Atomfall Playstyles: A Comprehensive Guide

Author: Aaliyah May 13,2025

*Atomfall* is an RPG that empowers players with the freedom to tailor their gaming experience. Right from the start, you're invited to select from a variety of playstyles, each designed to cater to different preferences and skill levels. If you're unsure about which one to choose, here's a comprehensive guide to help you understand each playstyle option available in the game.

All Playstyles in Atomfall and How They Work

Playstyle menu in AtomfallScreenshot by The Escapist

*Atomfall* is all about giving players the freedom to experience its story in their preferred way. Upon starting a new game, you'll encounter a Playstyle menu with five distinct modes, each crafted to suit different player experiences:

  • Sightseer – Ideal for those who want to immerse themselves in the story without the pressure of intense combat or survival challenges. This mode sets Exploration, Survival, and Combat to 'Assisted' difficulty, ensuring a relaxed gameplay experience.

  • Investigator – Suited for players who enjoy exploring independently without hints or HUD assistance, yet prefer to keep combat stress-free. Here, Exploration is set to 'Challenging', while Survival is 'Casual' and Combat remains 'Assisted'.

  • Brawler – Tailored for players who relish combat challenges. While Exploration and Survival are more guided (set to 'Assisted' and 'Casual' respectively), Combat is ramped up to 'Challenging' difficulty.

  • Survivor – Recommended by the developers, this mode offers a balanced challenge across all aspects of the game. Combat, Survival, and Exploration are all set to 'Challenging' difficulty.

  • Veteran – The ultimate test for seasoned players, this mode sets Combat, Survival, and Exploration to 'Intense' difficulty, designed for those seeking the most hardcore experience.

Screenshot by The Escapist

Choosing the right playstyle initially can be daunting, but don't worry – *Atomfall* allows you to switch your playstyle at any time without any penalties. To do so, pause the game, navigate to 'Options', and under the 'Game' tab, you'll find 'Playstyle'. Here, you can adjust the difficulty levels of Combat, Survival, and Exploration to suit your current preference, automatically aligning with one of the predefined playstyles.

For those who want even more control, the 'Advanced Options' menu lets you fine-tune various aspects within each category, ensuring a truly personalized gaming experience.

Which Atomfall Playstyle Should You Start With?

Playstyle customization menu in AtomfallScreenshot by The Escapist

*Atomfall* aims to provide a balanced gameplay experience, but ultimately, your enjoyment hinges on what challenges you seek. If you're considering one of the five default playstyles, **Investigator** or **Brawler** might be the best starting points. These options will help you gauge your comfort with the game's combat and exploration mechanics, allowing you to adjust your settings as needed.

However, for the ultimate personalized experience, opting for a customized playstyle is recommended. This feature allows you to tweak every aspect of the game to match your unique playstyle, from enemy behavior to exploration and bartering mechanics, giving you full control over your gameplay limits.

Importantly, there are no achievements or trophies tied to completing the game on specific difficulties, so feel free to switch your playstyle as often as you wish without any repercussions.

That wraps up our guide on *Atomfall* playstyles. For more insights and tips, including how to obtain a free Metal Detector early in the game, be sure to explore our additional content.