We’ve hit the one-week mark since the release of STALKER 2, a pivotal phase in a game’s timeline. This is when players have had enough time to dive in and experience the game, but not quite enough time for all those pesky bugs to be ironed out. This inevitably leads to a craving for similar media that can fill that same gap. Enter Rad, the tabletop role-playing game set in a post-Soviet, nuclear wasteland. It might be just what you need.
Rad comes to us from the creative mind of Argentinian game designer Hipólita. The game is set in an alternate history where the United States decided to escalate the Cold War into a full-blown nuclear conflict. As the story goes, those who survived went underground to escape the lingering surface radiation. In this harsh new world, people rely heavily on community and mutual aid to survive against the threats and factional violence of the wasteland. With bullets as the backbone of this gritty economy, each shot becomes a costly decision.
The game’s core system has its roots in Old School Renaissance-style play, particularly taking cues from Isaac Williams’ Mausritter, a delightful RPG featuring sword-wielding woodland creatures. Holding true to its Soviet influences, Rad’s character creation ditches traditional classes in favor of 36 unique backgrounds. Character advancement revolves around themes of solidarity, mutual aid, and community collaboration.
Rad’s mechanics cater to various gameplay interests. Whether you’re into managing a community filled with spies and loyalists, constructing intricate maps, or embarking on exploration quests with tight resource management, there’s something for everyone. For fans of the shooter aspect of the STALKER series, Rad doesn’t leave you high and dry; it features mechanics specifically for upgrading and customizing firearms, keeping that immersive, action-packed feel alive.
