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GSC Game World’s Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a very faithful sequel to the original games, especially now that the game’s A-Life simulation is alive and well. As a faithful follow-up, GSC’s open-world game doesn’t include many gameplay features many would expect from games of this era such as crafting.
Thanks to modder KynesPeaceZunaSW, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl now has a full-fledged crafting system players can use across the open world. Designed to make the game more lonesome and remove your reliance on traders, the “Craftable Zone” mod allows you to create and upgrade almost anything as you explore the Zone.
Stalker 2 Craftable Zone mod
Available to download right here, the Craftable Zone mod works alongside the Lootable Zone mod to create a Zone where it’s possible to survive by yourself. The Lootable Zone mod, here, adds mass itemisation to the open world, allowing you to pick up over 400 new items from enemies and the environment.
With Craftable Zone installed, this loot now has a use. Everything you find can be crafted into something new or dissaembled into raw materials. For example, plastic film, an empty syringe and some vinca can create a MedKit. On the other hand, 9x19mm FMJ bullets can be broken down into handgun FMJ tips, handgun casing and gunpowder which can be used to craft other types of ammo.
These two combination of mods massively change the vibe of Stalker 2 and make everything in the game useful. While you could buy a more powerful scanner from a trader, or even just find it in the world, you can also upgrade your current one if you have the right resources. Put simply, it adds a tonne of extra choice and a lot more importance to your scavenging.
In some ways, Craftable Zone and Lootable Zone feel closer to the Roadside Picnic book that Stalker is based on. However, if is a massive change that doesn’t make the game feel like a direct return to past games, although it is very fun, more dangerous and a new challenge for longtime players.
For more Stalker 2 coverage, read about how upcoming expansions will bring brand-new perspectives to the Zone. Additionally, check out the upcoming PlayStation 5 port of the game that will release later this year.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
- Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s): Action, Adventure, RPG, Shooter, Survival Horror