Striden, the Apocalypse-Inspired Escape From Tarkov Competitor, Releases New Steam Demo

Right now, the world of extraction shooters is buzzing with new contenders aiming to make a mark against classics like Hunt Showdown and Escape From Tarkov. One game that’s caught our eye is Striden. It breaks the mold by throwing in some radioactive vibes reminiscent of Stalker 2 and even lets you morph into a giant bear. As we head into the holiday season, Striden is giving players another chance to dive into its action with a new demo, and this time, you can team up with friends.

At its core, Striden follows the familiar blueprint seen in many FPS games of this genre. You’ll need to scavenge for resources, complete objectives, and make a safe exit with your loot before other players or in-game foes get the better of you. But what sets Striden apart is a feature called Power Spikes, which functions like a hero shooter’s ultimate ability. These Power Spikes allow you to connect with wildlife in a powerful, though not exactly peaceful, way. You can become a fearsome bear or a moose dragging a portable cannon—an aspect that should pique the interest of tank enthusiasts from games like Battlefield.

Speaking of Battlefield, Striden mirrors it with its style of gunplay and user interface, offering a similar experience. You’ll also find familiar roles such as Assault, Medic, and Engineer, adding a strategic element to the game.

Despite its Scandinavian setting, Striden channels the eerie ambiance of Stalker. Set in an alternate Cold War scenario where the nukes did go off, players must be cautious to avoid stumbling into patches of radioactive fog scattered around the world.

For the latest playtest, Striden now supports co-op gameplay, so you can join forces with friends to form squads of up to five players as you take on the challenges of the nuclear aftermath.

You can jump into Striden’s winter demo right now on Steam, but don’t wait too long—it ends on Thursday, January 2.

If you’re into games like this, why not explore our lists of the top co-op games and apocalypse games out there? For ongoing updates, reviews, and insights into the world of PC gaming, follow us on Google News. You can also connect with fellow gamers in our community Discord.