Atomfall is one of those games that catches your attention right away. It takes place in an alternate 1960s, presented otherwise with most of the history of that time period. It’s also very different from developer Rebellion Developments’ previous works, which mostly focused on third-person shooters of various types, most noteworthy being the Sniper Elite series.

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If you liked the game’s roleplaying and survival elements, you’ll be glad to know plenty of games that can feel similar to Atomfall, either having a post-apocalyptic feel or taking place in an alternate historical setting.
8
Stalker 2: Heart Of Chernobyl
Stalker 2 is very similar to Atomfall but much more focused on hardcore immersive-sim and survival mechanics. This one takes place in Ukraine’s Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, full of strange radiation effects, mutated creatures, and different human factions fighting over control.
The game was first announced in 2010 but got stuck in development for years. Developer GSC Game World even shut down at one point but came back and finished releasing the game in 2024. Stalker 2 stayed true to the three games that came before it and kept its uncompromising game design intact.
7
Rage
Rage is a somewhat underrated post-apocalyptic game. Developed by id Software, the same studio behind Doom, but instead of demons and hell, this time it takes place in a world destroyed by an asteroid.
The game focuses on surviving this harsh wasteland, where towns and settlements barely hang on. Surprisingly, it ran at 60 fps on Xbox 360 and PS3, which was impressive considering it’s an open-world game. It also has a lot of noticeable Mad Max influence mixed with Fallout-like world-building, but it still felt like its own thing.
6
Dying Light
Dying Light is one of the best modern zombie games, but it’s not just because of the zombies. What makes it stand out is how much fun it is just to move around, thanks to its parkour system, which is made even better after you acquire the grappling hook and a few traversal skills and upgrades.
The game is set in Harran, a fictional city filled with danger and survivors, and it looks and feels like a real place. Made by Techland, it was meant as a sort of spiritual successor to Dead Island, but it has a much darker and more serious tone. Also, the game gets genuinely scary at night when powerful enemies called the Volatiles come out.
5
Fallout: New Vegas
Atomfall has often been dubbed “British Fallout”, so if you want to play an actual Fallout game, New Vegas is the absolute best of them. Set in the Mojave Desert after a nuclear war, the game focuses on your character’s quest for revenge after being left for dead and the conflict between several factions fighting for control over what’s left of civilization.
What makes New Vegas one of the greatest RPGs ever is the freedom it gives you. You can often choose who to side with or even completely betray everyone if you want to. Every quest can be approached in different ways depending on your intentions, and those choices actually affect how the game plays out.
4
Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus takes the post-apocalyptic setting in a different direction but still feels somewhat close to Atomfall’s atmosphere. It’s the third game in the Metro series, after Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light. Exodus stands out since it expands beyond the dark metro tunnels into Russia’s open wastelands, with several open-world-like zones you can explore.
You play as Artyom, a survivor trying to find a new home while dealing with mutants and rival groups and trying to survive radiation. 4A Games, the studio behind it, was founded by developers who made the original Stalker games, so you’ll definitely notice some similarities in its gameplay and vibe.
3
Atomic Heart
Atomic Heart also takes place in an alternate post-World War 2 setting, this time being a version of the 1950s Soviet Union, where technology has advanced rapidly, leading to all kinds of strange robots and experiments. The Bioshock inspirations are noticeable in its gameplay, characterization, and retro feel.

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The setting is also very creative thanks to its art direction full of retro-futuristic designs and stunning architecture. The game mostly plays like a first-person shooter, but you can use both weapons and strange powers to survive.
2
We Happy Few
We Happy Few is another game that plays around with a retro British setting but gives it a darker twist. It takes place in a version of the 1960s where people are forced to take a drug called Joy to stay happy and forget how awful things really are—pretty interesting premise.
The game contains both survival mechanics with roguelike elements, so every playthrough feels a tad bit different. The characters you meet are strange but interesting, and this is another game that doesn’t hide its Bioshock inspirations. It was made by the now-Xbox-owned Compulsion Games, who are also behind South of Midnight.
1
Still Wakes The Deep
Still Wakes The Deep is a horror game that skips the usual guns and fights entirely as there’s no combat. Instead, you’re stuck on an oil rig in the middle of the ocean during the 1970s, and all you can do is run away from the monsters. The story focuses on a worker trapped on the rig when something terrifying starts hunting everyone.
The game feels cramped and isolated, perfect for its horror atmosphere and pretty unique compared to other horror games’ settings. Developer The Chinese Room has some experience in this genre, also making Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture. It also takes a lot of inspiration from John Carpenter’s The Thing.
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