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 the best parts of STALKER 2, while still having their own unique elements to set them apart. Some of these games have similar gameplay elements to STALKER 2, while others share thematic elements but present a new playstyle to explore them through.
Which element of STALKER 2 appeals to each individual player will likely determine which of these similar games they like best. That said, anyone who liked STALKER 2 will likely find they like one of these games just as much, if not more. Players may also discover some underrated games similar to STALKER.
10 Zona Alfa Is Inspired By The Same Source Material As STALKER 2
Both Take Inspiration From The Same Novel
STALKER 2 - and the entire STALKER series - was originally inspired by the novel Roadside Picnic by 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’s Annihilation. Another game that takes inspiration from Roadside Picnic is the table-top miniatures game Zona Alfa.
GSC Game World’s approach to fixing STALKER 2’s bugs and issues has not only impressed fans but is illustrative of the fact the industry is improving.
Zona Alfa is a fast-paced skirmish miniatures game that focuses on survival in a post-apocalyptic future where factions fight over Exclusion Zones. Similar to STALKER 2, the game doesn’t just focus on combat, but also scavenging for supplies, exploration, and survival. Unlike other minis games, like Warhammer 40,000, Zona Alfa doesn’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.
9 The 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 of STALKER 2 would likely enjoy trying out the Stalker table-top roleplaying game from Burger Games. Like STALKER 2, the game was directly inspired by Roadside Picnic and 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 like Dungeons & Dragons.
Magic in Dungeons & Dragons offers a bit of flexibility, but a system that offers more room for improvisation without losing structure is promising.
Stalker also 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 all STALKER 2 fans may be up for such a role-play-intensive experience, those who want to truly experience life in the Zone will love this game.
8 Metro 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 2 fans who haven’t checked out the Metro series may be excited to learn about the many similarities between the two franchises. Like the STALKER franchise's roots in Roadside Picnic, Metro 2033 and its sequels are based on the novel Metro 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 2033 was even developed by some of the team members behind the first STALKER game.
Platform(s)PC , Xbox 360 , Xbox One , PS4 , Switch
Released March 16, 2010
Developer(s) 4A Games
Like STALKER 2, Metro 2033 has some mutant enemies and is a survival horror experience. While some STALKER 2 fans may be disappointed to learn that Metro 2033 is 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 latest Metro game, Metro Exodus, also includes some small open-world segments, though it is still largely linear.
7 The Final Station Lets Players Rescue Survivors Of A STALKER-like Anomaly
Players Explore Dangerous Ruins And Transport Survivors Aboard A Train
The Final Station is 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 how Roadside Picnic described the event that created its Zone, so it’s likely that The Final Station and STALKER 2 share 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 of The Final Station have a similar feel to exploring the Zone in STALKER 2, even if the presentation styles are very different. The Final Station also limits the resources it gives players, giving it survival horror elements that are reminiscent of STALKER 2. One major difference, however, is that The Final Station is a much shorter experience than STALKER 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.
6 Pacific 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 Drive is, like STALKER 2, a survival game emphasizing exploration and scavenging. It also takes place inside an area called The Zone, seemingly inspired by Roadside Picnic. Though there are some strong similarities with the two games’ settings, Pacific Drive offers several unique elements that make it worth playing even for players who have finished STALKER 2.
Released February 22, 2024
Developer(s) Ironwood Studios
Publisher(s) Kepler Interactive
Players’ main mode of transportation in Pacific Drive is 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 of STALKER 2, though the visual design of both games is drastically different. Pacific Drive is also set in the Pacific Northwest, which gives it a largely different environment from that of STALKER 2. It’s nice to play a game with similar vibes but with its own strong identity.
5 Days 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 of STALKER 2, Days Gone’s atmosphere and gameplay are likely something that would be appealing to a STALKER fan. Like in STALKER 2, it’s very important that players explore and scavenge for new equipment, especially when playing on Survival Mode. Like the STALKER set up, Days Gone’s story also uses a real-world parallel to establish its post-apocalyptic setting.
Released April 26, 2019
Developer(s) Bend Studio
Publisher(s) Sony
The STALKER series 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 Gone draws 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 of both games feel slightly more grounded in the real world, despite their fantastical elements.
4 Zenless 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 2 and Zenless Zone Zero have very little in common. Zenless Zone Zero is an action RPG with a colorful anime-inspired look. Unlike the player character in STALKER 2, who feels constantly in danger of being killed, the playable agents in Zenless 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 to STALKER 2 probably won’t be satisfied with ZZZ, but if they’re looking for a game with a similar setting, they’re in luck.
Released July 4, 2024
Developer(s) HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
Zenless Zone Zero takes place in a world where areas 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 of Zenless Zone Zero, even if the style of the two games is very different.
3 Chernobylite Has Similar Inspirations To STALKER 2
Chernobylite Also Takes Place In The Chornobyl Exclusion Zone
Chernobylite has so many similar elements to STALKER 2 that some players have even gone so far as to label it a STALKER clone. As the name suggests, Chernobylite also 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.
Released July 28, 2021
Developer(s) The Farm 51
Publisher(s) All In! Games
Though the games have their similarities, Chernobylite does have some unique qualities that set it apart from STALKER 2 and make it worth checking out on its own merits. For one thing, Chernobylite features 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.
2 Half-Life's Story Is Almost Like A Prequel To STALKER 2
Half-Life Features A Mysterious Research Facility And A World-Warping Incident
In the STALKER series, 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 the STALKER series doesn't show the actual events that created the Zone, a very similar story can be seen in the game Half-Life. Half-Life is 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.
Although Half-Life's enemies are extra-terrestrial in origin, where STALKER 2'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 the STALKER series, then Half-Life will likely scratch that itch. That said, players just getting into the Half-Life series now shouldn't hold their breath for a Half-Life 3.
1 Wasteland 3 Offers A Different Gameplay Experience With A Similar Setting
Wasteland 3 Is A Turn-Based Game Set In Post-Apocalyptic Colorado
While Wasteland 3’s post-apocalyptic setting is much more all-encompassing than STALKER 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 3 also has some superficial elements that will remind players of STALKER 2, like characters being clad in gas masks and barren wastelands.
Released August 28, 2020
Developer(s) inXile entertainment
Publisher(s) Deep Silver
Also like STALKER 2, Wasteland 3 presents a few choices that change the game’s story, making it good for multiple playthroughs. That said, Wasteland 3 is 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 offer STALKER 2 fans who want to explore a world that is similar in tone and aesthetics.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Platform(s) Xbox Series X and Series S , Microsoft Windows
Custom image by Katarina Cimbaljevic
English (US) ·