STALKER 2’s Tabletop RPG Counterpart is Rad

Just a week has passed since STALKER 2 hit the shelves, and we’re in that sweet spot of gaming: you’ve played enough to savor it, but those pesky bugs aren’t all polished out yet. Naturally, this leaves fans craving more of the same thrill and escapade. Enter Rad, a tabletop RPG set in a post-Soviet, nuclear wasteland, perfectly designed to quench that thirst for adventure.

Crafted by Argentinian designer Hipólita, Rad unfolds in an alternate reality where the Cold War took a decidedly hot turn with the U.S. launching nuclear strikes. The fortunate survivors retreated into underground refuges, escaping the radiation-scarred landscape above. In this chaotic new world, those left must rely heavily on communal support to navigate factional tensions and threats lurking in the wasteland. Here, bullets aren’t just ammunition; they’re the currency of survival, and every shot fired might cost you dearly.

The game mechanics in Rad draw inspiration from the Old School Renaissance style, notably similar to Isaac Williams’s Mausritter, where woodland critters embark on epic adventures. Sticking strongly to its Soviet-inspired roots, Rad’s character creation doesn’t rely on predefined classes. Instead, it offers 36 diverse backgrounds, with character progress stemming from teamwork, mutual aid, and a strong sense of community rather than solo triumphs.

Rad cleverly caters to varied gaming interests. Whether you’re strategizing over a small community infiltrated by loyalists and spies, diving into map-building mini-games, or embarking on exploration quests with scarce resources, every move counts. It’s a game that encourages meticulous planning over reckless shooting. Yet, if you’re a die-hard fan of the STALKER series’ first-person shooter vibe, fear not: Rad includes mechanics to enhance and customize your arsenal, ensuring no radioactive soldier is left behind.