo. His wife, worried about him, didn’t expect me to venture upstairs, where Mr. Blue Eyes awaited. Convinced he was a threat, I took him down, and when the wife came in, her screams sealed her fate too. I made sure to report back to the Captain about the situation—conveniently leaving out the wife’s part.

It’s enough to make you wonder: Who have I become in this virtual world?

### Freedom of Choice Done Right

Atomfall’s non-linear storytelling is an absolute game-changer, offering players unprecedented freedom. Even though I’m still early in my journey, the emotional investment is real, from the friend who helped me escape the bunker at the start to the mysterious figure of Oberon and the enigmatic phone calls I keep getting.

The game also allows a blend of gameplay styles. You can tiptoe through the storyline, win favor, or adopt a more cutthroat approach. Want to avoid the baddies altogether? There’s stealth for that. Or stealth to take them out silently if you’re feeling bloodthirsty.

Atomfall continually surprises. Aligning with the Captain doesn’t mean unfettered access in Wyndham, as I found out when trying to enter the substation. Unsurprisingly, my solution involved less talking and more action.

The choice to walk a virtuous path—or not—is entirely yours, and it’s exhilarating.

Atomfall is available now on Xbox, PC, PS5, and Xbox Game Pass.