S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2for Windows

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a long-expected game, first announced after Call of Prypiat came out. Canceled and repeatedly reintroduced, it now has a release date in 2021, promising greatness.

The bleakness in Chernobyl continues

GSC Game World is delivering an addition to the popular trilogy, further pronouncing atmosphere that made gamers fall in love with the original.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R., which stands for Scavengers, Trespassers, Adventurers, Loners, Killers, Explorers, and Robbers, all of which you can play, is a first-person shooter game of survival. Set near the terrifying Chernobyl disaster, it features a bitter atmosphere and unforgiving combat.

While the previous versions weren't 100% open-world, this one will allow you to explore the Zone without railroading. According to GSC., it will be 'among the biggest worlds to date.'

The plot is mostly unknown yet. You’ll likely still play a bounty hunter looking to uncover mysteries and gather treasures. However, GSC announced a non-linear story in line with the open-world idea.

One glance at the teaser trailer showcases the level of authenticity the developers hope to achieve. As a player, you’ll explore realistic corrupted areas, anomalies, and mutants in your search for artifacts.

Previous iterations relied on the Artificial Life system to simulate various inhabitants of this dreadful world. This one will use A-Life 2.0 for improved simulation.

Finally, since the title remained active and loved thanks to the modders, the developers support the community with this new release. Promising to make modding straightforward, they effectively already made sure the game doesn't get boring.

Where can you run this program?

PC gamers will still be able to launch this game on Windows 10, but it’s now also available for the Xbox series.

Is there a better alternative?

No. If you’re looking for games while awaiting the release, try the Metro game series made by ex-members, or Next Day for a similar atmosphere. Fallout is a fantastic mainstream alternative.

Our take

This series needed a revamp in execution to match its gripping storyline. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 promises to provide just that.

Should you download it?

Yes, especially if you’re a fan of previous releases. Even if not, however, this first-person shooter seems like it’ll be worth a try.