The game is set in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, where the player's objective is to explore, as Ukrainian physicist Igor Khymynuk, and find his fiancée in the radioactive wasteland.

[3] Most of the single-player gameplay revolves around exploring the exclusion zone, gathering supplies and tools while encountering "Stalkers" and hostile military personnel.

[5] Deep in the contaminated environment also lie strange supernatural threats, due to the "chernobylite" created from the nuclear aftermath.

In order to secure their investment, the NAR enlists the services of former Soviet General Kozlov and the mysterious and dangerous Black Stalker to remove any intruders into the Zone by any means necessary.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian physicist Igor Khymynuk arrives in the Zone to search for his missing fiancée Tatyana, who disappeared shortly before the Chernobyl disaster.

In order to find her and uncover the conspiracy behind her disappearance, Igor may recruit allies in the Zone, such as the Canadian mercenary Olivier, guerilla freedom fighter Olga, the mysterious hermit Tarakhan, outlaw Sashko, and local Stalker Mikhail.

With his first intrusion a failure, Igor realizes that he will need a better plan, along with resources and allies to help him break through the NAR defenses around the plant.

As he journeys around the Zone, he has the option of recruiting allies such as Olivier, Olga, Tarakhan, Sashko, and Mikhail, as well as negotiating with or killing Dr. Semonov and General Kozlov.

The game entered Steam and GOG.com early access programs on 19 October 2019 and achieved full release on 28 July 2021 for Microsoft Windows.