ATUM pulls the player into a world where the player is the mechanic. It brings a novelty take on the point-and-click gameplay of previous generations and combines it with platformer puzzles. The game toys with the concept of multi-layer gameplay, dipping its layers in mathematical loops and philosophical recurrences. The design and the aesthetics are influenced by a manifold of science fiction classics, Blade Runner and Philip K. Dick's story Martian Time Slip among others. The game environment, used as narrative device, provides a considerable amount of references and clues that complement the underlying storyline.