S.T.A.C.K.E.R. by Pishtaco blends the two really successful “Soviet” game exports into one: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Tetris. The game mechanics of both stay intact. Blocks, items and artifacts drop from the sky, developing the story as you are advancing further into the zone and serving as “power ups”. Dogs, barbed wire and bandits attack you on your way.

Then come the mental effects: The radiation starts affecting your sanity if you don’t protect yourself from it. The deeper you get into the zone, the harder it gets to stay calm. Where Tetris builds up pressure by speedings things up, S.T.A.C.K.E.R. evokes real fear by tightening the narrative. A narrative told by dropping blocks.