Artyom and his wife leave their shelter beneath the Moscow metro system to traverse a Russian landscape blanketed in nuclear radiation in search of a new home.

It’s similar to *Fallout*, but set in Russia with a tone that leans more towards horror and a depressed narrative. I initially thought it was a pure open-world game, but it’s actually a mix: it features linear, mission-based storytelling akin to *Call of Duty* alongside *Fallout*-style exploration, offering expansive environments that vary with each chapter. It also retains cool RPG elements like weapon and gear customization, though the freedom here isn't quite as extensive as in *Fallout*.

I really love the difficulty level. I played on Hardcore mode, where if you’re suck just three hits then you're cooked. Loot is extremely limited in Hardcore mode. It forces you to be careful not to waste ammo, and since killing monsters yields no rewards, the game feels much more realistic.

I also played through all the DLCs, which were just as exciting; they tell the stories of side characters, though they are a bit short.