See Master thread for links to other countries threads and poll, read rules, and tell me which country should receive a thread next:

https://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread/249268/master-thread-favorite-games-from-different-countries/

I am doing another thread for an eastern European country. Ukraine’s video game scenes seem to be strongly influenced by the country’s dark history of occupation, war and disaster (Chernobyl). This will be a shorter thread as two developers really dominate in popularity (CSC Game World and 4A Games), while there is only a handful of successful games besides that. Oh, I usually don’t highlight bad games, but Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing is so notorious that it deserves to mentioned, it was supposedly developed in Ukraine, but nobody seems to want to take responsibility for it.

Some notable Ukrainian developers and their games:

GSC Game World

This Kiev based developer hit main stream success with the dark fps S.T.A.L.K.E.R. from 2007 and the long-awaited sequel from last year. Taking place in the zone around the Chernobyl disaster the series is known for a very unique dark atmosphere. It is not their sole claim to fame however, the RTS series Cossacks received it’s fair share of acclaim.

Notable games:

Cossacks: European Wars

American Conquest

Cossacks II: Napoleonic Wars

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. : Shadow of Chernobyl

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

4A Games

Also formed in Kiel, this studio actually relocated to Malta in 2014, but still kept a subsidiary in Kiel. They are basically only known for the Metro series, which is strongly influenced by the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games. I was considering if the third game Metro Exodus would qualify, as it is at least as much a maltese game, however it seems the sub-studio in Kiel still was significantly involved in the development, and the development started around the same time as the relocation, so decided it is okay.

Notable games:

Metro 2033

Metro: Last Light

Metro Exodus

Frogware:

Specialized in point-and-click adventure games (but made other adventure games too), Frogware is probably most known for their long-running Sherlock Holmes series of games. They also received acclaim for the Magrunner: Dark Pulse game.

Notable games:

Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Silver Earring

Sherlock Holmes Versus Arsène Lupin

Sherlock Holmes Versus Jack the Ripper

The Testament of Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments

Sherlock Holmes Chapter One

Dracula: Origin

Magrunner: Dark Pulse

The Sinking City

Other games to consider:

Achtung Panzer: Kharkov 1943

Soldiers: Heroes of World War II

Men of War

Contre Jour

XIII Century: Death or Glory

Party Hard

Survarium

No One Lives Under the Lighthouse

Carnivores 2

Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason

The Serpent Rogue

For me, Metro 2033.

Great atmosphere, interesting world, impressive graphics for the time, really felt like a desperate struggle for survival.

The very first in the STALKER series. The freedom and liberty you had to do things were pretty overwhelming at first but simply amazing once you got the hang of it.

Cossacks European Wars.

Maybe not even for the game but you could have up to 8000 units in a match, and me and a friend used to only create a couple thousand units each and a handful of cannons and then blast away. The cannons would wipe out like a hundred units at a time, it was crazy.

I played Metro Last Light for like $5. So that one. Pretty well developed game despite coming from a relatively small video game industry in Ukraine.

I did very much enjoy S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, need to one day get more of the games. I was lucky to see the movie something like months before I played the game.

Aside that, only Ukrainian games I've played are Carnivores 2 and PSP Carnivores: Ice Age (on emulator). They are bit of fun. Back in 90's before I had internet, I used to play awful lot certain demo games I got from magazine CDs and one of those was Carnivores.

I like the Metros. I enjoyed Metro Exodus the most I think, so thatd be my pick.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 is not only a great game but one of the best games I've ever played. Post patch of course.

Age of Decadence, indie CRPG that is very rough around the edges production wise, but shines brightly where it matters.

Honorable mentions to STALKER, Metro 2033 and Cossacks.