Key takeaways
- STALKER: Legends of the Zone Trilogy hit Nintendo Switch on October 31st.
- The Switch versions of the iconic RPG-FPS hybrids are available for $19.99 each, and can also be purchased together for $39.99 together.
- STALKER: Legends of the Zone hit the Switch just a few weeks before the long-awaited launch of STALKER 2.
STALKER: Legends of the Zone Trilogy is now available at Nintendo Switch. This release promises to bolster the lineup of immersive RPG-FPS hybrids on Nintendo's hit console.
Developed by Ukrainian studio GSC Game World STALKER the series currently spans a trio of titles released for PC over a three-year period ending in 2009. These games garnered a cult following due to their immersive worlds and compelling gameplay loops that combine first-person shooter mechanics with exploration, horror elements, and a gear-driven progression system that appeals RPG fans. A reissue of STALKER trilogy subtitled Legends of the Zone was shadow-released for the last two Xbox and PlayStation console generations in March 2024. GSC later confirmed that this bundle would also make its way to the Switch.

Family
STALKER 2 confirms much-requested feature
Developer GSC Game World confirms that a requested feature is coming to STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl on all available platforms.
The company made good on that promise on October 31st, when the Switch version of STALKER: Legends of the Zone landed on the eShop. As was the case with the Xbox and PlayStation versions, these ports can be acquired in two ways. One, they are available for purchase separately, priced at $19.99 each. Alternatively, all three games can be purchased together for $39.99, a 33% savings. The PlayStation and Xbox versions of the STALKER: Legends of the Zone has been discounted three times since March 2024, dropping as low as $27.99. It is therefore possible that the trilogy will see frequent discounts on the eShop as well.
The STALKER trilogy is best tackled in release order
Switch players interested in playing STALKER the trilogy would do best to tackle the games in the order they are released. While their stories work as standalone experiences, there's still a lot of narrative depth and context that those who play the games out of order will miss. In addition, Clear sky improved The Shadow of Chernobyls mechanics, much like Call of Pripyat refined Clear skys gameplay, so dealing with these titles out of order can make the older ones feel a lot duller by comparison.
STALKER 2 is just around the corner
Switch port on STALKER: Legends of the Zone comes just weeks before the highly anticipated fourth entry in the franchise. After four delays, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is finally scheduled for release on November 20th. The highly anticipated title will be available on Xbox Series X/S and PC. It's also long been confirmed as one day an Xbox Game Pass release. The console versions of the original trilogy took no development resources from STALKER 2as they were handled by the Polish porting specialists at Mataboo rather than GSC.

STALKER
Developed by GSC Game World, STALKER is a series of open-world genre hybrids that combine elements of first-person shooters, immersive sims and survival horror games.