S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl vs Urban Dead
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is the first of a hugely popular post-apocalyptic-themed, first-person, survival-horror shooter which might have just amassed a cult following. Set in 2012, almost two decades after the worst nuclear disaster occured at the Chernobyl power station and around 6 years after a second explosion rocked the damaged reactor, causing various anomalies to ripple open and from them came waves of mutated creatures, deadly radiation and also rare artifacts that are somehow imbued with powerful anomalous energy... artifacts that many would kill to have.Since then, the existence of such artifacts have brought forth groups of "stalkers", scavengers who scour the cordoned areas around Chernobyl for these very objects... and in this game, you play as one of them.
The game has risen to acclamation partly due to the terrifying, nightmarish creatures that the game contains, in addition to the brilliantly immersive storyline and an incredibly realistic game environemnt that's modelled after its real-world counterpart deep inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The gameplay is excellent as well. The game has accurate ballstics and combat mechanics, as well as a challenging survival aspect that is further made difficult due to the impact day and night, and the weather system has on the environment. There is also a multiplayer mode that can support up to 32 players.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl has just celebrated its 10-year anniversary earlier this year and as such, many aspects of the game aren't really up to scratch by today's standards at least. If you do plan on getting this game, you might want to download some mods to help improve the game somewhat.
Urban Dead
Urban Dead is a mainly text-based MMO game set in a post-apocalyptic city that you can play straight from your browser. Assume the role as an urban survivor trapped in a quarantined city just trying to get by. However, unlike most games, Urban Dead is an MMO and as such, you'll encounter other players as you wander from place to place hoping to scavenge something - anything - that might help you. These players can be friendly or hostile (though, it's more often the case the latter).You can even set up a center of operations, so to speak, by clearing a place out and lock the place down. Other players might try to break into your base though, so it might be best to recruit a few trustworthy players to help you maintain your base and keep it as well as everything you hoard in it safe from any looters. Of course, there are also zombies that will attack your base and you, if you are unlucky enough to bump into one or an entire horde.
Urban Dead is a quite different text-based game admittedly, but it is still very addictive to play. It might be best to play with friends though due to how its base building feature is structured and well, there is always safety in numbers.