Choose S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky
Choose S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky if you want a RPG game with Multi-player, Online PvP, and LAN PvP. 5,126 Steam reviews back the pick.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky vs The Hell Hives
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky and The Hell Hives both land in Action on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Action games on Steam. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky (2008) is 13 years older than The Hell Hives (2021). The Hell Hives is currently ~85% cheaper on Steam than S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky (2.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose The Hell Hives
Choose The Hell Hives if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's currently about 85% cheaper on the Steam Store. The Hell Hives launched in 2021.
Both S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky and The Hell Hives sit in Action on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky |  The Hell Hives | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2008 | 2021 |
| Genres | Action, RPG | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 81.4% positive (5,126 reviews) | 4 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | GSC Game World | Adam Bradley |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky (2008) is 13 years older than The Hell Hives (2021).
- The Hell Hives is currently ~85% cheaper on Steam than S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky (2.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; The Hell Hives has no Deck rating yet.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky vs The Hell Hives — FAQ
- Should I play S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky or The Hell Hives first?
- If you want chronology, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky (2008) came out before The Hell Hives (2021). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky and The Hell Hives similar?
- They overlap on Action on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does The Hell Hives have multiplayer like S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky?
- No. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while The Hell Hives is listed as single-player only.