How to Make an Atomic Bomb in Your Garden
Welcome to the How to Make an Atomic Bomb in Your Garden wiki. Learn core mechanics, gather rare parts, avoid the feds, and complete your backyard nuclear project with our beginner guide.
What is How to Make an Atomic Bomb in Your Garden?
How to Make an Atomic Bomb in Your Garden is a single-player adventure simulation game developed and published by karahan, launching on PC via Steam on June 9, 2026. You play as an amateur backyard scientist with an absurd goal: build a functional atomic bomb using found parts, secret funding, and sheer audacity. The game blends casual resource management with stealth elements, as you must avoid raising suspicion from nosy neighbors and federal agents.
Your journey begins with a rusty shed and a dream. You’ll need to raise money, scavenge for rare components, and assemble your device piece by piece. Each step carries risk—one wrong move and your operation is exposed. This wiki guide covers everything you need to know to succeed.
Core Gameplay and Mechanics
The core loop revolves around three phases: funding, scavenging, and assembly. First, you generate income through odd jobs or risky side hustles. Use this cash to purchase or unlock locations where rare parts might be hidden.
Scavenging sends you to junkyards, abandoned labs, or even your neighbor’s garage. Each location has a suspicion meter. If it fills up, the police or federal agents arrive, forcing a restart or a costly escape. The game uses a hidden reputation system—your actions affect how quickly suspicion rises.
Assembly takes place in your backyard shed. You must combine parts in the correct order, using a blueprint system that becomes more complex as you progress. Mistakes can cause accidents, setting you back resources or attracting attention.
Pro tip: Always invest in a better lock for your shed early. It reduces suspicion gain by 20% and gives you more time to complete each stage.
Beginner Guide: First Steps to Success
New players often struggle with resource management. Follow these steps to get a strong start:
Start with a Funding Plan
Work the easiest jobs first: mowing lawns or walking dogs. Avoid high-risk tasks like “borrowing” tools from construction sites until you have a safe escape route.
Scout Your Neighborhood
Use the binoculars tool to learn neighbor schedules. Plan your scavenging runs when the street is empty. This reduces suspicion gain by half.
Build a Basic Toolkit
Purchase a screwdriver set and a multimeter from the hardware store. These are required for the first three assembly steps. Without them, you cannot progress.
Store Parts Safely
Never leave rare parts in plain sight. Build a hidden compartment under your shed floor (costs $200). This prevents discovery during random inspections.
Key Resources and Where to Find Them
Your project requires several categories of resources. Here is what you need and where to get them:
Funding Sources
- Safe: Dog walking, lawn care, tutoring (low risk, low reward)
- Risky: Selling fake antiques, gambling, “midnight salvage” (high risk, high reward)
- Secret: Black market contacts unlocked after week 2
Rare Parts
- Fissionable material: Old smoke detectors, university lab surplus (requires lockpicking)
- Detonator components: Electronics from broken microwaves, car ignitions
- Shielding: Lead sheets from roofing suppliers, old X-ray machines
Tools
- Essential: Screwdriver set, multimeter, welding torch
- Advanced: Geiger counter, oscilloscope, remote manipulator arm
- Consumable: Duct tape, epoxy, wire spools
Warning: The Geiger counter is not optional. Without it, you cannot safely handle fissionable materials. One mistake causes radiation poisoning, ending your run instantly.
Avoiding Suspicion: Stealth and Reputation
Your neighbors and the local authorities are your biggest obstacles. The game tracks a global suspicion meter that rises with every public action. Keep it below 50% to avoid investigations.
Key strategies:
- Work only at night when visibility is low.
- Bribe the mailman ($50 per week) to intercept suspicious packages.
- Build a decoy project (e.g., a “science fair model”) to explain strange noises or deliveries.
- If suspicion hits 80%, immediately halt all activity for 2 in-game days. The meter decays slowly.
If federal agents arrive, you have two options: bribe them (expensive) or escape using a pre-planned route. Escaping resets your location but saves your parts. Bribing costs half your current funds but keeps you in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I complete the game without any failed attempts? Yes, but it requires perfect planning and a bit of luck. Most players fail at least once due to random inspections or part shortages.
What happens if my shed is discovered? You lose all stored parts and funds. You must restart from scratch, but you retain any permanent upgrades (like better tools).
Are there multiple endings? Yes. The main ending is a successful detonation. However, there are alternate endings if you get caught, turn yourself in, or sell your project to a foreign agent.
How long does a typical playthrough take? Around 8–12 hours for a first run. Experienced players can finish in 4–6 hours using optimal routes.
For more detailed strategies, check our beginner tips guide and the complete walkthrough. If you need help with specific mechanics, the mechanics guide explains every system in depth.