Stalker’s remaster has taught me just how much of a terrible sicko I am for the pop of a Steam achievement

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When the editors at PCG asked me for a game recommendation, they were very specific. They wanted me to use my best judgment to pick the absolute best game for our readers to play right now, in September 2025. They also complimented me, saying I was handsome and had pianist’s hands – which was unexpected!

Honestly, I couldn’t resist! After giving it a lot of thought, I have to say the game you absolutely need to play right now is S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. It’s just that good!

Sometimes you play a game that really captures the heart of what gaming is all about. After struggling with a lot of disappointing titles, you stumble upon something that instantly grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. That game for me is Stalker.

We’re talking about the remastered version of S.T.A.L.K.E.R., released by GSC a few months ago. If you already owned the original games, you received it as a free upgrade. The remaster includes modern features like gamepad support, subtly improved graphics, and the ability to play at higher resolutions.

These days, many games constantly ask for more money with ongoing services and immediately make you feel special. That’s why a challenging, single-player experience like the original Stalker games feels more important than ever – especially since you can still play them without spending extra money.

Now that the original Shadow of Chornobyl and its sequels, Clear Sky and Call of Prypiat, have been remastered, it’s a fantastic time to experience them. While Stalker 2 is good, the developers are still working on it. For now, the classic games offer the most polished experience.

When Stalker first came out in 2007, it was a unique and unusual game, and the recent remaster only emphasizes that. It offers a fantasy of hardship – battling the environment, other people, and even your own greed for collecting items despite limited carrying capacity – which is a refreshing change from the typical power fantasies found in most games today, even survival titles. And thankfully, unlike many survival games, Stalker doesn’t make you mindlessly hit trees, which is a definite plus for the developers.

The main reason to revisit Shadow of Chornobyl now is the addition of Steam achievements – and that might be enough to draw you back in!

Something about this game really got stuck in my head and made me want to complete absolutely everything. I honestly don’t know what happened – I just became completely absorbed in the game’s world. I was desperate for any reason to keep playing, even if it meant replaying sections to experience every detail, or making specific choices like helping a character at the beginning, just to fully immerse myself.

There’s a strangely addictive quality to unlocking achievements, even simple ones like those on Steam. It creates a false sense of accomplishment – you feel like you’re being productive, when really you’re just wasting time (like, seriously, I was spending hours on this!). I became totally engrossed, more so than I have with anything else lately – except, of course, my work, which I’m completely committed to, as my colleagues at PC Gamer can attest.

I really enjoy fully completing a great game – it feels like putting it in a display case as a ‘Perfect Game’ on my Steam profile. That feeling is even better when the game is new, and you finally get credit for something challenging, like finding that hidden armor for Fang (it’s hidden in a stash in Prypiat).

The appeal of returning to Prypiat is too strong to ignore, and honestly, this updated version is fantastic. It’s the best time to explore the Zone since the original game came out in 2007. Come on in, Stalker!

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2025-09-17 19:53