STALKER 2has an interesting atmosphere and engaging exploration, so players may understandably want more games like it once they’ve finished. Luckily, there are plenty of games that come close to replicating thebest parts ofSTALKER 2, while still having their own unique elements to set them apart. Some of these games havesimilar gameplay elements toSTALKER 2, while othersshare thematic elements but present a new playstyleto explore them through.
Which element ofSTALKER 2appeals to each individual player will likely determine which of these similar games they like best. That said, anyone who likedSTALKER 2will likely find they like one of these games just as much, if not more. Players may also discover someunderrated games similar toSTALKER.
10Zona Alfa Is Inspired By The Same Source Material As STALKER 2
Both Take Inspiration From The Same Novel
STALKER 2- and the entireSTALKERseries - was originally inspired by the novelRoadside Picnicby Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.Roadside Picnic’s eerie Visitation Zones have been the inspiration for quite a few games and other works of fiction like Jeff VanderMeer’sAnnihilation. Another game that takes inspiration fromRoadside Picnicis the table-top miniatures gameZona Alfa.
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Zona Alfais a fast-paced skirmish miniatures game that focuses on survival in a post-apocalyptic futurewhere factions fight over Exclusion Zones. Similar toSTALKER 2, the game doesn’t just focus on combat, but also scavenging for supplies, exploration, and survival. Unlike other minis games, likeWarhammer 40,000,Zona Alfadoesn’t have a dedicated line of miniatures. Instead, the game is simply a set of rules, allowing players to use any miniatures they like, or even just representative tokens to play with. This can make it more accessible than some other miniatures games.
9The Stalker TTRPG Lets Players Immerse Themselves In The Zone
Stalker Is A Role-Play-Heavy Experience Perfect For Players Who Want To Experience The Zone
Any players who loved the world ofSTALKER 2would likely enjoy trying out theStalkertable-top roleplaying game from Burger Games. LikeSTALKER 2, the game was directly inspired byRoadside Picnicand was even made with the permission of author Boris Srugatsky. In it, players take on the role of Stalkers who attempt to travel into the Zone and come back with some valuable loot.The game is as unforgiving as the world players are inhabiting, so players shouldn’t expect to pull off the same type of heroic exploits as they would in a game likeDungeons & Dragons.
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Stalkeralso uses a unique diceless system for running games. The game’s rules are meant to facilitate interesting roleplaying moments, which are determined more by the immersive narrative players have crafted than by the luck of a roll. While not allSTALKER 2fans may be up for such a role-play-intensive experience,those who want to truly experience life in the Zone will love this game.
8Metro 2033 Has A Similar Setting And Some STALKER Alums On The Team
Metro 2033 Is The First In A Series Of Games Set In A Post-Apocalyptic Near-Future
STALKER 2fans who haven’t checked out theMetroseries may be excited to learn about the many similarities between the two franchises. Like theSTALKERfranchise’s roots inRoadside Picnic,Metro 2033and its sequels arebased on the novelMetro 2033by Dmitry Glukhovsky. The game also features exploration and survival in a similarly post-apocalyptic setting, this time the result of a nuclear war.Metro 2033was evendeveloped by some of the team members behind the firstSTALKERgame.
LikeSTALKER 2,Metro 2033has some mutant enemies and is a survival horror experience. While someSTALKER 2fans may be disappointed to learn thatMetro 2033is a linear experience as opposed to an open world, there are still enough similarities between the games that many players will likely enjoy both. The latestMetrogame,Metro Exodus, also includes some small open-world segments, though it is still largely linear.
7The Final Station Lets Players Rescue Survivors Of A STALKER-like Anomaly
Players Explore Dangerous Ruins And Transport Survivors Aboard A Train
The Final Stationis a 2D side-scrolling game where players explore dangerous ruins inhabited by people who have been transformed by a “Visitation” of an unknown force. The term Visitation was also howRoadside Picnicdescribed the event that created its Zone, so it’s likely thatThe Final StationandSTALKER 2share a source of inspiration. The other major element of the game is transporting survivors aboard a train and helping keep them alive.
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The exploration elements ofThe Final Stationhave a similar feel to exploring the Zone inSTALKER 2, even if the presentation styles are very different.The Final Stationalso limits the resources it gives players, giving it survival horror elements that are reminiscent ofSTALKER 2. One major difference, however, is thatThe Final Stationis a much shorter experience thanSTALKER 2. This could make it a good alternative for players who want a game that has a similar atmosphere but requires less of a time investment to replay.
6Pacific Drive Features Its Own Version Of The Zone In The Pacific Northwest
Pacific Drive Sets Itself Apart With Its Unique Setting And Emphasis On Driving
Pacific Driveis, likeSTALKER 2, a survival game emphasizing exploration and scavenging. It also takes place inside an area called The Zone, seemingly inspired byRoadside Picnic. Though there are some strong similarities with the two games’ settings,Pacific Driveoffers several unique elementsthat make it worth playing even for players who have finishedSTALKER 2.
Players’ main mode of transportation inPacific Driveis in a car. Throughout the game, players are forced to look for fuel and parts to help repair or upgrade their vehicles. Players also have to avoid some unnatural enemies while driving that wouldn’t feel too out of place in the world ofSTALKER 2, though the visual design of both games is drastically different.Pacific Driveis also set in the Pacific Northwest, which gives it a largely different environment from that ofSTALKER 2. It’s nice to playa game with similar vibes but with its own strong identity.
5Days Gone Has Similar Gameplay And A Post-Apocalyptic Setting
Days Gone Also Has An Emphasis On Survival
While the setting of a more typical zombie apocalypse is a bit less bespoke than that ofSTALKER 2,Days Gone’s atmosphere and gameplay are likely something that would be appealing to aSTALKERfan. Like inSTALKER 2, it’s very important that players explore and scavenge for new equipment, especially when playing on Survival Mode. Like theSTALKERset up,Days Gone’s story also uses a real-world parallel to establish its post-apocalyptic setting.
TheSTALKERseries explains that The Zone was created by a second Chornobyl disaster, similar to the real-life explosion of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986.Days Gonedraws from much more recent history for the inspiration behind its setting, blaming a global pandemic for the game’s zombie outbreak. These historical connections make the worlds ofboth games feel slightly more grounded in the real world, despite their fantastical elements.
4Zenless Zone Zero Is A Colorful Alternative To STALKER
Although It Has A Very Different Style, Zenless Zone Zero’s Setting Is Similar
From an aesthetic and gameplay standpoint,STALKER 2andZenless Zone Zerohave very little in common.Zenless Zone Zerois an action RPG with a colorful anime-inspired look. Unlike the player character inSTALKER 2, who feels constantly in danger of being killed,the playable agents inZenless Zone Zeroare more akin to superheroes, able to take on swarms of enemies with stylish moves and unique powers. Fans looking for a similar gameplay experience toSTALKER 2probably won’t be satisfied withZZZ, but if they’re looking for a game with a similar setting, they’re in luck.
Zenless Zone Zerotakes place in a world whereareas called Hollows, similar to The Zone, have taken over large parts of the world. Inside these Hollows are strange extra-dimensional creatures known as Ethereals. Players who are enamored with the idea of strange areas like The Zone full of danger and strange creatures will likely still enjoy exploring the world ofZenless Zone Zero, even if the style of the two games is very different.
3Chernobylite Has Similar Inspirations To STALKER 2
Chernobylite Also Takes Place In The Chornobyl Exclusion Zone
Chernobylitehas so many similar elements toSTALKER 2that some players have even gone so far as to label it aSTALKERclone. As the name suggests,Chernobylitealso takes place around Chornobyl, and it also deals with players having to explore the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. While the story has its differences -Chernobylite’s protagonist is looking for his fiancee as opposed to valuable artifacts - it can be easy to see why players would consider the games essentially the same thing.
Though the games have their similarities,Chernobylitedoes have some unique qualities that set it apart fromSTALKER 2and make it worth checking out on its own merits. For one thing,Chernobylitefeatures some outrageous and imaginative enemies, like a sentient crane monster. This exaggerated take on a similar setting can be a big treat for players who enjoy inventive enemy design and a more high-concept world.
2Half-Life’s Story Is Almost Like A Prequel To STALKER 2
Half-Life Features A Mysterious Research Facility And A World-Warping Incident
In theSTALKERseries, the Zone was created by an incident at a research facility which resulted in a new Chornobyl disaster. This is what led to the creation of the game’s mutant enemies and the Zone’s other anomalies. While theSTALKERseries doesn’t show the actual events that created the Zone,a very similar story can be seen in the gameHalf-Life.Half-Lifeis set in the Black Mesa research facility where protagonist Gordon Freeman is conducting research on a mysterious crystal. These experiments ultimately lead to an invasion by monstrous aliens.
AlthoughHalf-Life’s enemies are extra-terrestrial in origin, whereSTALKER2’s are mutated creatures and people from Earth, the stories do share a lot of similarities. If players wish they could experience something like the initial incident in theSTALKERseries, thenHalf-Lifewill likely scratch that itch. That said, players just getting into theHalf-Lifeseries now shouldn’thold their breath for aHalf-Life 3.
1Wasteland 3 Offers A Different Gameplay Experience With A Similar Setting
Wasteland 3 Is A Turn-Based Game Set In Post-Apocalyptic Colorado
WhileWasteland 3’s post-apocalyptic settingis much more all-encompassing thanSTALKER 2’s Zone, there are still some atmospheric similarities between the two. Both present a threatening world full of mutant enemies that players must explore and survive.Wasteland 3also has some superficial elements that will remind players ofSTALKER 2, like characters being clad in gas masks and barren wastelands.
Also likeSTALKER 2,Wasteland 3presents a few choices that change the game’s story, making it good for multiple playthroughs. That said,Wasteland 3is a pretty different experience when it comes to gameplay. This is a role-playing game with turn-based combat, so players looking for an immersive first-person experience might not be as into it. Still, the game has a lot to offerSTALKER 2fans who want to explore a world that is similar in tone and aesthetics.
