Can’t get your hands on Stalker 2 yet? Need more fun ideas for similar games? You’ve come to the right place. This nifty little guide will get you started on your next grand post-apocalyptic adventure.
Stalker games are pretty much immersive sims, blending first-person shooter with RPG, survival (horror), and sandbox-style gameplay. You explore the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone searching for incredibly valuable artifacts, fending off mutated beasts and hostile humans, working with (or against) various factions fighting for control over the Zone, and simply trying to stay alive in this radioactive wasteland.
Taking all the above into consideration, the alternatives we’ve picked are pretty much in the same ballpark. They’re shooters or at least action-adventure games with a similar atmosphere and/or premise. Let’s take a look, shall we?
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And now, without further ado:
Metro (series)
Easily one of the greatest picks on this list. Set in a post-apocalyptic Moscow, Russia, the series puts you in the shoes of a man named Artyom. Survivors of a nuclear war have moved underground, to the titular Moscow Metro, where they try to live through struggle. New threats emerge and it’s up to you to save the day.
It won’t be easy, though, as you must fight not just enemy humans or mutated beasts, but also be careful of radiation as well. Ammunition working as local currency and other interesting gameplay mechanics surely make Metro 2033 and its sequels a fantastic alternative to Stalker, especially if you prefer linear, cinematic experiences as opposed to open world settings. The atmosphere is spot on, the gameplay is tight and nerve-wrecking, and survival horror is strong with this one.
Fallout (series)
We simply had to put this one in here. If Eastern Europe and Asia aren’t your thing and you’d like to explore a devastated America instead, this will totally be your jam. One of the greatest franchises in the history of gaming, Fallout turned to action RPGs with third & first-person-shooter-style gameplay back in 2008 with Fallout 3.
Vaults, ghouls, deathclaws, raiders, radscorpions and stuff – it’s certainly an iconic world, even if grim and dreary. Each game brings something new to the table, so playing the roleplay-heavy Fallout: New Vegas is certainly going to be a different experience than trying out Fallout 4, which is lighter in that regard. And if you’re into online experiences, you might love exploring post-nuclear Appalachia in Fallout 76.
Generation Zero
And now for something completely different: a survival-based shooter set in 1989 Sweden. Deadly robots have invaded the country and it’s up to you and your rag-tag band of crafty teenagers (though you can totally go solo, even if it’s dangerous to do so) to both find out what happened to the folks living in your hometown who disappeared, and to figure out how to defeat this mechanical menace.
The game, seemingly inspired by the artwork of Simon Stålenhag, offers beautiful open vistas for you to explore, tons of challenges, and numerous difficult decisions to make. This isn’t an even fight, so you’ll need to choose your battles wisely. If you’re looking for a breath of fresh air after all those post-nuclear stories, Generation Zero sounds like something you might find to your liking.
Stalcraft: X
Here’s a free-to-play online game where you get to explore the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone either with others or solo, as Roblox-style characters. Make no mistake, though, this ain’t no family-friendly version of the Stalker series. Nope, the Zone is just as deadly, filled with dangerous mutants, anomalies, and radiation, and hostile players aren’t making things any better.
But that’s part of the game’s charm! STALCRAFT: X features an open world where anything can happen. While some might want to describe the game as an MMORPG title, don’t let that scare you away – there’s no leveling up, you progress simply by obtaining better gear. If you wanted to play a multiplayer version of Stalker with a living world populated by other players, this might be your dream come true. And it’s F2P!
DayZ
We’ll end our list with a fun little title about zombies and stuff. DayZ, an Arma 2 mod turned into a standalone game, is an online sandbox survival experience. You end up in either Chernorus or Livonia and try to stay alive for as long as possible. And it’s not just the infected you have to worry about – dangerous animals like wolves and bears are also out there to get you and you certainly can count on hostile players to ruin your day. But that’s what makes DayZ so amazing!
The game features complex survival mechanics and interactions between the players. You can avoid others, kill them, or work with them to achieve your goals together. Naturally, you can get backstabbed at any moment, but it’s better to have allies in such a hostile world, right? And that’s all, folks! Here are some of the best alternatives to the Stalker series. So, if you’re on the lookout for more of the same or Stalker’s not your thing, but you’d like to try out something similar, you’ll find something for yourself here. Remember to check out the deals on G2A.COM – you’ll find more inspirations there. Until next time and have fun!
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