Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl Launches with High Ambition and Technical Challenges

The long-awaited sequel delivers intense gameplay and a rich world but struggles with performance issues and bugs.

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl marks the franchise's return after 15 years, blending open-world exploration with intense gunfights and survival mechanics.
The game leverages Unreal Engine 5 for enhanced visuals but demands high-end PC hardware to achieve smooth performance, with upscaling and frame generation often necessary.
Critics praise the atmospheric world, compelling characters, and dynamic storytelling but note persistent bugs, graphical inconsistencies, and AI quirks that detract from the experience.
Players can explore a vast, dangerous Zone filled with anomalies, mutants, and factions, with over 58 achievements and multiple endings encouraging replayability.
Despite technical shortcomings, the game captures the essence of the original series, with modding potential and future updates expected to improve its longevity.