Atomic Heart II Announced: A Wilder USSR Sandbox, More Freedom, and RPG Depth

Let’s be real: few games last year divided the gaming crowd quite like Atomic Heart. Love it or hate it, the alternate USSR fever dream left a mark. So when Mundfish dropped the reveal trailer for Atomic Heart II, my curiosity spiked-not just for the return of Major P-3, but for what the team learned (or didn’t) from the first game’s ambitious mess.

Atomic Heart II: More Than Just a Sequel or Another Fever Dream?

This isn’t just a “more robots, more Soviets” update. The trailer hints at a world that’s more alive, more explorable, and-finally-less weighed down by the clunky systems that frustrated players the first time around. But are we about to see Mundfish actually pull off the kind of RPG freedom they’re promising, or is this just another case of style over substance?

Key Takeaways

• Return to a twisted USSR: Major P-3 is back, but the world promises new characters, more lore, and what looks like a sandbox brimming with activity.
• Freedom and RPG mechanics: Mundfish claims bigger, bolder RPG systems—think more player choice, deeper worldbuilding, and “do what you want” gameplay.
• Gameplay overhaul: Parachuting, snappier movement, and the ability to mix polymer powers with all weapon types—a huge shift from the sometimes-clunky original.
• No release date or platforms specifics yet: Announced for PC and consoles, but Mundfish is keeping the timeline under wraps.

There’s a lot to unpack in this announcement—especially if you slogged through the first game’s beautiful but uneven campaign like I did.

First off, that alternate Soviet vibe is still strong. If you played the original, you know Mundfish doesn’t half-ass the aesthetic: weird robots, propaganda posters, and a world that feels genuinely alien. The trailer doubles down on this, showing off a USSR more alive and weirdly plausible than ever. Frankly, that’s the main reason people tuned in the first time. If Mundfish can give us more of that—but with actual things to do in this world—they might finally deliver on the promise of a living, breathing alternate history.

But let’s talk gameplay: The first Atomic Heart looked stunning but played like it was stuck in the mud. The new footage shows parachuting, faster traversal, and what seems to be a much-needed focus on fluidity. That’s a relief. The clunky combat and rigid movement were dealbreakers for some, myself included. If they nail the controls this time, the rest of the game’s weirdness might actually shine.

The RPG angle is the biggest wildcard. Mundfish is teasing more freedom, more powers, more ways to tinker with your loadout. Combining the glove’s powers with any weapon could shake things up, especially if the new polymer abilities offer real tactical depth. But I can’t help but remember how the first game’s systems sounded amazing on paper—until you realized how shallow they were in practice. Mundfish has a lot to prove here.

And then there’s the story. Atomic Heart I’s ending(s) left things murky, and while the trailer is coy about where Major P-3’s journey picks up, it’s clear we’re in for more confusion and conspiracies. Hopefully, this time around, they tighten up the writing and give us a narrative that’s as compelling as the art design.

No release window and vague platform info means we’re probably in for a long wait. That’s not surprising—Mundfish seems determined to take their time, and after the first game’s mixed critical reception, they can’t afford to rush things. That said, if they’re truly building a more open, vibrant world and doubling down on player freedom, I’d rather they take the time to get it right.

What Does This Actually Mean for Gamers?

For anyone who loved Atomic Heart’s weirdness but wanted more from its systems, this sequel could be a dream come true—if Mundfish delivers on their promises. If you bounced off the original’s gameplay but respected its ambition, the promise of smoother controls and real RPG choices should put this on your radar. But if you’re skeptical, you’re not alone: we’ve all been burned by shiny trailers before.

My advice? Stay cautiously optimistic. Watch how the devs communicate in the coming months. If they start showing actual, uncut gameplay and detailing the RPG systems with specifics—not just buzzwords—then it’s time to get excited. Until then, enjoy the fever dream… but keep your expectations in check.

TL;DR

Atomic Heart II is promising the freedom, world-building, and gameplay depth the first game only flirted with. The trailer is stylish, and the ideas are big—now it’s on Mundfish to prove they can turn wild ambition into a game that’s as fun as it is weird. I’m watching closely, but the proof will be in the hands-on.

Source: Mundfish via GamesPress