Issue 041 — July 2026
A PC-only games siteHow we reviewSubscribe
PCGame·Pilot
About the game

About S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl poster

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl brings the legendary series to a new generation with gameplay built on a blend of FPS, horror and immersive sim design. It offers a non-linear story with a variety of paths leading to one of several endings, benchmark-setting visuals crafted using cutting-edge photogrammetry and scanning technology, and advanced AI systems meant to keep even the most hardened players engaged. Immersive survival mechanics such as hunger, sleep, bleeding and radiation effects deepen the experience, while a dynamic day-night cycle and shifting weather add further realism. A multiplayer mode is planned as a free update after release.

The setting is the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, dramatically transformed following a second massive explosion in 2006. Violent mutants, deadly anomalies and warring factions have turned the Zone into an exceptionally harsh place to survive, yet artifacts of unbelievable value continue to lure the people known as S.T.A.L.K.E.R.s, who enter at their own risk in search of fortune or the Truth hidden in the Heart of Chornobyl.

You take on the role of a lone stalker exploring a photorealistic, seamless open world spanning a 64-square-kilometer radioactive zone. Its varied environments reveal a post-apocalyptic atmosphere from many angles as you make your way through this epic, nonlinear tale. For PC players who value atmospheric action RPGs with real survival stakes, this entry delivers a dense and dangerous world to explore.