Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl. Best games on Xbox Game Pass in 2025

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• Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl

Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl

What is Stalker 2 about?

The sequel to Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl once again takes players to a post-apocalyptic world, specifically to the areas of the Zone around the destroyed nuclear power plant in Chornobyl. The main character of the second installment is Skif, who is tasked with investigating the energy source that emerged after another explosion in the power plant's reactor – as you can see, the devs don't adhere to historical accuracy, which isn't a criticism of them at all. The events depicted in Stalker 2 don't constitute a direct continuation of the plot from previous installments, which means you can start your adventure with the series right from the latest part.

What makes it worth playing?

Fans who have been longing to return to the Zone certainly don't need convincing - they have been playing Stalker 2 for a long time already. However, if this is to be your first expedition into dangerous areas, the dense climate and interesting world may encourage you to do so. At every step, you can feel the despair here, and sometimes even fear. The dirty, destroyed, and irradiated locations hides a whole lot of curiosities, including artifacts. The shooting mechanics and graphics might appeal to you as well - the game runs on Unreal Engine 5.

1. STALKER 2 in our encyclopedia