In the harsh and unforgiving world of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl (stylised as S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2), it might seem like the sensible option to pick up absolutely everything you come across. In one of the more interesting nuances of the game’s systems, you’re actually better off leaving broken weapons behind.

However, while some may be ready and willing to struggle, others may just want to see the story through with as little pushback as possible.

You don't need to have played past Stalker games to dive into Heart of Chornobyl, but newcomers to The Zone – an irradiated land of impossibilities in Ukraine – will find themselves tested by its brutality. That goes double for protagonist Skif, whose first foray into The Zone results in him being ambushed and left for dead.