Games like Atomic Heart

Steam reviews

What players say

Mostly positive: players praise the Soviet retrofuturist world, visuals and soundtrack, but many find the combat repetitive and the open world weak.

Many players praise the look of the game: the Soviet-futurist art direction, detailed environments, and the soundtrack, which some compare to the best of recent shooters. The story and lore win over many reviewers, and the DLC expansions are often described as better than the base game because they are linear and tighter. Some players compare it to BioShock, with powers, upgrades and dungeon-like testing grounds. Complaints centre on combat: some players say it is clunky and repetitive, with enemies that are spongy and ammunition that runs short. Some reviewers call the open world empty, and say enemies respawn or repair themselves too fast to explore comfortably. Voice acting, pacing at the start and the mixed endings also come up. Recent reviews are somewhat more divided than Steam's overall totals, with more complaints about dialogue and the slow opening.

Who it suits

Players who enjoy atmospheric, story-driven shooters with BioShock-style upgrades and an unusual setting, and who are willing to push through a slow start.

Who should skip it

Players who want fluid, varied combat or a polished open world, or who dislike clunky voice acting and repetitive fights.

Short vs. long playtime: Players with under 20 hours are more divided, often criticising the slow start, combat and open world, while players with 20 to 200 hours more often praise the story and DLC.

Summarised by AI from 59 Steam reviews (English, helpful and recent), as of Oct 28, 2026.