Metro Exodus

Lore & Background

Metro Exodus is a first-person shooter from 4A Games and Deep Silver, released in 2019. It is the third main game in the Metro series, following *Metro: Last Light* and the novel *Metro 2035*. The story follows protagonist Artyom and his companions as they escape the Moscow Metro and travel across Russia and parts of Kazakhstan aboard a locomotive called the Aurora. The journey spans a full year, with visits to locations like the Volga River and the Caspian Sea. The game blends smaller open-world areas with the more linear levels seen in earlier entries.

Development began in 2014 with a team of about 150 people working from Kyiv and Malta. The studio aimed to merge the core gameplay of the Metro series with elements from *S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl*, focusing on emergent gameplay and large explorable spaces. Mission markers were removed to encourage natural exploration. The head-up display was kept minimal, with information shown through Artyom’s gear—like a wristwatch timer for gas filter duration. 4A worked with author Dmitry Glukhovsky on the story, which emphasizes Artyom’s personal relationships and a more grounded narrative, reducing the supernatural elements of previous games.

Announced in June 2017, *Metro Exodus* launched for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in February 2019. An upgraded *Enhanced Edition* arrived for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S in May 2021. Critics praised its visuals, level design, gameplay, and story. As of February 2024, it had sold over 10 million copies. Two downloadable expansions—*The Two Colonels* and *Sam’s Story*—were released in August 2019 and February 2020, each featuring a new playable character. A sequel, *Metro 2039*, is currently in development.

**Gameplay**

Like earlier games, *Metro Exodus* is a first-person shooter. Players control Artyom as he leaves Moscow’s tunnels to traverse the post-apocalyptic wasteland of the former Russian Federation and Kazakhstan, fighting mutated creatures and hostile humans. The game’s environments change with the seasons over the course of one in-game year. The Aurora serves as a hub where players can talk to other characters. Using binoculars, players can spot points of interest on each map. Some areas are heavily irradiated, requiring a gas mask; each filter lasts one minute, and players must replace them if they have spares. Dirt and blood on the mask must be wiped off, and the mask can crack if damaged, requiring temporary repair with duct tape. The HUD is minimal: a wristwatch timer shows filter life, and the flashlight flickers when low on battery. A compass showing objective direction can be attached to the watch.

Players wield pistols, shotguns, sniper rifles, submachine guns, and air-powered weapons like the Tikhar and Helsing crossbow. Consumables such as Molotov cocktails and grenades are also available. The player can carry three weapons at once, swapping them with found weapons or dismantling them for parts. Weapons can be customized—for example, adding a laser sight for accuracy. Resources must be scavenged; players collect chemicals and materials to craft consumables and ammunition. Gas filters, medkits, and air-weapon ammo can be crafted using Artyom’s backpack, while regular weapon ammo requires a workbench on the Aurora. Workbenches also allow permanent gas mask repair and weapon cleaning; dirty weapons may jam. Exploring and completing side activities yields new gear, such as night-vision goggles on the Volga River map or a motion tracker in the Caspian Sea level.

Missions can be approached in multiple ways. Stealth tactics include turning off lights and using thrown cans to distract enemies, while lethal options include throwing knives for quiet kills. Planning is encouraged before engaging. Enemy AI behavior changes with the time of day—patrols may sleep at night, making infiltration easier. A dynamic weather system lets players use storms and rain to mask footsteps.

Reader's Guide

Metro Exodus received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its visuals, level design, gameplay and story. It has sold over 10 million units as of February 2024. The game improved on the gameplay mechanics of Last Light, introducing both open-world locations and linear levels. Its development marked a shift toward emergent gameplay inspired by S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, with a focus on natural exploration and immersion through a minimalistic HUD. The game's story, developed in collaboration with Dmitry Glukhovsky, emphasized Artyom's personal relationships and a more grounded narrative, moving away from the supernatural elements of previous entries. Two downloadable expansions, The Two Colonels and Sam's Story, each featuring a new playable character, were released in August 2019 and February 2020, respectively. A sequel titled Metro 2039 is currently in development.

Did You Know?

• The game was developed by a team of around 150 based in Kyiv and Malta.
• The story takes place over one in-game year, with seasons changing as the player progresses.
• Players can craft gas filters, medkits, and ammunition for air-powered weapons using Artyom's backpack.