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While nothing can make the months of wait go away, there is something that can certainly make it easy. Here’s a list of some of the best Survival-Horror games that the new fans of the STALKER series will enjoy.

13 DayZ

It was 2013 when people got the chance to try out DayZ. This survival horror open-world title quickly caught the eyes of the fans for its extremely brutal gameplay and realistic gunplay. The reason DayZ is so detailed is mainly because of ARMA 2. Originally, this game was just a favored mod for the popular military simulation video game.

As time went on, the mod became a full-fledged game, thanks to developer Bohemia Interactive. After half a decade of early access, DayZ officially made its way on Windows in 2018. Xbox and PS4 also got their version of the game next year.

12 Deadly Premonition

If there’s a list of the most-underrated open-world survival horror games, Deadly Premonition is on it. This classic came out on PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2010 and later on Windows. In the game, players will assume the role of an F.B.I. Special Agent Francis York Morgan, figuring out a big murder mystery.

Deadly Premonition is a unique game from the puzzles to the design and is certainly worth checking out.

11 The Forest

Anyone who has played The Forest will admit that this one brings horror to the survival genre like no other game. From the outside, The Forest will look like a very polished game. But there’s a lot more to it than just visuals.

This game is full of crafty gameplay mechanics that give meaning to the survival-horror genre. In The Forest, players will have to survive cannibalistic mutants while searching for the missing child, Timmy.

10 State of Decay 2

Anyone who has played the State of Decay 2 will vouch for the fact that it’s a great survival horror game. But what makes it even better is its world and environment. State of Decay 2 is a zombie game that is pretty much like The Walking Dead in terms of setting.

Players will have to find sources, scavenge, hunt, loot, kill and survive to progress in the game. It’s truly a fun game that becomes even better since it has a multiplayer.

9 Unturned

Another game that heavily emphasizes on multiplayer aspect is Unturned. The best part about this game is that it is completely free-to-play and is available on every major platform. If players can overlook its simplistic style and blocky graphics, there’s an extremely fun survival horror zombie game underneath.

With multiple game modes and difficulty settings, this is as good a survival horror game players can get ger for free.

8 We Happy Few

When Gearbox Publishing announced this title, many took it as a second coming of the Bioshock or Dishonored games. After all, the style, the setting, and the gameplay were quite a nod to those titles.

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However, We Happy Few turned out to be a different kind of action-adventure survival horror game. It has roguelike features in addition to role-playing and survival gameplay mechanics. We Happy Few is a must-play for those who want to try a solid alternate reality dystopian game.

7 Metro Exodus

Metro titles are known for their amazing graphics and environment. However, most enthusiasts can confirm that Metro games are more than just an excellent system benchmark. They are a solid first-person shooter with a great level design and a deep post-apocalyptic backstory.

Metro Exodus takes everything good about its predecessors and throws it into a semi-open world full of mystery. As of now, players can enjoy Metro Exodus on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, Luna, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Linux, and macOS. There’s also a sizeable modding community.

6 Days Gone

Some people think Days Gone is excellent, and others think it’s average. But no one will deny that it’s certainly a fun open-world game. Days Gone offers a plethora of survival gameplay mechanics alongside motorcycle upgrades and enemy hordes.

It is an incredibly fluid and polished game that is certainly a breath of fresh air in its genre. The best part is this game is no longer a PlayStation exclusive anymore. Days Gone is now available on Windows and has a positive Steam users rating.

5 Alan Wake

Alan Wake is a classic and certainly a must-play for anyone looking forward to Alan Wake 2. The remastered version of the original Alan Wake came out in 2021 and is a worth play title for people who want to experience a proper story-driven survival horror.

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There aren’t too many games like Alan Wake in the market, which makes this one extremely unique and fun to play. It’s simple, full of action with a range of weapons, tiny details, and mystery that should keep anyone who plays it on their toes.

4 Bloodborne

While the Souls games are mostly action RPGs, Bloodborne is a survival horror RPG title. The unique world in this game is full of hidden secrets and scares that players can not get in any other game on the list.

Moreover, the environment of this game is one of a kind and extremely intriguing. If the world setting isn’t enough, Bloodborne offers extremely dense gameplay mechanics and role-playing features similar to Dark Souls games yet different enough.

3 Dying Light & Dying Light 2

If the players want to dive into a game that is equally open-world as it is story-driven, then Dying Light is that game. Techland went above and beyond with it came to the original Dying Light. They released multiple updates, great DLCs, and a lengthy campaign for those who want their games to last.

If players have already completed the original game, then Dying Light 2 is coming two months before STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl and looks just as good as its predecessor.

2 The Evil Within 2

The Evil Within 2 is a unique experience that explores the world created in the original game. Not only does this game expand on the mystery-driven story of the main protagonist, but it also offers multiple unique levels.

The Evil Within 2 is full of survival-horror elements and interesting boss battles that can keep anyone intrigued. However, the best part about this game is its narrative and well-written story, which is bound to hook players in till it is over.

1 Older STALKER Games

Lastly, there are the original STALKER games. This list includes STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl, STALKER: Clear Sky, and STALKER: Call of Pripyat, all of which are worth playing. While the games are a decade old, they still hold up in gameplay and the overall post-apocalyptic world.

Since these are essentially STALKER 2’s predecessors, they offer a resemblance to the upcoming title, unlike any other game. Moreover, a number of mods are available for players who want to spice up the graphics.

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