"Atmospheric, but lots of bugs": S.T.A.L.L.K.E.R. 2 debuted with 76/100 on Metacritic (+release trailer)

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has received its first reviews from the specialized press. The game scored 76 out of 100 on Metacritic (PC version), 82 for Xbox Series X/S, and 77 on OpenCritic, where only 62% of critics recommend the game for purchase.

While journalists generally acknowledge the project's uniqueness, there is no consensus on the ratings: for some, it is an exciting adventure in a post-apocalyptic world, while for others, it is an overly raw game plagued by numerous technical issues.

Critics highlighted the game's atmosphere and open world — an incredibly detailed Zone spanning 64 square kilometers with dynamic weather, a day-night cycle, and unique anomalies. The Verge describes the "dark-purple sky filled with clouds" and "giant rusty mechanisms creating a creepy silhouette." GameRant emphasizes that "every little noise makes you turn your head and aim down sights."

The combat system also received high praise — more refined compared to previous installments, yet just as unforgiving. Critics also commend the survival mechanics and interactions among various game systems, from clashes between rival factions to hunting mutants.

However, the technical state of the game has garnered serious complaints. Rock Paper Shotgun noted that it's the "most broken FPS" in recent years, while The Verge characterized the game as "a glorious and beautiful pain in the neck." Critics lament the numerous bugs — from harmless animation issues to severe glitches that can interfere with quest progression.

There are also concerns about the enemy AI, which may ignore threats or appear out of nowhere, and performance drops even on powerful systems. PCGamer adds that some game mechanics, such as expensive equipment repairs and a limited fast travel system, may frustrate players.

Some ratings from publications:

• GameRant: 9/10
• GamingBolt: 9/10
• PCGamer: 8/10
• Windows Central: 8/10
• GamesRadar+: 6/10
• VGC: 4/10

A journalist from PCGamer summarizes:

“This is a great game, undoubtedly my personal game of the year, but there's a caveat — S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is S.T.A.L.K.E.R. to the core, and that comes with some downsides too.”

Launch Trailer

For Ukrainians, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl will be available on PC and Xbox Series X|S at 6 PM. The developers promise to resolve most technical issues through upcoming updates.