A meteorite discovery sparked a secret nuclear arms race in 1960s England

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: What if a fallen space rock triggered a clandestine technological revolution? In an alternate 1960s, the British government hid a meteorite named Oberon beneath a nuclear plant, leading to a radioactive quarantine and a desperate struggle for survival in the Lake District.

The narrative of Atomfall centers on a clandestine operation by the British Atomic Research Division (BARD). Following the discovery of a meteorite dubbed 'Oberon' in a slate mining operation shortly after World War II, the government constructed the Windscale nuclear plant to mask the site's true nature. This facility served a dual purpose: powering a network of secret bunkers and researching the 'Oberite' mineral and its alien contents. These efforts yielded massive technological leaps, including the development of atomic batteries and training stimulants.

The status quo shattered on October 10, 1957, when an incident—attributed to both internal negligence and foreign sabotage—triggered an energy surge. The resulting explosion destroyed the Windscale plant, scattering radioactive and alien contaminants across the Lake District. This created a permanent interference field that blocked all external signals and disrupted electrical components like aircraft. The British government responded by enacting a strict quarantine around Wyndham village and the wider region, leaving those trapped inside to fend for themselves.

The resulting wasteland is now governed by competing factions. The military reorganized into 'Protocol,' a martial law group led by Cpt. Grant Sims, while a cult known as the Druids emerged, seeking to embrace Oberon's influence. Players navigate this interconnected landscape, managing physical stressors like heart rate—which causes muffled hearing and darkened vision—while making high-stakes choices. Ultimately, the player must decide the fate of the Oberon site: destroying it with explosives and poison, or enriching it with growth stimulants to potentially become one with the 'Voice in the Soil.'

Developed by Rebellion Developments, the game was inspired by a mix of 'dense' experiences like Fallout: New Vegas and BioShock, alongside British sci-fi staples like The Quatermass Experiment and The Day of the Triffids. It prioritizes investigative gameplay and player agency, where following one key character's orders inevitably means betraying another's.

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