Atomfall: First Things You Need to Do

On March 27, 2025, one of the most anticipated video games of the spring, Atomfall, was released. The game takes you to an alternate reality of 1960s England, where a nuclear disaster has turned a significant part of the country into a radioactive exclusion zone. Atomfall received a warm welcome from critics, scoring 73 points on Metacritic and 79 on OpenCritic. The game offers vast regions for exploration but provides very few hints and guidance. In this article, we will tell you the first things you should do when starting Atomfall to make your gaming experience as engaging and enjoyable as possible.

Find a Metal Detector

Getting a metal detector is the first essential step in Atomfall. There are several ways to obtain one, with the easiest being to follow the hint directing you to speak with Molly. If you have a few items for trade, it's worth meeting her, as she offers some incredibly useful gear, including a torch and, more importantly, a metal detector, which is essential for exploring the game world. With it, you can find lunchboxes and stashes containing extra (and often rare) resources and items. This, in turn, will make crafting and upgrading equipment much easier.

Another way to get a metal detector early in the game is to find one yourself. Head to a small body of water near the water wheels in the eastern part of Slatten Dale. There, you will discover a corpse on the rocks by the water's edge, where you can pick up a metal detector.

Focus on Melee Combat

At the start of the game, especially for newcomers, focusing on melee combat is a much easier and more resource-efficient strategy. It helps you conserve ammo and inventory space. However, if you encounter a tough enemy, don’t hesitate to fire a few shots. Otherwise, melee weapons are more abundant, and if used carefully, they allow for a stealthier approach compared to firearms.

That being said, in the early game, it’s better to focus on exploration and survival before engaging in major fights with enemies.

Keep an Eye on Pneumatic Tubes

Scattered across various quarantine zone locations in Atomfall, you’ll find pneumatic dispatch tubes. Whenever you spot one, be sure to use it. The game features an extremely limited inventory, but these pneumatic transport tubes allow you to store up to 100 items in a secure stash. This greatly frees up space for collecting additional materials and weapons during your exploration.

A major advantage is that all pneumatic tubes are connected, meaning you can access your stored items from any tube in the world.

Pay Attention to Item Quality

Since Atomfall focuses heavily on exploration and survival, item quality plays an important role. When it comes to weapons, there are three quality tiers:

• Rusty
• Stock
• Pristine

Higher-quality weapons deal more damage, but they are harder to find. As you progress, you can unlock skills that allow you to upgrade weapons manually. However, don’t forget to collect duplicates of the weapons you want to upgrade, as they must be of the same rarity.

These are the key tips for getting started in Atomfall. By following them, you will greatly enhance your gameplay experience.