When first starting out, Atomfall players are given little direction. Within the first five minutes of the game, you will escape the starting bunker into the first major zone of the game, where you will see a phone box ring across the Northern English countryside. But you aren’t told where to go first – Atomfall players have to decide what to do first for themselves.
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There is no “right” way to go in Atomfall, you can go in any direction, and follow any Leads, to eventually unlock an ending. You can even kill every NPC and still finish the game. But if you follow these tips on where to go first in Atomfall, you’ll discover some important locations, meet major NPCs, and pick up some Leads to propel you deeper into this quaint and unpleasant land.
Leave The Bunker & Meet Nat Buckshaw
After waking up and escaping the starting bunker, you will enter Slatten Dale, the first major zone in Atomfall. First, head toward the phone box and pick up the ringing phone, then head left and down the hill to meet the first major NPC – Nat Buckshaw.
Nat Buckshaw lives on the outskirts of the quarantine zone after being kicked out of the nearby village, and will impart his knowledge of the area. After talking to him for a while, Nat will direct you to Molly, a tinker, to find out more information. Molly can be found in the Trader’s Camp in the north of the Slatten Dale zone.
Be careful as you explore Slatten Dale, as the area is crawling with Outlaws who won’t hesitate to shoot if you get too close.
Meet Molly At The Trader’s Camp To The North
Molly is the first of the many traders in Atomfall with whom players can engage in a bit of bartering. As you head north through the trainyard and surrounding areas following Nat’s instructions, keep an eye out for the entrance to Wyndham Village – the large grey concrete wall surrounding the village is difficult to miss.
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But don’t go into Wyndham Village just yet. Before that, the place to go first in Atomfall is just to the west, up a hill. Here, you will meet Molly, who will give you your first Lead and impart more information on the state of the world.
Importantly, Molly sells a Metal Detector, which is required to dig up lunchbox collectibles and find stashes hidden throughout the world of Atomfall. You can also find a Metal Detector on a body in the pond below.
Enter Wyndham Village & Talk To Captain Sims
After meeting Molly, the next place players should go first in Atomfall is Wyndham Village. This sprawling village is under the “protection” of Protocol, a military group headed by one Captain Sims. The entrance to Wyndham Village can be found in the far north of the Slatten Dale zone, just to the east of Molly’s Trader Camp.
Once you pass the gates, walk down the path (and don’t stare at the B.A.R.D. robot for too long), and look for Captain Sims in the central green by the bandstand. Later on, you can find him inside the Village Hall just opposite the central green.
Though Cpt. Sims can provide a variety of starting Leads, as Nat Buckshaw said, be careful who you trust in Atomfall. Choosing whether to defy or work with Captain Sims, and other major NPCs like him, can vastly influence the rest of the game.
For example, if you work with him you’ll gain safe access to several Protocol locations later on in the game. But if you work against him, Protocol will turn against you in several locations – though there are plenty of other factions you can ally with instead.
Stop By The Bakery & The Village Shop
After meeting the leader of the local militia, Atomfall players should head to the Bakery and Village Shop next. These two central locations are right next to the Village Hall, just to the west of the village green.
- In the Bakery, you will meet the village baker, Isra, whose husband is locked away upstairs as he suffers from a mysterious affliction. Talk to her to get a Lead that directs you to find a cure to the Infection taking over Phillip.
- In the Village Shop, you will meet Morris, the shop owner. He is a bit of a strange fellow, and if you pry, you will find out more information about Morris that will lead you down several different Lead paths.
Both Isra and Morris also serve as traders who offer baked goods and miscellaneous gear and consumables, respectively.
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Just down the road, you can also talk to the Pub owner Alf to get some more information about what villagers think of Protocol, and pick up two Leads that direct you to one of the more dangerous zones in the game: Skethermoor. Like Molly, Alf offers a Metal Detector amongst his wares, so be sure to keep a variety of items on-hand to barter and pick up this helpful tool early.
Beginner Atomfall players should avoid going to Skethermoor until they have a handle on the game mechanics, have some skills unlocked, and have a decent array of weapons and items to survive.
Investigate St. Katherine’s Church In The Village
After talking to Isra and Morris, head south up the hill to find the village church, St. Katherine’s. The first time you enter St. Katherine’s Church, you will discover that something sinister has taken place, and it’s up to you to decide how to handle this situation. Talk to Vicar McHenry at the altar to learn more about this sudden tragedy.
St. Katherine’s is a much more elaborate location than first meets the eye. Spend some time exploring the main congregation floor, the attic and upper floors, and the downstairs crypt area to make a few more discoveries in this relatively hidden area below the church.
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Enter Casterfell Woods & Find Mother Jago
Spend some time exploring Wyndham Village, and then when you’ve had your fill of the quaint lakeside views, walk along the path leading northwest to find the entrance to Casterfell Woods. Casterfell Woods is rife with danger, from roaming Outlaws and Druids to infected hornet nests and traps around every corner.
In the far north of Casterfell Woods, a woman named Mother Jago offers medicines that promise to stay the effects of the infection that spread after the Windscale disaster. You may have already heard her name, or picked up Leads from various villagers who directed you her way.
Like Captain Sims, Mother Jago is one of the biggest players in the Atomfall story. Her tonic is necessary to survive in a huge number of infection-ridden areas and cure the baker’s husband’s infection. Make your way northward and find the Old Mine to meet Mother Jago for the first time.
Survival
Action
Adventure
- Released
-
March 27, 2025
- ESRB
-
Teen // Blood, Language, Violence