A few years ago, I got so sick of the word “post-apocalyptic survival game” that my mind automatically ignored any game with that moniker after the sheer flood of titles on Steam. The idea of worrying about a ton of food, thirst, sanity, and any other systems detracted from the action, and it all felt like too much. So, I felt like giving the genre a try once the appealing concept of Chernobylite came about. This title fared well enough for a next-gen release, so let’s see how it performs for a skeptic like me.

I had no clue what to expect after jumping into Chernobylite, but the game took its time to unleash its mechanics. That was something I appreciated, as it eased me in with detailed tutorials. You’re not just going to run and gun in this title, you’re also going to base-build and manage resources and people. This is all in a day’s work, as the story progresses on a daily basis as you venture out into the “Exclusion Zone” which is actively monitored by enemy agents and mortifying monsters.

What Chernobylite does so strongly is, well, everything. Its stealth-before-action approach, its charming characters, its strong voice-acting in its native language, and the gameplay loop that becomes identifiable in mere hours, all make for an experience that makes it hard to put the controller down. Base management is a thrill as you make a mental laundry list of upgrades based on your day’s loot and prepare yourself for the coming day as best you can.

As a gamer who prefers to hop into a battlezone and start firing ASAP, it was genuinely surprising that I came to love everything else Chernobylite had to offer. With every system being streamlined yet nuanced, I had a lot to ponder as I went about my day in the Zone. I had to think about all sorts of things, such as what materials to gather and what to consume, so that when I got back to base in the evening, I could plan every single upgrade whilst managing the base’s power and radiation/air quality. I also had to keep a note of the happiness of my companions.

It is with these companions’ complex personalities that my love for Chernobylite is cemented. These are true characters who aren’t afterthoughts, they have lengthy stories to tell on a daily basis and are positively worth sitting through on every occasion. You have the ability to send them on side missions with their chance of success being based on the loadout you provide them, or even a mitigating chance to complete story missions. If you send them on a mission with a low percentage of success and you risk their capture, or worse, their death.

It was genuinely hard to tear myself away from Chernobylite to write this review – I’m going to go right back to it after I finish wrapping up. This is everything I loved about Fallout 3/4, tossed in with some stellar choices-matter and base-building made comprehensive and rewarding. It’s positively the best indie game I’ve put on my PS5 to date and one of the best I’ve played in years. Chernobylite is well worth the price of entry. Don’t blame me when you get hooked.

A Playstation 5 review copy of Chernobylite was provided by All In! Games for this review.

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Chernobylite

$29.99

9.5

Score

9.5/10

Pros

• Breathtaking Visuals
• Fantastic Gameplay Elements
• Perfect Difficulty Balance
• Engaging Characters/Dialogue

Cons

• Poor Save/Pause Functionality