Stalker 2 Returns to The Zone in Frightening Gameplay Adventure

Weird anomalies, spooky mutants, and humans likely to gun you down repeatedly await in Stalker 2, making the Zone an oppressive but fascinating place.

A Punishing Affair

Stalker 2 is a punishing affair, where life is difficult and fleeting in the Zone. The irradiated area around Chornobyl is filled with deadly, physics-defying anomalies, mutants, and various people who will kill you for just about any reason. If you fail to keep your wits about you in the Zone, your time there will end quickly.

A Unique Gaming Experience

Stalker 2 feels harrowing and invigorating in equal measure. It requires players to be on their guard and rewards them with strange, exciting experiences in the Zone. After playing for over three hours, I found that the game’s atmosphere of deadly, mysterious strangeness makes wandering its open world both alluring and frightening.

Anomalies and Artifacts

Anomalies in the game range from dangerous to deadly, but they can also be incredibly valuable. If you can make your way into the center of some anomalies, you can find an artifact – a strange object with unexplainable properties that you can equip on your character. That’s what Stalkers – scavengers who make their livelihood in the Zone – are after.

The unreliability of combat feels intentional – the developers want you to be careful about taking on people you find out in the world, and staying on guard to avoid bumbling into firefights. This puts a different spin on Stalker 2’s open world, making the place feel dangerous at all times.

Exploring the Zone

Exploring the Zone and encountering strange things is one of the game’s highlights. I found two Stalkers running from twisted pigs called Fleshes at a farm, and watched as one barricaded himself inside the farmhouse while the other was killed by the creatures. These moments give Stalker 2 a more awkward feel than most modern games, but also make it unique and compelling.