For many years, Atomic Heart was touted by fans as the next BioShock, since its retrofuturistic setting, enthralling art design, and unique gameplay seemed to share a lot in common with the seminal 2007 FPS. However, the game ultimately wasn't able to live up to those lofty expectations. Upon its release, Atomic Heart garnered mixed-to-positive reviews from critics; some praised it for its ambitious nature and stunning visuals, while others criticized it for its clunky combat and poor dialogue. The reception from fans, though, was markedly more positive. Although Atomic Heart wasn't the genre-defining masterpiece some hoped it would be, it was still praised by gamers on sites like Steam for being an inventive, albeit somewhat janky, first-person shooter.