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

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is ranked in the 60th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9 / 10
Dec 12, 2024

At its current state, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is practically crippled by tons of bugs and technical issues. Do we care? Absolutely not! S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a majestic return to the brutal and unforgiving world of Chernobyl; it’s deep, complex, insanely atmospheric, and exactly what a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. fan would want from a sequel. It’s a miracle that GCS Game World managed to release the game in the first place given the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the technical issues are something that will be eventually ironed out. What matters is the strong core gameplay, stunning visuals, and exceptional setting and atmosphere. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is not a game for the typical first-person shooter fan; you have to feel it, absorb it, and live it. Happy hunting Stalker.

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IGN
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Nov 23, 2024

Underneath the technical problems that plague STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a unique greatness. It emerges as a refreshingly brutal shooter that strives to hook you with its incredible atmosphere and leave you invested by the end of this long, arduous journey.

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3 / 5
Nov 22, 2024

Full of anomalies in more ways than one, Stalker 2 is a mess of bugs and jank that nonetheless stays faithful to the open world survival shooter of yesteryear.

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83 / 100
Nov 20, 2024

Just like in the old days, performance issues and bugs don't stop Stalker's mad, wonderful heart from shining through.

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Game Rant
Top Critic
9 / 10
Nov 20, 2024

After spending 55 hours in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, I have no qualms recommending STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl to post-apocalyptic enthusiasts.

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Nov 20, 2024

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a perfectly average open-world survival shooter. It’s an interesting setting with well-realized characters, but it’s held back by unsatisfying gunplay and a run-of-the-mill sense of exploration. I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone. But if you’re a fan of games like Fallout, or you enjoyed past Stalker games, then this one is worth your time.

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Nov 20, 2024

Stalker 2, in its current state, has too much baggage to overlook

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7 / 10
Nov 23, 2024

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is rough around the edges, but its propensity for creating emergent moments in a deadly and alluring world makes this trip back to the Zone a fraught and compelling experience

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5 / 5.0
Nov 20, 2024

Stalker 2 is nothing short of a miracle. Developed by Ukrainian studio GSC Game World over the course of seven years amid a pandemic and a war -- among many other challenges -- Stalker 2 is a labor of love and the best type of sequel one could hope for. While many long-running franchises have strayed from their roots in an (often misguided) attempt to appeal to as many players as possible, Stalker 2 knows its core audience well and delivers exactly the type of game we were hoping for.

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Unscored
Nov 20, 2024

It's incredibly buggy, but persevere and this survival FPS will reward you with intense shootouts and some wonderfully atmospheric free-roaming.

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7 / 10.0
Nov 20, 2024

As it stands now, STALKER 2 is fun and has a lot of potential, but it would be unfair to call it good. You can easily sink 100 hours into it without noticing, especially if you have a deep love for previous iterations. However, the performance issues, overall inconsistency in many areas, and clumsy presentation will hold this game back until a major overhaul comes.

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8.8 / 10.0
Nov 20, 2024

If you're looking for a game where "taking a walk" potentially means encountering psychic anomalies, mutants, hungry folks, and stalkers who probably want your last can of beans, then S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is your game. It's like extreme camping where you forgot the tent, food, and sanity at home. Is it worth venturing into the Zone? Absolutely. Even if it's just to brag about surviving to tell the tale. And if you find that last can of dog food, save it for me. You never know when radiation might work up an appetite. And remember, stalker: in the Zone, it's not paranoia if everything really is trying to kill you. Now, who's ready for an adventure?

Review in Spanish | Read full review

TheSixthAxis
Stefan L
Top Critic
9 / 10
Nov 21, 2024

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an immersive experience like no other. It's a tense shooter, a gripping survival experience, an immersive explorable sandbox, and a stunning piece of art come to life despite the harrowing circumstances of the team behind it all.

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75 / 100
Nov 20, 2024

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a unique experience in post-apocalyptic games. Unfortunately, it all falls flat due to a myriad of bugs and technical issues. We are hopeful, as beneath the radiation lies a game with enormous potential, but for the time being it is not advisable to venture into the Zone.

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Nov 20, 2024

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl crumbles under the weight of its own ambition.

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8 / 10
Nov 20, 2024

Fortunately, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is still on its path to greatness. It's just going to need a little more love to get it to its destination. I just hope the rest of the journey is a bit faster than Skif's walking speed.

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Not Yet
Nov 20, 2024
Right now, I cannot recommend: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 - Heart of Chernobyl (Review) video thumbnail
9 / 10.0
Nov 20, 2024

It’s a miracle that we’re even playing Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl right now, yet GSC Game World has crafted a world so packed with detail and excitement that you’ll yearn to explore its mysteries from the moment you step foot in The Zone. While bugs are as rampant as its mutants, Stalker 2 outshines its adversities in every way, forcing you to face its darkest moments with courage and resilience — something its developer knows all too well. If you’re looking for a challenging survival shooter to lose hundreds of hours of your life to, this is it.

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VGC
Top Critic
Nov 20, 2024

Stalker 2 could be a great game in a few years, but what's presented at launch is a technical mess that doesn't capitalise on its best ideas. Compelling side stories and a brilliant setting do a lot of the heavy lifting, but at launch Stalker 2 isn't an adventure we'd fully recommend embarking on.

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9 / 10.0
Nov 20, 2024

Ambitious and engrossing open-world immersive sim.

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