It has taken fans a lot of patience and waiting, butS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobylis finally here. It is a direct sequel to the originalS.T.A.L.K.E.R.trilogy that launched between 2007 and 2009 and promises a brand-new story in its hauntingly beautiful world. This time, players take on the role of Skif and must embark across a truly enormous open world on a non-linear journey full of immense choices and consequences. Suffice it to say,S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2promises to be everything that fans have wanted for so long.
However, for those who are new to the series,the fact that it is a sequel may seem a little daunting. Now that so many games are branching out into series or have spin-offs, it can be hard to tell whether it’s necessary to play through the entire backlog of games before jumping into the latest entry. Luckily, for those who are excited to see whyS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’spositive reviewsare praising it so much, there is a clear answer to whether it is important to play the original trilogy.
It’s Not Necessary To Play The Previous S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Games
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Is A Standalone Entry
Despite the “2” in the name, players aren’t required to play the previousS.T.A.L.K.E.R.gamesbefore hopping into the long-anticipatedS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.GSC Game World, the developers ofS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, have even explained on the game’sFAQ pagethat it is accessible to newcomers as well as hardcore fans. It is clear that it understands that there has been a considerable amount of time between releases and that newcomers may not have had the chance to play the original three games. The FAQ page states:
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl— is an independent sequel to theS.T.A.L.K.E.R.trilogy, so it can be a great start of [the player’s] journey within theS.T.A.L.K.E.R.universe.
The game is a completely standalone experience - albeit with some ties to the previous games - sonewcomers can jump onboard and experience a brand-new story with original characters and a new map to explore. EvenS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’smultiple endingswill make sense to those who’ve never touched a game in the series before. So, those who are excited to experience thebest parts ofS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2can do so without feeling like they won’t know what’s going on.
Playing The Previous S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Games Before 2 Will Help
It Will Help With Understanding The World
However,it is important to note thatS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2is a direct sequel to the originalS.T.A.L.K.E.R.trilogy, which includes - in order -Shadow of Chernobyl.Clear Sky, andCall of Pripyat. As a result, theS.T.A.L.K.E.R.worldbuilding and lorethat has been established throughout the original trilogy will appear inS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
Players will feel more comfortable with the world of theS.T.A.L.K.E.R.series and how it all works if they’ve already played at least some of the original games.
Having some knowledge of it, the relationships between the different factions, the events that happened beforeS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, and everything to do with the Zone will be helpful to properly understand the sequel. GSC also states on that FAQ page that while players can absolutely enjoyS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2as a standalone experience,“to maximize the immersion” it recommends playing through the original trilogy first.
Players will feel more comfortable with the world of theS.T.A.L.K.E.R.series and how it all works if they’ve already played at least some of the original games. Unfortunately, the original games are all connected, soit’s important to play all three in order to get the full picture. Luckily,S.T.A.L.K.E.R.is easier to playnow than ever before thanks to its plethora of ports.
You Should Play The Previous S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Games Before 2
Players Will Get The Most Out Of Playing The Previous S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Games
It is absolutely worth playing through all the originalS.T.A.L.K.E.R.games before hopping intoS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.While it is absolutely true that the stories are largely standalone,a significant part of theS.T.A.L.K.E.R.experience is the worldbuilding and atmosphere. Being able to go into the sequel with the requisite knowledge will massively improve the overall experience and will help make the more complex aspects of the narrative make sense.
There is anorder to play theS.T.A.L.K.E.R.games, so players should follow that if they want to play through the trilogy.Each game in the trilogy will take players roughly 15 hours to beatif they stick to the main story. Of course, that’s a significant time investment just to be able to play one game, so it is understandable if people would rather skip them and head straight intoS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.That’s a valid strategy, and those who do that will still have a great time.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Is A “Huge” Game With A LOT Of Content To Explore, Says Dev
Screen Rant spoke to the technical producer behind the upcoming S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl to learn more about its terrifying world.
However, for those with 45 to 75 hours on their hands, the originalS.T.A.L.K.E.R.trilogy is absolutely fantastic and worth playing through. They’re tense survival horror games that only get better with each entry. They were revolutionary for the time and still hold up today. Now that it is more accessible than ever before, it is highly recommended that those who want the very bestS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobylexperience should check out the iconic original trilogy.
