Our Atomfall Guide will teach you the basic mechanics of the game, explain the HUD, and give you a walkthrough for the first hour of the game.
Atomfall HUD Explanation
- Tracked Lead: Your currently tracked Lead (objective) is shown at the top left of the screen. A message will also pop up here anytime you find new Leads or resolve a Lead.
- Compass: This is your bog-standard compass showing you which direction you're facing. Icons for things you've highlighted on the map or tracked Leads will show up here, too.
- Weapon Wheel: The Weapon Wheel will only appear when you're switching weapons.
- Tool Alert: If you can use a tool such as the Metal Detector or Signal Redirector, an alert will pop up here to prompt you to switch to it.
- Heart Rate: The heart rate meter is like a reverse stamina bar; as you perform actions, your heart rate will increase. A full heart rate meter will prevent you from attacking in melee or sprinting. Make sure to manage your heart rate in combat just like you would manage stamina in other games.
- Health: The usual health bar. If this reaches 0, you die.
- Buffs and Debuffs: Your buffs and debuffs will be shown above the health bar on the bottom right of the screen.
Atomfall Guide | Starter Guide Walkthrough
Now that we've explained the HUD, it's time to properly dive into this Atomfall Guide with our Starter Guide walkthrough! As always, we'll explore some of the basic mechanics and hold your hand for the first hour or so of the game. Let's get moving!
Selecting Your Difficulty
The first thing you'll have to do is select your difficulty. You can choose from four different presets, but don't fret too much — you can highly customize specific elements of your gameplay experience on the fly once you actually get into the game.
I'd advise that you take the recommended settings; in my experience, it provides the perfect balance of challenge and fun for a game like this.
Waking Up in the Bunker
After you've selected your difficulty, you'll wake up on a bed in a bunker with no memory of how you got there. An unnamed scientist is wounded and asks you for help to craft him a Bandage; in exchange, he'll help you leave the Bunker.
You can stand behind him and stealth kill him, but it's better to help him out — you'll be rewarded with a care package in a backpack that you'll find in a later location. There's virtually no benefit to killing him now anyway.
Head into the other rooms and collect all of the Cloth and Alcohol that you can find. There's more than enough to craft one Bandage, but you'll eventually use the leftover crafting materials for making your own items later.
Make the Bandage and talk to the Scientist. Give him the Bandage, and he'll give you the Modified Keycard — a critical item that will get you access to a mysterious bunker called The Interchange.
Exploring the Bunker
Walk up the stairs and use the Modified Keycard to open the door that says "Notice: Electric Lock." In the next hall, you'll see a box on the wall with a light on it — this is a junction box that can only be switched when you acquire the Signal Redirector tool later in the game. For now, turn right.
Continue going forward and crawl under the green door. You'll enter a large room that has been filled with overgrown plants. A single hostile human called an "Outlaw" is in this room. You can opt to sneak past him, stealth kill him, or confront him directly.
Whatever you choose, there are rooms to the left and right that you can loot for some more crafting materials. When you've thoroughly explored the Bunker, head out the large green doors on the opposite side of the room.
Getting a Gun (and Other Useful Items)
You've exited the Bunker and entered a new region called Slatten Dale. Slatten Dale is the starter area and it's much safer than the other regions in the Quarantine Zone, but there are still plenty of things that can kill you. We're going to need a weapon.
Directly ahead of you is another facility on top of a bridge. Answer the Telephone to get a Lead about something called "Oberon," then make your way up onto the bridge and walk toward the double green doors. This is Bunker L7.
A dead Outlaw is lying outside of the Bunker. Pick up the Cricket Bat and it will be automatically equipped as your first melee weapon. Loot the Outlaw's body, then head inside the Bunker — you're about to get your first gun.
Investigating Bunker L7
Bunker L7 is the second B.A.R.D. facility that you will visit. It's a small bunker as far as these places go, but it has quite a few important things inside of it. Another dead Outlaw is in front of you and there's a Torch (flashlight) next to the corpse. Pick it up.
The Torch is one of three tools that you can get in the game. It doesn't just light up an area — it makes items that you can pick up glow. You can safely test out this feature in the immediate area since there are a few items near the vehicles in the first part of Bunker L7.
Walk further ahead and up the stairs, then look to your left.
The small brown box on the desk to the left in the above image is Training Stimulants. These are used to unlock Skills that you have access to. Save these for now until you find some more Training Stimulants elsewhere; you can learn more about Skills in our Skills Guide.
The glowing blue creature in the rear is a Feral. Ferals are surprisingly fast and extremely dangerous in melee combat. We don't want to fight this just yet. Turn to the right and head in the opposite direction.
In the alcove to the right is a dead scientist in a hazmat suit with a MK. VI Revolver (Rusty) next to him. You'll also find some Pistol Bullets, a Grenade, and some crafting resources nearby. Pick all of this stuff up.
There is also a large tube on the wall — this is a Pneumatic Tube. It effectively serves as the stash system in this game; all Pneumatic Tubes are connected. For now, keep in mind that you can find a Pneumatic Tube in this bunker and continue exploring.
Next, it's time to confront the Feral. Save your game and attempt to kill it in melee without taking too much damage. If you can't manage it yet, you can kill it with a headshot and a follow-up shot from your pistol.
When the Feral is dead, you can loot the yellow B.A.R.D. Crate nearby and collect some more Training Stimulants. There are also some more crafting resources to be found nearby.
When you're certain you're done looting this area, exit the bunker.
The Helicopter Crash and the Cave
Exit Bunker L7 and look to your left. You'll see an Outlaw standing next to a helicopter crash. Kill the Outlaw. You can choose to use stealth or outright combat. Then, look inside of the crashed helicopter and you'll find a corpse with a few items and Agravaine's Lockbox Key.
Go behind the nearby waterfall and you'll find some more useful items. You can also choose to explore some of the nearby houses for loot if you wish; if not, it can wait until later. Then, go through the nearby wooden door to enter the Slate Mine Caves.
The Slate Mine Caves
The door takes you into the Slate Mine Caves. Run (don't walk) along the tracks and you'll eventually be attacked by a colony of bats. Don't waste your time fighting them; you can simply outrun them.
As you follow the tracks, you'll meet a man named Reg Stansfield. This is your first merchant. Talk with him until you unlock the option to trade, then sell your least-desired melee weapon so you can buy the Metal Detector.
Continue deeper into the cave until you see a sign that says "Bugger Off." Go through the door behind this sign and you'll find yourself further north in Slatten Dale.
The Adventure Continues
From here, you can make your way to the first entrance to The Interchange to the north. You are also quite near the Skethermoor Cottage Cellar Puzzle and the entrance to Wyndham Village, a safe zone full of traders. Unfortunately, a camp full of Outlaws is ahead of you and you'll have to sneak past them or fight your way through.
You have a lot of options from here. You can go back and explore more of the starting area for more loot, you could follow the Leads you've collected thus far, or you can press ahead and make your way into The Interchange and Wyndham Village.
For now, you're equipped with the basic knowledge you need to survive in Atomfall. Have fun, and don't forget to check out our other guides below!
Is Atomfall Multiplayer?
No, Atomfall does not support multiplayer.
Where is the Atomfall Save File Located?
The Atomfall Save File is located in:
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Atomfall\PC_ProfileSaves
Where "USERNAME" is your Windows username.
What Happens When You Die in Atomfall?
If you die in Atomfall, you'll have to load one of your saved games.
Thanks for checking out our Atomfall Guide. There's a lot to learn about this game — check out our other guides below!
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