Stalker: Rusted Dawn may be the best Stalker 2 modpack yet that aims to make the game closer to GAMMA

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl modding is ramping up considerably since the release of the game’s 1.5 update. In the weeks since, major mods have released including one that massively overhauls the violence of the game and another that makes crafting an essential part of the Zone.

However, one fan has collated some of the all-time best Heart of Chornobyl mods into one brilliant download: Rusted Dawn. Promoted as a “Modular Mod Collection”, this impressive mod pack will give you true agency over the game’s apocalyptic open-world.

Stalker: Rusted Dawn is a must try

Published by Bolshevik Remover on Nexus, the Stalker: Rusted Dawn mod pack collates some of the most impressive mods for the game into one neat package.

“Stalker Rusted Dawn is a modpack consisting of many well known mods, it acts as a patching and balancing bridge between them to enhance whatever they are good at and make them work in unison seamlessly (similar to GAMMA),” the modpack publisher said.

At the core of the mod is Stalker Unlimited, a huge mod that overhauls the game’s economy, damage and ballistics to make combat more deadly, loot more important and more. This core makes the game more brutal as a whole and is the true hardcore experience many fans have been asking for.

Alongside that, Lootable Zone and Craftable Zone are included, allowing you to construct and deconstruct almost any item in the game. These two mods are complete game-changers and they’re at the heart of my current Stalker 2 run. They’re downright brilliant.

Additionally, Extended Equipment is included to add more backpacks, gas mass and heavy helmets to the game, and Repair Kit Bundle and Technician Rework are included to rebalance health and trader support respectively.

Finally, the modpack also includes brand-new weapons including the AK-105 SSO and the series’ faithful TOZ66. You can also unlock a Gorka Suit to use across the zone which is always nice to see.

Yes, this is just a collection of mods for Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, but they all play really well together. It’s a great compilation of mods that all work in tandem to create a hardcore but engaging experience that makes the world of Heart of Chornobyl sing.

GSC is currently working on Stalker 2’s upcoming 1.6 update, its next Q3 Roadmap, and the recently announced PS5 port of the game. Additionally, a number of expansions are planned to release sometime in the future that will offer new perspectives on the Zone, but there’s no word on when they will release.