Atomic Picnic Is The MOST ADDICTIVE Roguelike I've Played In Years!
Atomic Picnic is one of the most enjoyable roguelikes I’ve played in a long time. Despite some early access growing pains, the core gameplay loop is highly addictive, offering fast-paced action, rewarding loot mechanics, and a vibrant, cartoonish art style that perfectly complements the chaotic combat.
Pros!
Highly Addictive Gameplay! The game constantly bombards you with rewards and loot, reminiscent of the Borderlands series. Enemies explode into colorful drops, making every fight feel exciting and rewarding.
Satisfying Combat Mechanics! The third-person bullet hell-style combat feels smooth, and once you get past the initial learning curve, it becomes a highly engaging experience. Each character has strengths and weaknesses, and learning how to pick the right abilities adds strategic depth.
Replayability! Even with a limited number of maps at the moment, the game remains engaging thanks to its roguelike structure. Unlockable stat-boosting items (Mementos) and progression-based rewards help keep things fresh.
Community-Driven Development! The developers are actively listening to feedback and making improvements, showing promise for the game's future.
Charming Main Character! The protagonist is a fun, tomboyish character with a quirky personality (and a love for feijoada), which adds a bit of charm to the overall experience.
Cons!
Network Issues! Multiplayer suffers from frequent disconnections and lag, especially in games with more than two players. Losing progress due to these issues is frustrating.
Early Progression Feels Unbalanced! The game starts with extremely low base stats compared to enemies, making the first few hours feel like a grind. Progression is heavily reliant on random item drops, which can be frustrating if you don’t get useful upgrades early on.
AI and Gameplay Flow Issues! Some enemies get stuck on terrain, and the overall flow of combat can feel counterintuitive at times. Enemies tend to spawn behind you while you’re focused on gathering resources, making survival more frustrating than challenging.
Lack of Environmental Sound Design! The absence of sound effects for running, walking, and environmental interactions makes the world feel somewhat empty.
Performance Hiccups! There are occasional crashes that prevent you from reconnecting to a session.
Final Thoughts!
While Atomic Picnic still has room for improvement, it offers an incredibly fun and promising foundation. If you enjoy games like Risk of Rain 2, Gunfire Reborn, or Vampire Survivors, this is definitely worth checking out—especially if you have friends to play with.
The game is still in early access, and while it has its fair share of technical and balancing issues, the developers seem committed to refining the experience. Right now, it’s a great game with some frustrating flaws. If they iron out the connection issues, improve solo play balance, and refine progression mechanics, Atomic Picnic could easily become one of the best roguelike shooters on the market.
Final Verdict!
7.5 out of 10 with potential for a 9 out of 10 in the future. Recommended for fans of fast-paced roguelikes, but expect some rough edges if you're jumping in early.
Read the latest full patch notes here:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1903560/view/532089704231732109
Atomic Picnic - Early Access Launched on November 7, 2024!
Platform: PC (Steam) Price: $19.99 USD
Link:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1903560/Atomic_Picnic/
Swing and dash across the wasteland to slay monsters, smash loot pinatas, and synergize your upgrades with powerful weapons in this co-op roguelike shooter!