Atomfall Factions Guide: What Are They and Can You Join a Faction?

On March 27, 2025, the video game Atomfall was released, becoming one of the biggest sensations of the spring. The game takes you to an alternate reality of 1960s England, where a nuclear disaster has turned a significant part of the country into a radioactive exclusion zone. In some ways, the game is reminiscent of STALKER 2, but with slightly different gameplay mechanics. In its first few days, Atomfall was warmly received by both the community and critics, scoring 73 on Metacritic and 79 on OpenCritic.

The game offers vast regions to explore, mutated creatures, and numerous NPCs and factions. In this article, we'll provide a guide to Atomfall Factions, covering key details and whether you can join them.

All Factions in Atomfall

Atomfall is a survival-action game, filled with various types of NPCs that accompany players throughout the game. As you explore the aftermath of the nuclear explosion, you'll encounter different factions in Atomfall, and we will go over all of them.

These are all the factions in Atomfall, and depending on which one you choose to align with, you will experience different Atomfall Endings in the end.

Main Atomfall Factions

The game features two main factions, Protocol and B.A.R.D, which have the greatest influence on the game world among all Atomfall groups. Additionally, you can encounter them almost at the beginning of the game, so knowing about Protocol and B.A.R.D will be beneficial for you. In the following text, we will provide a guide to these key Atomfall factions.

Protocol

The Protocol faction represents the first response forces to the nuclear disaster. It is backed by the government and is responsible for maintaining public security after the Windscale catastrophe. Over the years, Protocol has transformed into an authoritarian organization seeking to control those living in the quarantine zone. Among all factions in Atomfall, Protocol is the one most inspired by the Cold War era.

The leader of this Atomfall NPCs group is Captain Sims, whom you can find in Wyndham Village. Although Sims is generally distrustful of the locals, he will request your help and promise you a safe way out of the region.

B.A.R.D

B.A.R.D is the second major of Atomfall factions. On one hand, they are the most influential group in the quarantine zone. B.A.R.D (British Atomic Research Division) was responsible for managing the Windscale Nuclear Site. After the disaster, B.A.R.D began representing itself through machines, which are powerful Atomfall NPCs you will have to fight.

These robots are some of the toughest enemies in the game, and you can encounter them in The Interchange, Skethermoor, and even Wyndham Village. To defeat them, you need to destroy their sensors, which are located inside a glass dome on their heads.

Atomfall Minor Factions

The game also features secondary factions, which still play an important role. Here is a list and brief description of these Atomfall factions.

Druids

This faction is inspired by the historical folklore of Great Britain, bringing an element of mysticism and mystery to the game. To establish a friendly relationship with them, you need to meet and talk with Mother Jago.

Bandits

Among the Atomfall factions, there are also bandits. These NPCs resemble outlaws and are scattered chaotically throughout the quarantine zone. Of all the Atomfall groups, bandits contribute the most to the game’s overall chaos.

Cultists

The cultists have a smaller presence in the quarantine zone and are not as influential as other Atomfall NPCs. However, when you encounter them, they can add an extra level of difficulty to your playthrough.

Now that you know about all the Atomfall factions, we recommend checking out our article on the Main Quest Walkthrough, which will help you decide which factions to cooperate with—and which to avoid.