23 Hardcore games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl that you should try

Genre puts it alongside S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, and so does strong narrative focus, a sandbox world and stealth mechanics. The common ground extends to horror setting and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting and game mode: 3D presentation.

Genre puts it alongside S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, and so does strong narrative focus, melee combat and horror setting. Both also lean on single-player focus and a first-person view. The distance is in setting and game mode — its own ground is puzzle design.

Genre puts it alongside S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, and so does dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting. The common ground extends to a first-person view and multiplayer gameplay. Where the two diverge is combat and game mode: co-op play.

What brings it close to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and tone. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings historical setting and a third-person camera.

Shelved next to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl for good reason: punishing difficulty, ranged combat and horror setting. To that it adds single-player focus and a first-person view. They part company on setting and game mode: this one brings magic-based combat and pixel art.

Genre puts it alongside S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, and so does dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is combat and setting: roguelike runs and co-op play.

Genre puts it alongside S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, and so does dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. To that it adds single-player focus. They part company on visuals and setting: this one brings a cyberpunk setting and an isometric view.

On paper it is what S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is — strong narrative focus, stealth mechanics and horror setting — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds single-player focus. They part company on visuals and setting: this one brings pixel art.

The thread back to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl runs through strong narrative focus, stealth mechanics and single-player focus. The common ground extends to a first-person view. Where the two diverge is game mode: a third-person camera.

On paper it is what S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is — dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. The distance is in visuals and game mode — its own ground is an isometric view.

Shelved next to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl for good reason: dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and combat: pixel art.

Same family as S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl: 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 and game mode: co-op play.

On paper it is what S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is — punishing difficulty, melee combat and a sci-fi setting — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in visuals and setting — its own ground is 2D presentation.

Genre puts it alongside S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, and so does dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting. Both also lean on a first-person view and single-player focus. The distance is in setting and tone — its own ground is competitive edge.

It comes from the same genre as S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl and shares punishing difficulty, ranged combat and single-player focus. The common ground extends to a first-person view. Where the two diverge is setting and game mode: an anime aesthetic and 3D presentation.