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Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyldoesn’t care if you live or die.

The load time anywhere from 20 to 60 seconds on Xbox Series X doesn’t help here either.

Loading an RPG as a mutant charges the player in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl

I’m conflicted by my frustration.

Saving grace?

Developers rarely talk about this publicly, but oftentimes steps are implemented to imperceptibly alter the state of play.

Stalker 2 screenshot

I’m pretty sure that Stalker 2 isn’t engaged in such subtle ego inflation.

It’s this sharp edge that can make Stalker 2 so thrilling.

Such thrills have frustration as a natural byproduct.

An abandoned Ferris wheel in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Perhaps there is no answer here.

Looking for a more relaxing shooter?

Here are thebest FPS gamesyou can play alongside Stalker 2

A player in Stalker 2 using a scoped rifle to aim at a human enemy from a distance

Atomfall screenshot

Key art for Atomfall showing a character in the English countryside looking at a nuclear plant some distance away

Henry and pal in a stockade in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

Clashing swords against a warrior in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

The village green in Atomfall

Two nobles getting married in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Call of Duty High Art event

A screenshot shows the Siren Vex standing in Borderlands 4

One of the new Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4

The Doom Slayer riding a demon dragon during the Doom: The Dark Ages trailer.

A tattooed man in the sci-fi setting of La Quimera

a gun that fires a metal ball attached to a chain for recall

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle screenshot of Indiana dressed as priest, looking over a book

Days Gone Remastered protagonist Deacon running from hundreds of zombies in the rain

PS5 Pro reveal from trailer

The cast of Thunderbolts standing in an elevator during the trailer for the upcoming Marvel Phase 5 movie.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 screenshot of the Paintress painting the number 33 onto a distant pillar while Gustave and Sophie watch from the harbor port, framed by a circle of light

Absolute Martian Manhunter #2

Articulate box, cards, board, and tokens on a wooden table

Logan Kim as Hershel and Lauren Cohan as Maggie in The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2