Atomic Heartis a title that many have been waiting on for a while, a shooter much in the vein of Bioshock and other titles, examining a strange futuristic Soviet Union as everything breaks down. The game has gotten both plenty of praise and plenty of controversies and critiques for its story, gameplay, and overall messages and theme.
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There are so many things to love about Atomic Heart and plenty of things that players may want to be improved in something similar, and for both of those camps, there are plenty of games that will scratch that itch. From heart-pounding gun-slinging action to fascinating sci-fi and hypothetical worlds to a look into that Soviet theming, there should be a little for everyone.
10Doom (2016)
While Atomic Heart has some more interesting and nuanced elements to it, it also enjoys some high-intensity and frantic combat, and for those looking for more of that,Doomis a great choice. Doom sees you exploring the Mars colony in ruin after a portal to Hell was opened, and now you have to fight back against the invasion.
Doom is a game that really only tries to do one thing, and it does it perfectly, as it offers some of the most satisfying and intense FPS combat out there. With glory kills and a broad roster of weapons making for a constantly fresh experience, it may not be the most challenging game, but it certainly is an entertaining one.
If you enjoyed the more horror-like elements of the game and want more creepy scientific atrocities and sci-fi, thenSomahas just what you’re looking for. Soma sees you exploring an abandoned underground laboratory researching artificial consciousness, having to find a way to escape while unraveling the mystery of what happened.
Soma is very similar to the studio’s previous game, Amnesia, with plenty of puzzles to solve and having to hide from enemies as you remain defenseless. But what makes Soma stand out is the atmosphere and especially the story which explores unnerving concepts that will leave the player full of dread and existentialism. The questions it asks of artificial beings are something Atomic Heart fans might enjoy.
8Disco Elysium
One of the things that made Atomic Heart stand out was the unique setting and tone within a Soviet state, and if you want something that looks into that in a much deeper way,Disco Elysiumis the game you want. Disco Elysium sees you take control of a drunk, amnesiac cop within a crumbling, wartorn post-communist state, tasked with getting yourself together and solving a murder.
Disco Elyisum’s writing and setting is so fascinating as it comes from the perspective of people actually living in those Soviet states, and because of that, it feels so real. You get to see the way that politics are torn to shreds in Revachol, how the war and collapse still have ripples today, and the unique perspectives that crop up in such a place. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience in perspective.
But sometimes you don’t need the fancy graphics or deep story that Atomic Heart tries to give to have a good FPS; sometimes, you have to take a few steps back, such as withDusk. Dusk is a modern imagining of FPS games like Quake with its own additions and horror aesthetic with 3 campaigns to explore.
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Dusk keeps things simple by just offering a level to go through, a decent roster of weapons, and plenty of enemies to take on. No complex mechanics, no open world, no nothing, just a simple, fun experience. For fans of old games like Doom or Quake, this is sure to be a blast to the past you’ll love.
6Metro Exodus
One thing that has seen critique in Atomic Heart is the open world which some feel was underutilized and overall could have been more, and for those wanting more,Metro Exodusis just that. Metro Exodus sees you exploring Russia after a nuclear war, navigating by the old subway tunnels, and dealing with the new threats the world has to offer.
The series has always offered interesting gameplay and a much slower pace that allows the player to truly get immersed in the apocalyptic world and feel the tension. And now, all of it is upgraded with an open world to explore around, with plenty to explore and make you even more immersed within this world, rather than it all just feeling like empty space on the way to missions.
5System Shock 2
Atomic Heart follows in a long line of games that explore strange destroyed settings and let you explore around, such as with Bioshock and the predecessor of both,System Shock 2. System Shock 2 sees you exploring a spaceship falling apart as a virus has begun to take over the station, trying to find a way to stop it, all while dealing with the malevolent AI, SHODAN.
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System Shock 2 remains a legendary game for its innovations in game design, the game allowing the player to build a character with different skills and handle the challenges of the station differently. On top of this, the game focused heavily on storytelling compared to other FPSs of the time, expertly telling it through audio logs and the atmosphere of the ship, making for a legendary experience.
4Ultrakill
But for those who want gameplay that can truly challenge them when it comes to an FPS game,Ultrakillgives the best experience despite what its appearances may say. Ultrakill sees you take control of V1, a robot fueled by blood, as they descend into the layers of Hell to track down and kill demons and sinners to collect fuel.
Ultrakill is easily one of the best-designed FPSs in recent memory, with such incredible level, enemy, and weapon design that come together to make for such a skillful experience to master. It’s a game that demands skill if you want to see all of it, and the art of learning all the hidden tricks and mastering the movement is like nothing else, especially when it comes to overcoming the greatest challenges it has to offer.
3Papers Please
While Atomic Heart may be drenched in Soviet imagery and icons, it’s all a bit surface-level without trulyexploring the politics of the time and country, unlikePapers Please. Papers Please is a game that sees you working as a border inspector in an authoritarian state, having to deal with the increasingly tight grip of the state while doing your job inspecting papers.
While Papers Please may not seem appealing at first, the gameplay actually makes for a fascinating puzzle game experience as more and more details are added. And the game is a masterclass in storytelling and atmosphere, putting you in the position to see the horrors of an authoritarian regime and letting you see people desperately struggle against it no matter what it may cost.
2Wolfenstein The New Order
One of the most interesting aspects of Atomic Heart is the alternate history it explores, giving a strange yet familiar world to delve into, and another game that does this isWolfenstein: The New Order. New Order sees you dropped into an alternate 1960s where the Nazis won the second world war, now having to team up with resistance members to take down the regime.
The game offers incredibly intense combat with pounding music and atmosphere to back it up, much like Atomic Heart, but the place where the game really shines is in the story. From the characters to the alternative history, the game’s story offers plenty of the things people love about Atomic Heart while fixing up aspects others found lacking.
Atomic Heart is a game that isn’t exactly subtle about its inspirations, and that is incredibly clear in how similar it can be to one of the most influential games of all time:Bioshock. Bioshock sees you plunge into the underwater city of Rapture, a city built by a hyper-capitalist and now overrun by insane mutants, trying to save who you’re able to and escape.
While it does a little less than System Shock in terms of gameplay, Bioshock excels in its storytelling and atmosphere, offering an absolutely fascinating world to explore. The way each area tells its own story about the steady fall of Rapture due to its ideals and plasmids, sometimes wordlessly, is incredible, and the main story soars even higher with some of the most memorable moments in all of gaming. It’s a must-play game.
