Summary
Atomfallwas a big hit for Rebellion Developments, moving over 2 million copies since it launched in late March 2025.Atomfalldrew understandable comparisons toFalloutat first, but it quickly became clear it was very much its own beast. Its plot diverges from the events following the real-life nuclear fire at the Windscale Power into a more surreal and menacing version that’s still grounded in history. Its alternate timeline in isolated Cold War-era England is a compelling setting, bolstered by some effective experimental ideas in its gameplay and design.
Atomfallresonated well with players, and now, less than three months after release, its first DLC, Wicked Isle, has just dropped, adding a new location and storylines. Wicked Isle focuses more heavily on folk horror, one ofAtomfall’s major inspirations. Given this, and that it is stated to be receiving further DLC, the second expansion should embrace its other directions to provide a good balance and more interesting content within its well-built world.
After Wicked Isle, Atomfall’s Next DLC Should Swing Back to Sci-Fi and Cold War Intrigue
Wicked Isle Makes Great Use of Atomfall’s Spooky Side
Atomfall’s folk horror vibesunderpin much of Wicked Isle. The expansion is formed around a Celtic flavor, with the mystery of a ruined abbey situated near ground zero of the disaster at Windscale. Players travel to Midsummer Island to investigate the history of the Medieval monks who found a “fallen angel” centuries earlier. In reality, this was a piece of Oberon, the extraterrestrial meteorite at the heart of the central story, that happened to land just outside their monastery.
The monks shortly begin consuming food and drink touched byOberon’s otherworldly influence, experiencing psychic visions and the call of its “voice.” Believing this to be a religious sign, and facing persecution from an English king for the second time, the brothers concocted a plan to use the fragment of Oberon to absorb their consciousness and seal it away. By the time the player character arrives, a subsect of druids like the ones in Casterfell Woods have fallen under the influence of the combined minds of the deceased monks mingled with Oberon’s own. It ties neatly into the general atmosphere established in the base game while further exploringAtomfall’s supernatural side.
Atomfall’s Second DLC Should Focus on its Cold War Sci-Fi Aspects
Wicked Isle gives fans more of the main game’s creepy Druidic cult vibes in the vein ofworks likeThe Wicker Manin a satisfying tale. ButAtomfallalso takes inspiration from pulpy retro sci-fi and Cold War-era conspiracies, and these elements should be highlighted in a potential second DLC. Another expansion might do well to pivot to shine more light on the B.A.R.D. organization and give fans more to discover about its scientific research and the related coverup of it often reckless meddling and unethical practices.
A second DLC could be set in another massive elaborate installation, like the secret underground Interchange facility, that fills out more of the world. This would open up some great possibilities for new enemies and weapons to match. It could featureB.A.R.D. robotsthat perhaps have somehow become infected and are capable of spraying clouds of unearthly spores instead of their standard flamethrowers to change things up. Other types of new thralls could also be introduced.
The espionage angle is also ripe for exploration, and more content along the lines of the questlines involving a team of Russian spies who were trapped behind the walls ofAtomfall’s quarantine zonewould be a great starting point. Two characters would also make for solid connective tissue, and seeing more of Dr. Holder and Dr. Garrow’s personal history with each other and within B.A.R.D. could serve a potential second DLC well. There is certainly still more to be seen withinAtomfall’s world, and the next DLC has a lot to work with on these fronts.
