We’re now a week past the release of STALKER 2, a pivotal time in any game’s lifecycle. It’s been long enough for players to dive into the experience, yet not quite enough for all the pesky bugs to be smoothed out. This moment often leaves gamers craving more content that captures the same vibe. Enter Rad, a tabletop role-playing game set in a post-Soviet nuclear wasteland—it’s just what you need to satisfy that urge.
Rad comes from the creative mind of Argentinian game designer Hipólita. In this game, the Cold War didn’t stay cold; instead, the U.S. launched a nuclear strike. Those who survived had to find safety below ground, hiding from the surface’s lingering radiation. In this bleak new world, survivors depend on mutual aid and community to navigate the looming threats and faction-driven conflicts that define the wasteland. Bullets are the currency of this new order, making every shot fired a costly decision.
The game’s core system draws inspiration from Old School Renaissance-style gameplay, particularly the mechanics of Isaac Williams’ Mausritter—a unique RPG featuring sword-wielding woodland creatures. Rad retains its Soviet vibe with a character creation process that skips classes and instead offers 36 distinct backgrounds. Character progression leans heavily on the principles of collectivism, where growth is achieved through solidarity, mutual aid, and contributing to the community.
Rad’s mechanics cater to a variety of gameplay experiences. Whether you’re interested in managing a small community fraught with loyalists and spies, engaging in map-building minigames, or embarking on exploration quests with intense resource management, there’s something here for you. These mechanics emphasize thoughtful strategy over reckless action. For those who miss the first-person shooter elements of the STALKER series, Rad doesn’t disappoint; it includes specific mechanics for upgrading and customizing firearms, allowing you to bring a bit of that familiar intensity into your tabletop experience.
