Atomfallgives you a wonderful amount of agency through its use of leads in lieu of traditional quests, but it also throws you into the deep end with very little direction. Your character wakes up with amnesia in an abandoned bunker, and you are quickly sent on your way by a scientist in a hazmat suit, who only has one bit of advice: find the Interchange. This is the lone lead you startAtomfallwith, but without any quest markers,it can be difficult to know where you should start.
Leads are one of themajor waysAtomfalldiffers fromFallout, despite the many parallels between the two. You don’t have a wide-open, nuclear wasteland to explore; the Windscale quarantine zone is tightly built aroundAtomfall’s central mystery. Escaping the zone is allegedly impossible, but as you advance through the game, you’ll meet a handful of important figures who all claim to offer you a way out. But before you can work toward your grand exit, you’ll have to get your bearings after emerging from the bunker.
It Doesn’t Matter Where You Go First In Atomfall
Practically The Entire Zone Is Open From The Start
It quickly becomes apparent thatAtomfallisn’t just BritishFallout, since you won’t have a compass marker telling you where to go. This is by design, andthe very short answer to the question of where to go first inAtomfallis this: it doesn’t matter.Atomfall’s game world is split into four primary overworld zones, and is laid out like a sort of puzzle box. If you start exploring, looking for loot, and talking to people, you will eventually get on the right track – it’s practically guaranteed.
You can place markers on your map; if you find a location where the combat encounters are too tough, consider coming back once you’re better equipped.
My best advice is to not worry about progressing the main story or wondering if you’re going the right way; there is no right way, just like there is no wrong way.Atomfallis cleverly designed to funnel you to where you’re supposed to go, fueled by your natural curiosity. This is where the lead system comes in –as you poke around, you’ll find all sorts of documents and have many conversations that log important information in the menu’s Investigations tab. These leads may include potential ways to escape the quarantine zone, and following those that interest you will ensure you have a unique experience.
Wyndham Village Is A Good Place To Start
Lots Of Leads & Things To Learn
That said, it’s understandable that having practically no direction can be frustrating. If you want the quickest, easiest destination to start getting into the weeds ofAtomfall, I suggest heading straight for Wyndham Village. When you emerge from the bunker at the very beginning of the game, you’ll be in an area called Slatten Dale.Wyndham Village’s entrance is on the northern edge of Slatten Dale, and you’ll know you’ve found the right place when you see a large green door in a wall, with loudspeakers discussing Wyndham and Protocol.
Wyndham Village has an exit leading to each of the other three regions, but Slatten Dale is the most beginner-friendly.
Wyndham Village is a great place to get your bearings;you’re able to talk to plenty of NPCs to learn what’s going on in the quarantine zone, and there are plenty of opportunities to get a good grasp on the lead systemin a safe environment. Wyndham Village is under the control of Protocol, a military regiment stranded in the zone, so as long as you don’t cause trouble, there’s very little risk of getting killed while in town. There are plenty of mysteries to look into in Wyndham Village, and some will even give you some more information on the Interchange.
You Should Find The Interchange Early
Get The Main Story Rolling
If you’re still findingAtomfallrather directionless, you’ll want to find the Interchange. It’s made to sound like some big mystery, butyou can locate it very early on, and if you ask NPCs about old bunkers or government sites, you’ll get some leads on where to find it. The Interchange is the one area inAtomfallthat isn’t completely open from the start – you’ll find plenty of locked doors, even though it’s ultimately a hub area, like Wyndham Village. This is because you’ll return to the Interchange regularly while following the primary leads offering an escape from the quarantine zone.
Finding the Interchange and looking around a bit will also give you some leads that are more interesting than the local dramas in Wyndham. The Interchange factors heavily intoAtomfall’s main story, and if you want to uncover the secrets of the zone and what actually happened at the Windscale site, that’s where you’ll want to look. Themost exciting thing aboutAtomfallis arguably how much freedom it gives you, but that can also result in the opening sections feeling rather aimless. Heading toward Wyndham Village and finding the Interchange will solve all your frustrations, though.
Atomfall
Set in an alternate 1960s Britain,Atomfallimmerses players in a post-nuclear disaster landscape following the Windscale incident. As an amnesiac protagonist, players navigate the quarantined Lake District, confronting mutated creatures, cultists, and rogue agents.
