S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl is a hidden gem that deserves to be spoken about much more than it is. This is easily one of the best games I have ever played. The Zone is harshly beautiful, with an incredible amount of depth and care put into the world building and background design. The story is interesting off the bat, but not overbearing enough to prevent natural exploration or immersion into your role in this world. Being jumped by Bandits while hunting for a lost family heirloom or helping a random Loner not become a mutant chew toy while wandering for artifacts are what make the Zone feel so alive and well developed. The gunplay has admittedly aged but still excels at providing a tense and thrilling edge to combat. It feels more in the lines of a survival horror game, which invokes a sense of just scraping by when being overwhelmed by enemies. I cannot recommend this game enough while I wait in anticipation for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.