ActionAdventureRPG
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky - Enhanced Edition
The first 3 hours are a test
Gets good by 3h almost every game dips in hours 2–3
Reach the ending 45% of players who started
Started playing 50% of owners
Steam reviews 57% positive of 3,579
What the data shows
- In the first 2 hours 1 in 2 reviews are negative (63%); after 7h it's 1 in 3 (36%).
- The opening is criticised more than in 91% of games we track.
- 45% of players who start reach the ending.
- The biggest drop-off is between “Swamp Lord” (Join "Clear Sky" faction and defeat Renegades) and “The Savior”: from 100% to 75% of starters.
- Only 50% of owners have even the first achievement — the rest barely played.
When it gets good
Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.
before it gets good opening up fully opened up
Based on all 3,604 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 278 reviews: 14.5h for positive, 10.4h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.
Where players quit
Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (50.4% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.
- Started playing 100%
- Swamp Lord Join "Clear Sky" faction and defeat Renegades. 100%
- The Savior Help Vasyan to repel the attack of dogs and climb down the stone. Most players quit here 75% −25
- Genesis flood Let water run to the undergrounds, kill mutants and return alive. 64% −10
- The lost city Enter the secret city, Lymansk. 51% −13
- Boss Helicopter Kill Boss Helicopter at Lymansk hospital. 48% −3
- See the Clear Sky Finish S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky on any difficulty level. 45% −3
story milestone ending biggest drop-off
Story milestones were labeled by AI from achievement names and descriptions; mistakes are possible.
All achievements (43)
story milestone ending side
- Swamp Lord Join "Clear Sky" faction and defeat Renegades. 100%
- New old friend Go through the military Cordon and speak to Sidorovich for the first time. 92%
- Stalkerstrike Kill 50 enemies with headshot. 86%
- The Savior Help Vasyan to repel the attack of dogs and climb down the stone. 75%
- Genesis flood Let water run to the undergrounds, kill mutants and return alive. 64%
- Taxi! Use guide service 10 times. 60%
- Overloaded but not overcame Walk 10 kilometers with overload. 55%
- One of us Join any faction after leaving the Swamps. 55%
- To those who hear us Climb high and listen to the full version of radio message. 54%
- Junior forester Meet Forester and return him what is lost. 53%
- The lost city Enter the secret city, Lymansk. 51%
- Avenger Liquidate machine gunner at military block post. 49%
- Boss Helicopter Kill Boss Helicopter at Lymansk hospital. 48%
- The true Stalker Visit all in-game locations. 48%
- Mom, I'm going to the Zone Finish the game on Novice difficulty. 45%
- See the Clear Sky Finish S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky on any difficulty level. 45%
- Drag and sell Sell goods for more than 100 000. 43%
- Mock of a stalker Die from 5 different anomalies. 40%
- Garbage Hegemon Help Free stalkers or Bandits to be victorious in their conflict. 40%
- Lucky son of a gun Finish the game on Stalker difficulty. 40%
- AWOL Help Semyon Lambee. 38%
- In socks alone When dived into that very basement with empty pockets. 37%
- Decent start Find the stash with valuable habar at swamps. 36%
- Friend for an hour Be supported by and gain maximum reputation with 3 or more factions. 35%
- Stashfinder Find and steal items from back of the Suslov shop in marshes. 35%
- Trophy Hunter Find the trophy AKM-47/2. 33%
- Gunsmith Upgrade 5 different weapons to maximum. 33%
- Forever aloner Finish the game and do not join any faction after leaving the Swamps. 32%
- Stalker with a scar Finish the game on Veteran or Master difficulty. 31%
- All the money in the Zone Sell goods for more than 250 000. 30%
- Life of the party Find the forgotten guitar. 29%
- I am machine Enhance your maximum weight capacity by 60 kilograms. 29%
- Know thyself Assist Hermit and finish his quest in Undergrounds. 28%
- Explosions magnet Be killed by grenades 20 times. 27%
- Pub crawl Meet all barmen in the Zone. 27%
- Modifier You found 18 flash drives. Use them wisely. 26%
- PseudoFlash Drink 100 energy drinks. 26%
- The question of Ideology Make the choice between Freedom and Duty and help your faction to defeat their rivals. 26%
- Meat constructor You found all "meat" artifacts. Abomination, but useful to survive in the Zone! 24%
- Who are you without a duct tape? Use the service of all Zone technicians. 23%
- Relics of the past Find the time machine in Lymansk. 22%
- Artifact sommelier Find each artifact in the Zone. 20%
- Gun Baron Find all unique weapons. 19%
Steam page Updated: 2026-10-20.