BLACKTAIL vs S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Which one is worth buying now, with today's prices and each game's recommendation.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl wins 8 of 14 head-to-head metrics. BLACKTAIL is $29.88 cheaper.
Metric by metric
The winner of each row gets a ✓. No row weighs more than another; the recommendation is calculated separately.
| Metric | BLACKTAIL | S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl |
|---|---|---|
| GameValio scoreRecommendation: Maybe × Maybe | 65 | 65 |
| Quality | 81 | 68 |
| Value | 77 | 71 |
| Popularity | 27 | 43 |
| Current Best Price (USD) | $1.57 | $31.45 |
| Steam Review Score | 83.4% positive | 81.3% positive |
| Average Concurrent Players (14 days) | 6 | 5.7K |
Where to buy
The 3 cheapest stores for each game
BLACKTAIL
Kinguin Cheapest Key marketplace$1.57−95%Buy 
GAMIVO Key marketplace$1.67−94%Buy 
Loaded Authorized reseller$1.99−93%Buy S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Kinguin Cheapest Key marketplace$31.45−48%Buy Loaded Authorized reseller$32.19−46%Buy 
Green Man Gaming Authorized reseller$41.99−30%Buy Side by side over time
BLACKTAILS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Details and requirements
| Item | BLACKTAIL | S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | December 15, 2022 | November 20, 2024 |
| Developers | THE PARASIGHT | GSC Game World |
| Publishers | Focus Entertainment | GSC Game World (worldwide), SEGA (Japan) |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| OS (minimum) | Windows 10 (64bit only) | Windows 10 x64 / Windows 11 x64 |
| Processor (minimum) | Intel Core i5-6600K / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X | Intel Core i7-11700 / AMD Ryzen 7 5800X |
| Memory (minimum) | 16 GB RAM | 32 GB RAM |
| Graphics (minimum) | 6 GB VRAM, GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER / Radeon RX 590 | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti / Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 / AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT |
| DirectX (minimum) | Version 12 | — |
| Storage (minimum) | 20 GB available space | 160 GB available space |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: BLACKTAIL or S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl?
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl won the comparison against BLACKTAIL based on the head-to-head metric breakdown. Check the metrics table above for a full side-by-side analysis.
How is the comparison calculated?
The comparison winner is determined objectively by counting which game wins more individual metrics in the head-to-head table. No weighting is applied. The GameValio Recommendation shown separately is our own suggestion for each game, based on a weighted score that combines quality (reviews), popularity (player counts), and affordability (price vs value) into a score out of 100. These are two different things: the comparison is objective, the recommendation is GameValio's opinion.
Is BLACKTAIL worth buying over S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl?
Based on the metrics, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl won the direct comparison. However, also check the GameValio Recommendation for each game and the price comparison table to make the most informed purchase decision.
Which game has better player reviews?
Review score trends and volume over time are shown in the charts section above. The game with consistently higher positive ratios has stronger community reception.
Which game offers better value for money?
The affordability score and price comparison table above highlight the best deals. BLACKTAIL currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
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Analysis updated: Oct 24, 2026, 11:32 AM UTC