We Love It's Guide to…
As the Marked One, explore the Chornobyl exclusion zone, fight mutants, manage supplies, and uncover the Zone’s mysteries.
Released 20 May 2025
Explore Abandoned Labs
Evade Deadly Anomalies
Scavenge Zone Supplies
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl, the first chapter of the Legends of the Zone Trilogy, which started it all.
Developed by GSC Game World · Published by GSC Game World
You play as the Marked One, entering the exclusion territory near the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The Zone is a dangerous, post-disaster wilderness of abandoned locations, desperate people, mutants, radiation, and strange anomalies.
Explore its areas, investigate discoveries, take on missions, and use firearms to survive encounters with human enemies and creatures. The journey centers on uncovering the Zone’s secrets while navigating its threats and moral dilemmas.
Manage resources and choose from an arsenal of more than 30 weapons as you follow a nonlinear path shaped by your decisions, leading to multiple endings. The Enhanced Edition adds visual upgrades, quality-of-life changes, and gamepad support.
Many supplied reviews praise the Zone’s ominous atmosphere, exploration, and mysteries, with some also enjoying the story and the satisfaction of returning to a classic. Players who liked the Enhanced Edition mention achievements, controller support, and easier play on modern systems. Criticism most often focuses on crashes and quest-blocking bugs, with recurring complaints about blurry or unconvincing visual changes and removed voiceover or setting details. Experiences vary: some reviewers report smooth playthroughs, while others describe serious technical problems.
Back to where it all started — the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Trilogy, one of the most visionary and groundbreaking survival first-person-shooters of all time returns. Now upscaled, enhanced must-play journey for a new generation.
Atmospheric visual enhancements including God Rays, Dynamic Screen Space Reflections, and Advanced Global Illumination effects.
Redesigned water shaders, upgraded skyboxes, and wetness effects.
Improved visuals with upscaled textures featuring more detailed NPCs and environment.
Upgraded weapon Field of View and models.
Multiple bugfixes and quality of life tweaks.
Full gamepad support.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl, the first chapter of the Legends of the Zone Trilogy, which started it all. Welcome to the former exclusion territory near the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant… the most dangerous place on Earth. Play as The Marked One, face sinister mysteries, radiation-soaked anomalous threats and moral dilemmas, as your decisions determine your destiny in this immersive dark sci-fi saga.
Navigate the isolation and suspense of a harsh Eastern European wilderness, filled with hundreds of desperate vagabonds, mutant creatures, and lurking dangers unseen.
Venture through realistic locations deeply rooted in the anomalous aftermath of the Chornobyl disaster. Each area holds its own grim secrets and discoveries, awaiting the bravest stalkers.
Treacherous anomalies, invisible radiation, starvation, and ruthless mutants will hunt you in the Zone. Carefully manage your resources and utilize an arsenal of over 30 weapons. Your choices pave a non-linear path toward multiple endings in your quest to uncover the Zone's darkest secrets.
Good Hunting, stalker!
| Platforms | Windows |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 44 |
| Age ratings |
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| Controller support | PlayStation, Xbox |
| Controller required | No |
| DRM / EULA |
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| Website | Official website |
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