30 Dark games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat that you should try

Matches like this one are rare: it meets S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to post-apocalyptic world and single-player focus. Where they diverge is progression.

It shares the essentials of what S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is setting: co-op play.

It shares the essentials of what S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat does: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and ranged combat. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting and world: puzzle design and magic-based combat.

What brings it close to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat is dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and tone. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on progression and setting: this one brings crafting mechanics.

It shares the essentials of what S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is setting: puzzle design.

If S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat worked for you because of dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting, the same is here. Both also lean on a first-person view and single-player focus. The distance is in setting — its own ground is fantasy world.

If S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat worked for you because of strong narrative focus, open world exploration and ranged combat, the same is here. The common ground extends to horror setting and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is game mode and setting: puzzle design and crafting mechanics.

If S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat worked for you because of dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting, the same is here. The common ground extends to a first-person view and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting: tower defense planning and co-op play.

On paper it is what S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat is — strong narrative focus, a sandbox world and melee combat — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds multiplayer gameplay. They part company on visuals and world: this one brings linear, story-driven structure and a third-person camera.

Held in common with S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat: dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting. To that it adds multiplayer gameplay and a first-person view. They part company on game mode: this one brings co-op play.

If S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat worked for you because of dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and horror setting, the same is here. To that it adds single-player focus and a first-person view. They part company on setting: this one brings free-to-play access.

What brings it close to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat is dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and horror setting, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and tone. Both also lean on single-player focus and a first-person view. The distance is in setting.

Same family as S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat: dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and horror setting. Both also lean on skill tree progression and a first-person view. The distance is in progression and game mode — its own ground is co-op play.

It shares the essentials of what S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is game mode: puzzle design.

If S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat worked for you because of strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus, the same is here. To that it adds a first-person view. They part company on setting: this one brings historical setting.