Stalker 2 is a Ukrainian-made mix of survival horror and first-person shooter, whose branching narrative and complex open world is one of the most impressive gaming has ever seen.
The fact that Stalker 2: Heart Of Chornobyl even exists should be classed as a minor miracle. Its Ukrainian developer, GSC Game World – now split between Kyiv and Prague – had to find a way of dealing with the invasion of its homeland while creating the long-awaited follow-up to 2007’s beloved Stalker: Shadow Of Chernobyl (Chernobyl is the Russian spelling, you can imagine why they changed it). The end result is an irresistibly compelling, characterful, and modern-feeling survival shooter that speaks volumes about their skill and tenacity.
Given the enduring popularity of the original game, GSC Game World hasn’t strayed far from its blueprint: Stalker 2 is very much the modern technology sequel that franchise fans have long craved. It even starts in strikingly similar fashion, with …