Summary
- Atomfall could lead to more Fallout-like games with unique takes on the genre that still bring Fallout’s familiar designs to mind.
- Fallout 5’s long-haul release timeline allows Atomfall and similar games to explore the retrofuturistic, post-apocalyptic space.
- Atomfall’s experimental approach distinguishes it from Fallout, potentially sparking inspiration for other titles to do the same ahead of Fallout 5.
Ever since it was first announced, Rebellion Developments’ Atomfall has been compared closely to Fallout. It’s an understandable conclusion to draw given the two titles’ broad similarities on the surface. And while Atomfall undoubtedly contains familiar Fallout vibes, it’s also looking to take big swings and experiment in some interesting ways. However, their shared elements do speak to a wider connection, and Atomfall may very well be the beginning of a new movement.
It’s been nearly 10 years since the latest mainline Fallout entry, with the next not likely to arrive until at least somewhere around 2029 and possibly beyond. But now that its release is just around the corner, Atomfall could open the door for other studios to take notice and perhaps think about producing more games treading a similar path to Fallout, while expanding on some of its designs to impart their own ideas and takes on the genre ala Atomfall in the stretch of time between now and Fallout 5.
Atomfall releases on March 27, 2025. It will be available day one on Game Pass Ultimate.
Related
A Long Wait For Fallout 5 Would Have One Obvious Benefit
Fallout 5 likely won’t be released during this decade, which, while unfortunate, could benefit the game greatly in one particular area.
Atomfall Should Open the Floodgates for a Wave of ‘Fallout-likes’
Fallout 5 Will Still Be a Long Time Coming
Fallout is often the poster child for the premiere post-apocalyptic AAA open-world experience. But the flip side to this is the amount of time and resources that such massive projects in a popular franchise require. Developer Bethesda already has a number of other big commitments, including The Elder Scrolls 6 and more Starfield content, as well as ongoing support and expansions for its MMOs Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls Online. And although Fallout 5 is a sure bet to come eventually, it’s a lengthy wait at this point.
In the meantime, there haven’t been as many high-profile titles to tide fans over. Probably the most recent one to satisfyingly scratch the Fallout itch is last year’s Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Itself a long-awaited entry in a fan-favorite franchise, Stalker 2‘s development was complicated by the ongoing war in Ukraine and other issues well beyond the studio’s control. But it released to good success and reception. Now, Atomfall is poised to be next in line, and it has the potential to be the game that really sets the ball rolling on “Fallout-likes.”
Atomfall Could Spark a Chain Reaction
While it may resemble it in some regards, Atomfall‘s differences to Fallout look to help set it apart through it being stated to be more experimental in certain areas. There are also a couple of other recent and upcoming games in the same vein that Fallout fans might want to keep tabs on:
- Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone
- The Outer Worlds 2
- Terminator: Survivors
Relatedly, 4A Games Ukraine, recently rebranded to Reburn, has previously confirmed that a fourth Metro title is in development, along with revealing that it’s working on a new sci-fi VR title. And though Survivors is more in line with Fallout 76 as an MMO set in the world of Terminator, it could contain much of Fallout‘s general feel and style. Notably, many of these, including Atomfall, are from smaller or more mid-sized developers compared to Bethesda, and thus aren’t beholden to as lengthy of a development process.
With years to go before its release, perhaps Fallout 5 can learn from Atomfall and any other titles like it that come down the line. This could also extend to games not strictly in a similar open-world FPS space, but that still channel the narrative and visual styles. Fans might see, for example, more CRPGs like Wasteland (Fallout‘s original precursor), and 2020’s Desperados 3. The bigger point, though, is that Atomfall is in a great position to hopefully inspire and entice other developers to follow suit, and create adjacent experiences to fill the vacuum before Fallout 5 finally drops.
Survival
Action
Adventure
- Released
-
March 27, 2025
- ESRB
-
Teen // Blood, Language, Violence