Atomfall Has to Avoid Following in Fallout’s Footsteps With One Feature

Atomfall Has to Avoid Following in Fallout's Footsteps With One Feature



Throughout the genre, Bethesda’s action RPGs generally serve as benchmarks for upcoming games to strive to meet the standards set by the latest games in The Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises. Especially given the similarities that Atomfall shares with the Fallout franchise games as an action RPG in a post-nuclear setting, the comparisons between Bethesda’s modern Fallout games and the upcoming Atomfall from Rebellion Developments are as natural as they are inevitable.

However, while Atomfall’s likeness to the Fallout franchise is a welcome comparison, one key difference would arguably be for the best. Combat typically isn’t considered one of the modern Fallout games’ strengths, so, Atomfall’s combat should tread its own path in this regard, instead of following in the footsteps of the Fallout franchise.

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Fallout Fans Should Keep an Eye on Atomfall

An upcoming title, Atomfall, looks to be channeling Fallout in some notable ways, making it one that should definitely be on fans’ radar.

Atomfall Should Set Itself Apart from the Fallout Franchise’s First-Person Combat

Combat in the Modern Fallout Games Has Room for Improvement

While Bethesda’s action RPGs are generally praised as industry benchmarks in terms of their immersive world-building and the variety in player agency, the modern Fallout games, in particular, aren’t exactly known for their combat. After Bethesda took ownership of the Fallout franchise and transitioned away from the turn-based combat of the original Fallout games developed by Interplay, this transition has presented a challenge that the Franchise arguably hasn’t yet overcome in achieving engaging combat.

Expectations for Atomfall’s Combat Are Naturally High

Despite Atomfall’s comparisons to the Fallout games, Rebellion Developments has already made it clear that combat and other survival mechanics will play a much more central role throughout the game than Atomfall’s RPG elements. Because of this, it’s crucial for Atomfall to have satisfying and engaging combat when it comes to guns, melee, and stealth mechanics.

Another reason why expectations for Atomfall’s combat mechanics are high is that it comes from the studio behind the long-running Sniper Elite franchise, which recently released the newest entry in the franchise, Sniper Elite: Resistance. This franchise is particularly known for its unique and stylized combat mechanics, so Atomfall inheriting some of this DNA would be a sweet treat.

However, in the latest gameplay trailers for Atomfall ahead of its upcoming release, Atomfall appears to be falling in Fallout’s footsteps, with both FPS and melee combat that seemingly has some room for improvement. Hopefully, though, there will be more to Atomfall’s combat than what has been shown in the latest gameplay reveal trailer. Otherwise, there is still potential to improve combat in post-launch updates, meaning current impressions of Atomfall’s combat aren’t necessarily cause for concern.

Atomfall is set to release on March 27, 2025, for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. Atomfall will also be available via Xbox Game Pass on day one.

How Atomfall Could Take Its Combat to New Heights

  • A variety of stealth weapons, like traps and silenced guns
  • Cover mechanics and evasive maneuvers
  • Melee attack combos and parries

Especially in Atomfall’s post-nuclear setting where ammunition for guns is said to be a scarce resource, this puts a lot of pressure on both stealth and melee to be engaging since players will naturally need to rely on these methods of combat more often than not. When it comes to stealth, one of the biggest advantages can be to have a wide variety of ways for players to approach an encounter via unique weapons/gadgets. This is already one area where the Sniper Elite franchise excels, so hopefully Atomfall will take notes from this franchise’s design.

Typically, where melee combat in most action RPGs falls short is a lack of variety in attacks, beyond a basic block, light, and heavy attack. Naturally, a parry mechanic could be a welcome addition to Atomfall, though combos and other unique attacks can make melee both look and feel more engaging.

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