Chernobylite
A survival horror FPS set in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
Chernobylite is a survival horror first-person shooter from 2021, created by Polish studio The Farm 51 and released by All in! Games. Players step into the role of Ukrainian physicist Igor Khymynuk, who ventures into the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone to find his missing fiancée. The game launched on Windows in July 2021, followed by PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in September 2021, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in April 2022, and Nintendo Switch in December 2024. Critical reception was generally positive.
Gameplay focuses on exploring the Zone, gathering supplies, and crafting equipment and weapons. Igor encounters hostile military personnel and other "Stalkers," while his choices shape a nonlinear story. Characters can die, tasks can fail, and supernatural threats emerge from a strange material called chernobylite, created by the nuclear disaster.
The story takes place 30 years after the Chernobyl disaster. The military contractor NAR has leased the Zone to experiment with chernobylite under Dr. Semonov. The material attracts extradimensional Shadows, and NAR hires former Soviet General Kozlov and the Black Stalker to eliminate intruders. Igor arrives searching for Tatyana, his fiancée who vanished just before the disaster. He can recruit allies like Canadian mercenary Olivier, guerilla Olga, hermit Tarakhan, outlaw Sashko, and stalker Mikhail.
After receiving a photo of Tatyana and being haunted by her in dreams, Igor sneaks into the Chernobyl plant and retrieves a chernobylite crystal to power a portal gun. The Black Stalker attacks, forcing him to flee. Igor then gathers resources and allies to breach NAR defenses. He discovers that dying sends him to alternate timelines, where he can change past decisions. He learns Tatyana was abducted by the KGB after being reported by their jealous friend Boris, who became the Black Stalker. Tatyana now serves as a conduit for a portal to chernobylite’s source, which is a living, intelligent organism.
When Igor finally breaks into the plant, the Black Stalker reveals he is actually the original Igor, who killed Boris and assumed his identity. The player-character Igor is a clone of the original, created by chernobylite from Tatyana’s son. The original Igor broke the clone out of NAR custody, but the clone inherited false memories. Dr. Semonov sent the photo to lure him.
- Developer
- The Farm 51
- Publisher
- All in! Games
- Release date windows
- July 2021
- Release date playstation 4 xbox one
- September 2021
- Release date playstation 5 xbox series x
- April 2022
- Release date nintendo switch
- December 2024
- Kickstarter funding goal
- $100,000
- Kickstarter total raised
- $206,671
- Kickstarter backers
- 3,350
Lore & Background
The game is set 30 years after the Chernobyl disaster in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. A strange material called 'Chernobylite' began to appear, attracting extradimensional creatures known as Shadows. The military contractor NAR has leased the Zone to conduct experiments led by Dr. Semonov, and employs former Soviet General Kozlov and the Black Stalker to remove intruders. The player character, Igor Khymynuk, is a Ukrainian physicist who arrives to find his missing fiancée Tatyana, who disappeared shortly before the disaster. Igor can recruit allies such as Olivier, Olga, Tarakhan, Sashko, and Mikhail. The plot involves Igor breaking into the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, recovering a Chernobylite crystal, and learning that Chernobylite is a living organism. Igor discovers that he is actually a clone of the original Igor, created by Chernobylite, and that the Black Stalker is the original Igor. The game features multiple endings depending on player choices, including communing with Chernobylite or destroying the portal.
Reader's Guide
Chernobylite is notable for its blend of first-person shooting, survival horror, and nonlinear storytelling. The game's map was developed from 3D scans and recreations of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in Ukraine. The Farm 51 funded further development through a Kickstarter campaign that ended on 11 May 2019, exceeding its $100,000 goal and raising $206,671 from 3,350 backers. The game entered early access on Steam and GOG.com on 19 October 2019, with full release on 28 July 2021 for Windows. According to Metacritic, the game received 'generally favorable' reviews for most platforms, while the PlayStation 4 and Xbox Series X/S versions received 'mixed or average' reviews. Its significance lies in its detailed recreation of a real-world location and its branching narrative where any character can die and any task can be failed.
Did You Know?
- The Kickstarter campaign for Chernobylite raised $206,671 from 3,350 backers.
- The game entered early access on 19 October 2019 and achieved full release on 28 July 2021 for Windows.
- The player character Igor Khymynuk is revealed to be a clone of the original Igor, created by the Chernobylite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chernobylite?
Chernobylite is a 2021 survival horror first-person shooter set inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, developed by Polish studio The Farm 51 and published by All in! Games. It blends exploration, crafting, and gunplay with a branching narrative.
Who is the protagonist of Chernobylite?
You play as Igor Khymynuk, a Ukrainian physicist who enters the Exclusion Zone searching for his missing fiancée. His journey drives the story's multiple branching paths and endings.
What platforms is Chernobylite available on?
The game launched on Windows in July 2021, then came to PS4 and Xbox One in September 2021, followed by PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in April 2022, and finally arrived on Nintendo Switch in December 2024.
What does gameplay in Chernobylite involve?
Players explore the Zone to scavenge for supplies, craft weapons and gear, and fight hostile entities while managing limited resources. The survival-horror loop emphasizes preparation and cautious progression through the irradiated environment.
How was Chernobylite received by critics?
Critical reception was generally positive, with reviewers praising the atmospheric setting and the depth of its branching story. It was noted as a solid entry in the survival-horror FPS niche.
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