Dmitry Glulkhovsky’s Metro novels are considered to be peak post-apocalyptic fiction. What’s not to like about a world set in the Moscow underground after the world is ravaged by biological and nuclear warfare? If you’re not a fan of reading, then you’re in luck because there are a few different Metro games you can play across a variety of consoles.
These games received critical acclaim when they were released and were so popular that they were even remastered at one point. With the remasters and slightly confusing naming scheme, you might be confused about which order to play the Metro games. Here’s a quick and easy guide to the best order to play the Metro games by release and chronologically.
Chronological Order for Metro Games
Clearly, the best way to experience Metro is by playing the games in chronological order. Thankfully, the games are a little more straightforward than the novels. You can easily play through the series by release order, but you’ll have to choose between playing the Redux versions of Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light or the originals. The Redux versions are essentially remasters, so we definitely suggest playing those versions rather than the originals. They are the old games rebuilt in a new engine with better graphics and fewer bugs.
The following play order is how you should play the Metro series if you’re looking to avoid confusion and understand the plot as it moves from one game to the next.
- Metro 2033
- Metro: Last Light
- Metro Exodus
Metro 2033
The first installment in the series follows Artyom, a resident of the Moscow metro system, where the remnants of humanity hide from the inhospitable surface and mutants that inhabit it. The metro isn’t safe either, though, as mutants frequently attack their settlements, and transportation between stations is extremely dangerous.
As Artyom, you’ll travel through the Moscow metro, recruiting companions to help you fight the mutants and get to the bottom of a new breed, referred to as “The Dark Ones.” If you haven’t played any of the games in the series, avoid reading the summaries for the next two games, as you might feel that certain parts of the plot were spoiled.
Metro: Last Light
Last Light is a direct sequel to Metro 2033 and picks up right after the events of the first game. You’ll still be in control of Artyom, now a Ranger at the D6 military facility where you ended the first game. There are two possible endings, depending on your actions throughout the game, so don’t make decisions without considering the possible outcomes they may have on your ending.
Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus finally takes us outside of Moscow and the metro and into the wilderness of Russia and Asia. Again, we follow Artyom as he and his companions make their way out of the metro and head east on a train called Aurora. Unlike the previous two games, Exodus has large open-world levels that can be explored freely. There are still linear missions and a main quest, but you’ll get a chance to see more of the world in 2035 after a nuclear winter.
Do I need to play the Metro games in order?
Yes. If you don’t play the Metro franchise in order, you will be severely confused. The two sequels pick up one after the other, making it hard to understand what happened in the previous game if you skip one. None of the games are bad or feel like a slog, so there’s no real reason to skip around. Start with Metro 2033, preferably the Redux version, and you’ll embark on a journey you won’t regret.
Will there be a Metro 4?
Yes. Back in late 2020, a new Metro title was announced as being in development, this time featuring a multiplayer mode, much to everyone’s excitement. As recently as Q1 this year, it was reconfirmed that it was still in development, with a tentative 2024 release date, meaning we could be playing Metro 4 in just under a year. You’ll be able to play the new Metro game on PC, PS5, and the Xbox Series X/S.
