Open-World FPS Games To Play While Waiting For STALKER 2: Cost of Hope DLC

After nearly two years since its release, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl will receive its first major expansion, Cost of Hope, this summer. And that’s not all – more expansions are planned for the future! For now, the developers, GSC Game World, are promising a substantial add-on with a brand new, open-ended story that will take dozens of hours to complete, picking up after the events of Heart of Chornobyl. Players can also look forward to new mutants, weapons, equipment, anomalies, and artifacts, alongside entirely new areas to explore like the Iron Forest and the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Cost of Hope sounds like a large-scale expansion and should be well worth the wait.

While fans eagerly await STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, there are several new open-world shooters worth checking out. These games try to recreate the atmosphere of the STALKER universe – its bleak Eastern European setting, constant tension, and feeling of isolation. If you’re looking for a similar experience while waiting for Heart of Chornobyl, these titles might just satisfy that craving.

Honorable Mentions:

Most gamers are already familiar with these titles, especially fans of the STALKER series. However, I’ve chosen to highlight some lesser-known and recently released games – many of which are still in development as Early Access titles.

Fallout 4
Metro Exodus
Chernobylite
Atomic Heart
Far Cry 2

Atomfall

1960s British Post-Windscale Quarantine Zone in a Fallout and STALKER Open-Zone Hybrid

Though set in 1950s England after a nuclear disaster—inspired by the real Windscale incident—Atomfall shares core themes with the STALKER games. Players explore a quarantined, radioactive zone filled with danger, including bandits, cultists, and robots. The game’s story and setting are reminiscent of STALKER 2, but Atomfall also incorporates elements of Fallout, creating a unique and appealing mix that STALKER fans will likely enjoy. It’s important to know that Atomfall isn’t one continuous open world; instead, it features large, distinct areas to discover.

Compared to STALKER 2, Atomfall emphasizes role-playing and player choice over action. You can build relationships with various characters and groups, and these alliances will shape your journey. While avoiding all combat might be difficult, Atomfall encourages stealth, planning, and exploration, and your actions have lasting effects. If you’re interested in exploring a detailed post-apocalyptic world, especially the secrets of the Windscale nuclear power plant and the disaster that caused it, you’ll find a lot to enjoy, particularly towards the end of the game.

Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone

Chernobylite Goes Seamless, Offering True RPG Freedom in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone

The first Chernobylite strongly resembles the STALKER series, particularly in its atmosphere and detailed environments within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. While its sequel, Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone, didn’t receive as much attention—possibly due to STALKER 2—it’s still worth checking out for fans. The sequel effectively portrays a dangerous post-apocalyptic world, blending survival horror, sci-fi elements, exploration, and base building, though it doesn’t quite capture the same unsettling feeling as the original game.

Similar to the games in the STALKER series, Chernobylite 2 is set in real-world locations faithfully recreated for a truly immersive experience. This sequel improves on the original by offering a large, open world to explore instead of separate areas. Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone retains the core elements players loved – a non-linear story and the ability to form alliances – while adding much more flexibility. You’ll have greater freedom in how you play, whether you prefer stealth, melee combat, or switching between first- and third-person views. The game also features more RPG elements than before. Keep in mind that Chernobylite 2 is currently in Early Access, and a full release date hasn’t been announced yet.

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More Games

Road to Vostok

Post-Apocalyptic Finland-Russia Border Zone in a Gritty Single-Player STALKER and Escape from Tarkov Mix

Fans often compare Road to Vostok to a single-player experience that combines the best elements of STALKER and Escape from Tarkov. Developed solely by Antti Leinonen, the game has some limitations in graphics and world size – it’s divided into zones rather than being one seamless environment. However, even in its Early Access form, Road to Vostok is earning praise for its engaging survival gameplay, high replay value, open-ended freedom, and unique post-apocalyptic setting. The game takes place in a fictional area along the Finnish-Russian border, based on the real-world town of Hamina, and perfectly captures the Eastern European atmosphere that fans of STALKER 2 might enjoy, complete with disasters like chemical explosions and crumbling Soviet buildings.

Road to Vostok is a harsh and realistic survival game set in a dangerous, ever-changing world. It features a full day-night cycle, dynamic weather, and even seasons. Players explore different areas – including the dangerous Border Zones and the city of Vostok – each with its own faction-based events and quests. The game starts slow, letting players learn the ropes in safer zones before challenging them to scavenge and survive in increasingly dangerous locations. The ultimate goal is a perilous expedition to the heavily guarded city of Vostok, where players risk everything for the best gear – but failure means losing all their progress.

Project Silverfish

Post-Human Exclusion Zone With Retro Visuals, Unique World-Building, and Rich Nods to the STALKER Games

Developed by a single person, Siris Pendrake, Project Silverfish is a standout open-world FPS currently in Early Access. It’s different from many similar games, like STALKER, thanks to its unique, retro 90s visual style. In fact, it’s a clear tribute to the world of STALKER, carefully recreating its iconic elements and earning praise for its detailed environments, intriguing mysteries, and immersive atmosphere. Project Silverfish is a challenging survival immersive sim set within a large, interconnected Exclusion Zone. Players can expect all the hallmarks of the genre – dangerous anomalies, powerful artifacts, terrifying creatures, bandits, crumbling ruins, and various factions all vying for control.

I’m really getting into Project Silverfish! What I love most is that it doesn’t tell you what to do – you can really play it however you want. You can focus on just surviving and exploring, getting into intense fights, solving mysteries, doing missions for different groups, hunting down cool artifacts, or a mix of everything. The game takes place in this really immersive world called the Restricted Zone, and it’s hard to compare it to any one other game – it feels like a unique blend of ideas. It’s got this amazing atmosphere, mixing Cold War vibes with some intriguing sci-fi stuff. You play as these lizard-like creatures called Inheritors in a world where humanity is gone, and the world-building is just fantastic. It’s tense, atmospheric, and I keep wanting to go back for more!

No Man’s Home

War-Torn Post-Nuclear Asran Exclusion Zone in a Hardcore STALKER and Far Cry 2-Inspired Survival Sandbox

Despite being an Early Access title with some technical issues, No Man’s Home is a promising open-world shooter that fans of STALKER might not want to miss. The game takes place in the incredibly dangerous Asran Exclusion Zone, a war-torn region devastated by a nuclear blast. Players must survive by managing hunger and thirst, avoiding hostile factions and bandits, dealing with faulty equipment, and protecting themselves from radiation and dangerous creatures. While different from the STALKER series, No Man’s Home shares similarities with Far Cry 2 and blends elements of both games to create a unique, immersive, and free-roaming survival experience.

The Asran Zone is a harsh and unforgiving world, yet it feels strangely familiar. The developers have created a living, breathing environment where every character has their own motivations and acts realistically. This, combined with a detailed injury system, makes combat incredibly tense. Enemies aren’t just targets – they’re trying to survive too, and they’ll use clever tactics to do so. The environment itself is also a threat, with dangerous, irradiated zones and unpredictable radioactive storms forcing players to find cover and adapt. Like in the STALKER series, players in No Man’s Home can hunt for valuable Radianite artifacts to earn money and upgrade their equipment.

2026-05-06 18:05