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This week, Xbox and PC gamers finally got their hands on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, diving into its engaging gameplay and achievements on Xbox Series X|S and PC. Despite a hefty list of bugs, GSC Game World’s open-world survival shooter shines, and it’s definitely a strong contender for a spot on our best Game Pass games list. If you’re just stepping into The Zone for the first time, here are some essential survival tips to help keep you alive.
Tom’s Tips — Making Your First Few Hours in Stalker 2 Enjoyable
Stalker 2 emerges as a hardcore survival game from the Ukrainian team, GSC Game World, available on Xbox Game Pass tiers: Ultimate and PC, and platforms like Xbox Series X|S and PC. It’s a challenging experience, and I recommend you choose either the “Stalker” or “Veteran” difficulties to get the full thrill. As soon as the prologue wraps up, you’re let loose into The Zone—a hostile world eager to end your journey prematurely.
In those early hours, juggling your inventory between essentials and items you can sell, dodging hostiles trying to tear you apart, and surviving the menacing Emissions can be daunting. But don’t sweat it, I’ve got you covered.
Throughout my time reviewing Stalker 2, I faced countless deaths. However, those experiences granted me insights to share with all of you, insights that could help you avoid a similar fate.
Here are three essential tips for a smooth start in Stalker 2, tailor-made for all you Xbox Game Pass adventurers braving the radioactive frontier!
Sell to Fellow Stalkers
Inventory management is one of the toughest challenges you’ll face in Stalker 2. Repairs in The Zone aren’t cheap, and in-game Credits are nowhere to be found during your explorations, so finding things to sell is crucial. Guns and armor are heavy but they fetch a nice price at vendors, making the decision to haul them back to camp or leave them behind while exploring extremely tough.
Personally, I’ve found a balance by only picking up fully repaired weapons and armor that cross my path, sacrificing potential big earnings for more exploration time. Focus on grabbing all the food, med kits, ammo, and drinks you can carry as you journey. You can stash tons of these items without becoming overloaded and if something valuable and heavy comes along, you can simply drop some of the less important items.
When adopting this strategy, make sure to engage with friendly NPCs whenever you come across them to sell off your extra items. While almost every stalker is open to trading, larger groups often have a designated ‘boss’ to deal with. Either way, friendly traders usually carry around 700 Credits, which might not seem significant later in the game, but early on, it’s decent pocket money that helps prolong your hunt for better treasures.
Turn Off Your Flashlight
I didn’t figure this one out until several hours into my adventure, but keeping your flashlight on will attract unwanted attention. This tool is necessary to navigate through the dark nooks and crannies you’ll come across, but it will also telegraph your presence to lurking threats, robbing you of any stealth advantage. It’s a whole different surprise when you’re in the dark and something pounces at you!
Whenever your flashlight isn’t critical, switch it off, especially while moving outdoors during nighttime. It acts as a beacon for enemies and makes it easy for them to spot you from a distance. When trying to sneak by a group, the last thing you want is your flashlight acting like a bright signal for doom. Remember, the RB button is your ally here—use it wisely!
Route Planning Might Just Save Your Life
Getting caught in an Emission is the quickest route to a game over in Stalker 2. These ominous storms give a warning just before painting the sky red, giving you a short window to scramble to safety. The last scenario you want is to be stranded far from shelter when that warning goes out.
To keep safe, hit various points of interest as you head towards your main destination, allowing you to always be just a few hundred meters away from potential cover. Naturally, avoid overfilling your inventory, reducing your mobility as you traverse The Zone—no one escapes an Emission waddling.
As you navigate the breathtaking world crafted by GSC (now that it’s moved off our upcoming Game Pass games list), you’ll uncover more strategies and secrets to sidestep danger. Have any survival tips for fellow Stalker 2 newcomers? Share them in the comments below so we can all benefit. See you in The Zone, fellow wanderers!
