Atomicrops

Lore & Background

Atomicrops was developed by Bird Bath Games and published by Raw Fury. The game was programmed by Danny Wynne with art by Toby Dixon. Its farming elements were inspired by Stardew Valley, while the bullet hell roguelike aspects drew from games like Enter the Gungeon and Nuclear Throne. The game uses Unity as its engine and was released on Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on May 28, 2020.

Gameplay is divided into four seasons, each with three days. Players start each day on their farm plot, where they sow, water, and fertilize crops for money. Larger crops can be created by planting four identical crops in a square and fertilizing them. Players can leave the farm to fight enemies and collect upgrades, including farm animals that automate farming and scrolls that perform actions en masse. Passive items, such as one that slows time when weeds are cut, are also available. At night, waves of enemies appear on the farm, requiring defense. Players can fire weapons and perform farming actions simultaneously.

A helicopter retrieves the player at dawn, bringing them to a shop area where they can purchase items and weapons with money. Pickaxes create more plantable tiles. Players can flirt with potential spouses using roses, granting additional items; spending enough roses on a character makes them join the farm with their own abilities. Roses can also be used for healing. Every third night, a boss appears alongside enemy waves. After surviving, the mayor evaluates the player's crop performance, gifting items based on money earned that season. If the player dies, the run ends and they restart from the first season. Surviving all four seasons leads to a single-day fifth season with a final boss. Defeating it ends the run and unlocks a new difficulty tier. Persistent upgrades can be purchased after meeting ant characters, and additional playable characters can be unlocked.

Reader's Guide

Atomicrops received a score of 78/100 on Metacritic and strong approval on OpenCritic, with 69% of critics recommending it. Rock Paper Shotgun noted that the farming life sim elements felt lackluster compared to the strong bullet hell attributes, but the combination of farming and shooting created engaging multitasking. The game's high initial difficulty, combined with fewer permanent upgrades than other roguelikes, made it feel distinct. Eurogamer stated that the launch version alleviated concerns about unforgiving health management and would now recommend the game. IGN found the game less relaxing and accessible than other farming sims or roguelikes, but still recommended it for players interested in a combination of Stardew Valley and Enter the Gungeon. The game's significance lies in its unique fusion of two genres, offering a challenging experience that rewards mastery of both farming and combat mechanics.

Did You Know?

• Atomicrops was released on May 28, 2020, for Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One.
• The game's farming elements were inspired by Stardew Valley, while its bullet hell roguelike aspects were motivated by Enter the Gungeon and Nuclear Throne.
• Runs are divided into four seasons with three days each, plus a final fifth season with a boss.
• Players can unlock additional playable characters and purchase persistent upgrades after meeting ant characters.