You want to go back to the Zone? For years, a mod that combines all three parts of the series has made this possible.
It’s only a few weeks until the planned release of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl on November 20, 2024. If you want to pass the time in the world of games until then, the mod Stalker Anomaly offers a free and extensive opportunity to do so. The update 1.5.3 for the fan project was released a few days ago.
A good starting point
The 1.5.3 update mainly includes improvements to the stability of the engine and numerous bug fixes. The latter fix problems with some quests in particular, so the game should run much smoother overall – basically a good time to get in.
The main reason for the update, however, is that the developer GSC Game World has issued new guidelines for mods and other user-generated content related to Stalker. Since Anomaly does not need a version of any of the original games, particularly strict rules apply here
For example, it must be immediately apparent that this is a fan-made mod only. In addition, the main menu must contain links to the stores of the various platforms that offer the Stalker games.
We took a closer look at the mod some time ago:
How do you install Stalker Anomaly?
The game can be easily downloaded from the website ModDB The download is about 9 GB in size, and the game can be started directly after unzipping. You will find installation instructions on the website.
What does Stalker Anomaly offer?
The mod connects the game worlds of the previous three games into one big map. The NPCs and factions all pursue their own goals. Many characters you meet will give you tasks, and both Stalkers and mutants move independently through the world and react to you.
There is a story mode that tells an overarching story in four episodes, but you can also just go out and explore in a survival sandbox mode The mod offers you many customization options to adjust the gaming experience.
After several delays, the game is finally set to launch on November 20. Stalker 2 was a problem child for a long time, but this year it was able to show itself from its best side with new gameplay. You can find more about this in the box above, where you can also read about the mod plans for the sequel. These are already firmly planned, like the multiplayer mode.