Atomfall emerges as one of the standout RPGs of 2025, offering players a unique blend of mystery and non-linear storytelling intertwined with survival mechanics. This immersive experience keeps players engaged right from the beginning. While the evocative setting set in the stunning British Lake District is a significant highlight, there are some technical and visual hurdles that detract from its overall brilliance.
Mixed opinions regarding Atomfall indicate that the game gives off a distinctly last-gen vibe. Observers suggest that the best way to appreciate its merits is by experiencing it firsthand, rather than merely relying on trailers or compressed gameplay videos on platforms like YouTube. While acknowledging this sentiment may be disheartening for some, it underlines a broader concern related to today’s current-gen systems, particularly the impressive PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Atomfall’s Visuals Do Not Meet Current Expectations
Encountering Low-Quality Textures and Anti-Aliasing Issues
As highlighted by the insightful team at Digital Foundry, the visual quality of Atomfall disappoints to a degree. Their analysis underscores a game that boasts breathtaking landscapes, yet is riddled with visual inconsistencies including low-resolution textures, shaky anti-aliasing leading to image flickering, and unreliable reflections in water.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3irKpQud2o
Due to these factors, Digital Foundry deemed Atomfall as “distractingly last-gen,”a rather harsh assessment for a game released in 2025, particularly five years into the lifecycle of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. As rumors of the PS6 and other next-gen consoles circulate, it’s disappointing to witness titles released near the end of a console’s lifespan resembling something from the previous generation. Nevertheless, the game’s captivating setting and remarkable artistic direction somewhat compensate for its technical shortcomings.
Artistic Direction Elevates Visual Experience
A Stunning Art Direction Despite Technical Flaws
It’s important to acknowledge that Atomfall serves as a cross-generation release, which might come as a surprise given the current year. The game is accessible on multiple platforms, including PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. This wide compatibility has necessitated significant compromises, leading to commendable performance at the cost of visual fidelity. Interestingly, this could facilitate a potential release on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 as a third-party launch title.
Regardless of these factors, Atomfall leverages its striking art direction to maintain a visually engaging experience. Despite occasional flickering screens and blurry distant objects—similar to visual inconsistencies observed in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth—the game’s stunning environments captivate players, allowing them to overlook these technical flaws.
Discrepancies Between Next-Gen and Last-Gen Visual Quality
Are We Stuck in the Past?
Atomfall is not isolated in its last-gen aesthetic; other titles like Starfield also evoke feelings of bygone console generations, appearing visually capable of running on an Xbox One while retaining outdated loading screens and sparse environments. Likewise, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor faced criticism for its cross-platform performance, underscoring the urgent need for developers to move on from consoles that should have transitioned out five years prior.
The apparent stagnation in visual improvements across generations can largely be attributed to a much narrower gap in graphical fidelity compared to transitions from platforms like the PS3 to the PS4. While technological advancements have certainly been made, making some games look superb, the average player often struggles to distinguish notable differences unless exhibitions of previous-generation counterparts are analyzed side by side.
For example, while Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 exhibits technological superiority over its predecessor, the difference is subtle during gameplay. The same can be said for many leading PlayStation titles, including God of War Ragnarök. This observation does not seek to diminish the quality of current-gen AAA games; rather, it highlights the potential limits of visible enhancements between generations. This is where art direction plays a crucial role, as exemplified significantly by Atomfall.
Sources: Eurogamer, Digital Foundry/YouTube