Chernobylite is a great game, being lovingly developed by a team who clearly care greatly about their work.
There is an unnerving atmosphere throughout, whether you are sneaking and nearly spotted or going all guns blazing into combat, there are means to keep you on edge regardless.
Combat is not easy, but it is not unforgiving, small mistakes can cost you. But still giving just enough chance to reposition and change your tactics in each given situation.
Survival mechanics are still being improved, and some areas are still largely WiP, but these are to be expected with an early access title and the devs are constantly improving and fixing things.

Back to combat, some areas are quite easy to just run past enemies and avoid combat, but this is already improving with each update to Ai and patrol routes.

Some of the mechanics like base building have similarities to other games, whilst offering their own differences in how it affects you and your companions. This makes them feel familiar enough to get right into the basics of them, but allowing room to learn some more intricate details on how to best maintain psyche etc.

If you are looking for a finished and polished title then waiting for this to be further along in it's development may be better, but for anybody willing to actively offer feedback to the devs and who isn't fazed by Early Access problems that may be encountered... what are you waiting for?

This is a game I would definitely recommend, especially to any fans of the STALKER or Metro franchises, as it offers gameplay that fits nicely between the two, not open world but also not linear areas.