The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series is easy to love and hard to enter. You can play the new game, the original trilogy or huge fan projects. This guide compares them in plain language. Facts come from Steam, ModDB, the GAMMA project page and the GOG announcement, checked on October 13, 2026.
Key takeaways
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is the newest official game ($59.99 on Steam).
- Anomaly is a free standalone fan project based on Call of Pripyat.
- GAMMA is a modpack that runs on Anomaly and is harder and longer.
- If you are new, start with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. If you love hardcore survival, try Anomaly, then GAMMA.
These screenshots may contain violence.
Images are provided by Steam and belong to their publishers.
Quick comparison
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 | Anomaly | GAMMA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is it | Official game by GSC Game World, Unreal Engine 5 | Fan project based on Call of Pripyat | Fan modpack for Anomaly |
| Price | $59.99 on Steam, expansion $29.99 | Free download (ModDB does not state a price, so check the page) | Free |
| Needs another game? | No | No, version 1.5.3 is a full repack | Needs Anomaly; GOG one-click needs a base game |
| Difficulty | Hard, with presets | Hard | Harder, survival focused |
| PC demand | High (16 GB RAM minimum) | Lower, runs on older PCs | High disk space, about 130 GB |
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
The newest game is the easiest door into the Zone for newcomers. It has modern graphics, a story, and a big expansion, Cost of Hope. It needs a strong PC. See the system requirements and the expansion guide.
The original trilogy
The older games are S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl (2007), Clear Sky (2008) and Call of Pripyat (2009). Many players say Call of Pripyat is the best place to start with the old games. They look dated, and mods are popular. Check the store for current versions and prices.
Anomaly
Anomaly is a standalone fan project. ModDB lists version 1.5.3, released September 28, 2024, as a full repack, so you do not need older versions or other S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games. Unpack it into a new folder, not a system folder, and do not install it over an older version. Saves from versions 1.5.1 and 1.5.2 are compatible. It is a free-roaming sandbox with strong survival elements.
GAMMA
GAMMA, short for Grok's Automated Modular Modpack for Anomaly, makes the economy, gear and gameplay harder. The project page says northern areas are more dangerous but give better rewards, gear is locked behind toolkits, gear trading and random stash loot are removed, and healing works on multiple body parts. Read our GAMMA install guide before you start.
Which one should you choose?
- New to the series and a strong PC: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
- Weaker PC or you want a free sandbox: Anomaly.
- You finished Anomaly and want a harder challenge: GAMMA.
- You like story and short sessions: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 with the expansion.
Živě teď: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Zobrazit vše →Next steps: open the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. hub, watch the Zone on live streams, or read the latest gaming news.
